Apple Watch Ultra Teardown Reveals Larger Battery, Improved Water Resistance, and More

iFixit today shared an Apple Watch Ultra teardown post and video, providing a closer look at the watch's internal design and components.


While the Apple Watch Ultra has four exposed pentalobe screws on the back case for quick access to the inside of the watch, iFixit said the device remains challenging to repair. For example, after removing the back case, iFixit said a gasket contributing to the Apple Watch Ultra's water resistance was immediately broken. In addition, accessing parts like the battery and Taptic Engine requires the difficult task of removing the display.

In line with a previous report, the teardown confirms that the Apple Watch Ultra is equipped with a 542 mAh battery, which is 76% larger than the Apple Watch Series 8's 308 mAh battery also shown. The teardown also provides a closer look at the Ultra's significantly larger speaker, which reviews said results in louder phone calls.

Apple Watch Ultra launched on Friday. Priced at $799, the high-end watch features a rugged design with a 49mm titanium case, a flat display, outdoors-themed bands, water resistance up to a depth of 100 meters, a customizable bright orange "Action" button, up to 60 hours of battery life with an upcoming low power setting, and more.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iphone 16 display

iPhone 17's Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display Coating Canceled

Monday April 28, 2025 12:48 pm PDT by
Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors. Last spring, Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggested Apple was working on a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch resistant than the Ceramic Shield. We haven't heard...
apple watch ultra yellow

What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3

Friday April 25, 2025 2:44 pm PDT by
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too. 2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple didn't update the...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Reaches Key Milestone Ahead of Mass Production

Monday April 28, 2025 8:44 am PDT by
Apple has completed Engineering Validation Testing (EVT) for at least one iPhone 17 model, according to a paywalled preview of an upcoming DigiTimes report. iPhone 17 Air mockup based on rumored design The EVT stage involves Apple testing iPhone 17 prototypes to ensure the hardware works as expected. There are still DVT (Design Validation Test) and PVT (Production Validation Test) stages to...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

20th Anniversary iPhone Likely to Be Made in China Due to 'Extraordinarily Complex' Design

Monday April 28, 2025 4:29 am PDT by
Apple will likely manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone models in China, despite broader efforts to shift production to India, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In 2027, Apple is planning a "major shake-up" for the iPhone lineup to mark two decades since the original model launched. Gurman's previous reporting indicates the company will introduce a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold"...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Feature

All iPhone 17 Models Again Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:36 am PDT by
All upcoming iPhone 17 models will come equipped with 12GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence, according to the Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station. The claim from the Chinese leaker, who has sources within Apple's supply chain, comes a few days after industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM. ...

Top Rated Comments

BobSc Avatar
34 months ago

Sadly looks like this might be the worst watch yet re: battery replacement. $400/year, then to the landfill. Oh well, I am sticking with my $16 Casio (whose battery is easily replaced using rear case screws), and my Luddite approach to sports/fitness.
Two cans and string can replace your iPhone.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ufomism Avatar
34 months ago
This guy is clueless lol. Calls GPS on Apple Watches “abysmal”, doesn’t understand how the siren works, and worst of all damages the screen by prying it open with metal tool and not using suction cups, then blames it on the watch.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jarman92 Avatar
34 months ago
This guy is the worst. His obnoxious digs at Apple are very distracting and often completely wrong. They should bring back the cute dorky guy with the long hair.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
henrikhelmers Avatar
34 months ago

Sadly looks like this might be the worst watch yet re: battery replacement. $400/year, then to the landfill.
I think this is the wrong take. The larger battery means the watch will experience fewer charge cycles, and less time at those high and low states that lithium batteries don’t like. There is also the better battery management added in recent years.

There is a good chance the Ultra will still perform well in 4 years.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dohspc Avatar
34 months ago
The battery is very good on Ultra. Before I would be down to 20-30% after a 75 min workout outside streaming music on cellular on AW7 and I started at 100%. Now on Ultra I have around 75% remaining starting at 100%. The watch is twice as heavy though lol.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
no_idea Avatar
34 months ago
It will be great when this thing evolves over the years to go more than a week on a single charge. I’m hoping apple will be pushing for that long term
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)