execs and cons

Professionals

• Massive brilliant 49mm show
• Durably constructed
• Additional buttons and twin audio system
• Glorious battery life
• Built-in cell service for monitoring

Cons

• Costly at $799
• Too massive for smaller wrists
• No offline mapping
• Restricted metrics for athletes

extra shopping for decisions

Editor’s observe: This assessment was initially printed in September of 2022 however has been up to date a number of instances since.

Apple advertises the brand new Watch Extremely as its most rugged and succesful smartwatch ever. Naturally, as a sports activities watch fanatic and proprietor of some too many wearables, I used to be intrigued by the corporate’s foray into the area of interest however essential phase and purchased one for myself. 

That stated, the aim of this assessment is to not let you know whether or not or not the Apple Watch Extremely can maintain the everyday jog on the park. As an alternative, for a watch so wealthy in sturdiness and health options, I figured, “Why not deal with it with the final word sturdiness check?” 

The annual Robust Mudder 15K occasion pushes you to hurdle, climb, swim, duck, and dive via a collection of ruthless challenges, together with an ice-cold water pool stuffed with surprising “Electrical Eels” and mountains of mud-filled barricades. It is an ultra-level marathon for an Extremely smartwatch.

Additionally: The 5 greatest Apple Watch fashions

After every thing was stated and finished, I might barely make it up and down the steps and the cuts and bruises all through my physique had been unrelenting. As for the Apple Watch, you may need to learn on to see the way it held up. 

Specs

A brand new Apple Watch design

The Apple Watch Extremely has a titanium case with a flat sapphire crystal glass show and ceramic again cowl. That is a recipe for a sturdy and rugged smartwatch. The digital crown is bigger than ever and is part of the watch that bulges from the precise aspect. It, too, is a brand new facet of the Apple Watch design and one that’s a lot wanted for the tactility and suggestions of the buttons. 

Additionally: Easy methods to change your Apple Watch face

The left aspect has a further Motion button which you can customise to your most popular perform. I ran the Robust Mudder with gloves and was in a position to function the watch with out eradicating them. This degree of entry and management is essential when cooler temperatures, moist situations, and different environmental components happen.

There are two new audio system constructed into the body of the watch which stored me up to date on one-mile splits throughout the 15K. (Fortunately, I by no means needed to check the siren function.) I did, nonetheless, obtain a warning after a few laborious falls whereas leaping over deep mud pits, however I used to be in a position to clear that each time and let the Apple Watch know that I used to be OK. 

Additionally: That is the final word use of your Apple Watch Extremely’s Motion button

I’ve by no means had the fall detection go off on me earlier than, however these jumps and landings had been fairly forceful, and one even took away my breath for a couple of seconds, so it was truly nice to see this perform work — despite the fact that I by no means supposed to see it in motion.

I had fairly a routine throughout the 15K. First, I locked the Apple Watch’s show due to the extent of exercise and wrist motion. After I did want to make use of it, I might push the Digital Crown to clear water out of the watch and unlock the show. There have been moments once I’d miss-tap and by chance cease a exercise, however I might chalk that as much as the Apple Watch being a couple of days outdated on the time. 

The Apple Watch Extremely is examined to MIL-STD 810H, with IP6X mud resistance and 100-meter water resistance. I examined the primary two sturdiness options, however solely went down about 5 toes within the water throughout the 15K. That stated, I’ve learn accounts by fellow journalists concerning the diving expertise with the wearable and the sentiment is mostly optimistic.

Additionally: Easy methods to clear your Apple Watch in 5 steps

Apple Watch Extremely vs. Robust Mudder 15K

The Robust Mudder 15K consists of 30 obstacles, with names like Mud Mile, Lumberjacked, Electrical Eel, Arctic Enema, and Ladder to Hell. These obstacles embody muddy ditches, darkish culverts, ice water, 10,000 volts of electrical energy, staff workouts, and way more. Mainly, it’s extremely taxing on the physique. 

Let’s take a look at a number of the environments and situations that the Apple Watch Extremely took on:

Path working

Whereas it was marketed as a 15K, each the Apple Watch Extremely and COROS Vertix 2 I wore plotted out my whole distance at about 8.5 miles (or 13.68K). The run concerned grassland and closely wooded areas, however the GPS monitoring was virtually precisely the identical for each watches, which is nice. One new function on the Apple Watch Extremely that must be extra current on different fashions is Precision Begin. This easy function enables you to verify {that a} GPS repair has been utilized to your run previous to beginning any countdowns.

Wall climbing

The White Ocean band was snug and versatile sufficient that it didn’t trigger any binding or discomfort whereas climbing over partitions. Higher but, it did not present any put on from rubbing towards the perimeters of rocks and sharp edges. 

Crawling

There have been a number of obstacles the place I needed to crawl on my arms and knees over rocks, in mud, and thru the water. One included a chamber with extraordinarily sturdy mentholated vapor that made my eyes water. I believed for positive the rocks and grime would trigger scratches everywhere in the Apple Watch Extremely, however the show and the edges ended up wanting flawless, with simply a few very minor scratches in a single entrance nook. 

Water submersion

There have been a number of obstacles with water — some with very chilly ice water — and the Apple Watch Extremely’s self-cleaning function labored completely. A press-and-hold on the Digital Crown triggered the audio system to sound, vibrate, and shake out any water that seeped into the wearable. 

Additionally: 9 methods to get extra out of your Apple Watch

A lot of the water occasions within the race had been dyed, so there was little to no visibility once I sunk in. Thus, I used to be not in a position to check (or see) any of the water depth options of the Apple Watch Extremely. My GoPro truly fell off my head in a single impediment and I dove with my eyes closed for greater than 30 seconds earlier than I recovered it. Fortunately, each the Apple Watch Extremely and GoPro had been nonetheless functioning.

Overhead swinging

Much like wall climbing, I anticipated my wrist to be affected by the watch when grabbing and swinging on numerous types of monkey bars. Usually, with rugged-style watches, the bulkier {hardware} can jab into your pores and skin in case your arms are angled. Whereas I fell off quite a few instances throughout the obstacles, the trigger had extra to do with my energy and grip, and fewer with the watch.

Electrical shock

Crawling via the water with 10,000 volts of hanging cables wasn’t one thing to stay up for and I used to be positively rocked by the costs. Fortunately, the Apple Watch Extremely appeared unaffected by the shock remedy and stored on monitoring my coronary heart charge — because it was spiking left and proper. Maybe there is a shock-resistance issue that Apple is not telling us about?

Coronary heart charge monitoring

The Apple Watch Extremely captured my coronary heart charge all through the occasion and, in comparison with the COROS Vertix 2, averaged 3-5 bpm extra. I didn’t have a chest monitor to check the measurements, however the Apple Watch was definitely dependable sufficient to trace my progress all through the 15K and will maintain properly for much less hectic eventualities.

Ocean band

By the point I accomplished the 15K, the white Ocean band was caked in mud (see earlier than and after beneath) and I needed to run a probe via the holes within the band to get all of it out. Nonetheless, the band fared usually significantly better than I anticipated, and after utilizing it for this occasion and sporting it round, I might order this type once more — even when I am not diving.

Battery life

My Apple Watch Extremely arrived the day earlier than my Robust Mudder occasion so I set all of it up after which began the subsequent morning with 100%. I drove simply over half-hour to the occasion website after which had about 45 minutes earlier than the begin to park, check-in, stretch, and discuss with my staff.

I began the 15K occasion with GPS working, a T-Cell mobile sign lively for staying in contact with my household, and the center charge monitor within the background. 

After two hours and 40 minutes, the Watch Extremely was right down to 76%. This works out to 9% consumption per hour, which is fairly excessive. Usually, you’ll be able to count on 4-6% battery loss per hour, in keeping with a fellow journalist, Ray Maker’s assessment, however the lively mobile connection absolutely elevated my consumption charge. In all honesty, I used to be nonetheless impressed that an Apple Watch might final so long as it did.

Since that is such a brand new unit, it would take a while to totally consider the anticipated battery lifetime of the watch. It’s clear that GPS sports activities watches will final for much longer. I had a COROS Vertix 2 on my different wrist to function a typical to measure by and it solely misplaced 5% of its battery over this identical 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Apple Watch Extremely vs. GPS sports activities watches

Apple is clearly going after the rugged sports activities watch market with the Extremely, however I do not assume it is almost pretty much as good, but. GPS sports activities watches final for weeks — not days, have a plethora of metrics accessible to trace throughout the exercise, embody offline mapping so you need to use them for route steerage, and are simply as rugged because the Apple Watch Extremely for much less. 

One different space that I discover missing with the Apple Watch Extremely compared with GPS sports activities watches designed for athletes is the shortage of web-based or desktop entry to the Apple Watch knowledge. You possibly can export the information right into a third-party app, however Garmin, Polar, and COROS have wonderful web sites the place you’ll be able to dive into the small print of the information, create and sync coaching plans, and develop reviews that can assist you prepare and excel in your exercise — from nearly any system.

Backside line

I used to be fairly nervous about taking my $800 Apple Watch Extremely out on this grueling Robust Mudder occasion, given all the crawling, climbing, and different bodily obstacles I needed to deal with. To my shock, it held up rather well and I nonetheless can’t imagine that the show is flawless. I tip my hat to Apple for making a rugged system with premium supplies that truly does maintain up properly below robust situations.

Evaluation: Garmin’s Enduro 2 is the extremely sports activities watch to beat

What I like quite a bit in regards to the Apple Watch Extremely is that whereas it is highly effective sufficient to get via probably the most intense environments, it is simply as dependable as a typical smartwatch. This duality is ideal for folk who need the very best of each worlds. As for me, I am fairly pleased with GPS sports activities watches just like the Garmin Enduro 2 and COROS Vertix 2, so the Apple Watch is unlikely to knock them off of my wrist. 

Options to contemplate

The Apple Watch Extremely is a strong smartwatch, however there are different choices on the market too. If you do not have an iPhone, the Watch Extremely is not an choice, so listed below are alternate options for Android customers in addition to for iPhone customers.