A few months after returning to the smartwatch market, Motorola introduced its first Moto Watch Ultra model aimed at the premium segment. Instead of the proprietary operating system used by the previous Moto Watch, the device runs Google’s Wear OS platform and features the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chip. This choice provides access to a wide range of apps, compatibility with Motorola’s Android phones, and NFC payments through Google Wallet. The watch also supports Gemini and Motorola’s Qira AI assistant.
The Moto Watch Ultra’s biggest drawback is its battery life. While the previous model could run for 13 days, the new watch offers up to 50 hours of use with the always-on display turned off. The device weighs 51g, is 12mm thick, and has a 46mm case. Thanks to slimmer bezels, it uses a 1.5-inch OLED display. The stainless steel body is available in black and silver, and the box includes two 22mm straps, one silicone and the other leather.
The watch has an IP68 rating, 5ATM water resistance, and Gorilla Glass 3. In collaboration with Polar, it tracks heart rate, sleep, stress, SpO2, and recovery, while also offering an AI-powered running coach, LTE, and dual-band GPS. However, the model does not have the extensive outdoor and extreme sports features found on the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Moto Watch Ultra will be priced at $349.99, and sales will begin on September 10th.
Why it matters
Moto Watch Ultra is changing Motorola’s position in the smartwatch market by tying it to the Wear OS ecosystem instead of its own operating system. This choice broadens everyday-use capabilities such as app access, phone compatibility, and contactless payments, particularly for those using Android phones, while positioning the device for a user base beyond those seeking only basic notifications and health tracking. By contrast, its significantly shorter battery life compared with the previous model represents a key consideration for users who do not want to charge it constantly. Although the watch offers health and running features, its lack of the comprehensive outdoor capabilities found in Apple and Samsung’s high-end rivals leaves open the question of which use cases the premium price will truly meet.
Background
Ultra is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 11 news reports mentioning the name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated September 5, 2026.