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 3
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...

Top Rated Comments

BobSc Avatar
44 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
44 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
44 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
44 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
44 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
44 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)