Triathlon testing across swim, bike and run found Apple’s Ultra 4 strong enough for multisport use, with just over two days of real-world battery life in line with Apple’s 50-hour claim.
Two new workout battery modes extend tracking further: Extended Workout reaches 25 hours with full GPS and heart rate, while Max Extended stretches to 45 hours by dropping alerts, splits and several running metrics.
Apple also upgraded heart-rate sensing and added HRV-based recovery tracking; its 1,254-participant study said the shared sensor system beat six rival wearables, though the review noted missing-reading gaps were not detailed.
Other additions include on-watch Sound Recognition and instant Shazam, while Live Rewind and Siri Recap will arrive in beta later this year with audio processed on-device and deleted immediately, Apple said.
The review concluded the features that matter most for triathletes are battery life, multisport tracking and recovery insights, with the new audio tools framed as secondary extras.