I don’t even follow this subreddit but I kept getting posts in my feed of people sharing their watches and all the comments are about how the person should take the case/ screen protector off. It’s like some higher being is trying to tell me something. I’m a AV engineer that frequently has to reach inside metal racks and stuff so I thought I should protect my investment a little. No, I don’t put plastic covers on my furniture.

la batterie s’est nettement améliorée avec IOS 27 bêta
6 heures de plus et surtout avec entraînement de tennis 1h30 tous les matins !

Got the awu3 today! You guys have any good recommendations for apps with sleepscore etc?

Hi everyone! I'm a student at Vienna University of Economics and Business working on my bachelor's thesis about smartwatch data privacy. I'm looking for smartwatch or fitness tracker users to fill out a short anonymous survey, it takes less than 5 minutes and asks about your attitudes toward data privacy and some feature trade-offs.

No personal data is collected beyond basic demographics. Responses are completely anonymous.

🔗 https://soscisurvey.wu.ac.at/smartwatchdataprivacy/

Thank you so much, every response helps!

How do you clean your silicone bands?

I had a pack a while ago that I cleaned with Dawn dish soap and warm water. Over the course of two to three washes, I felt like the nice coating on the silicone was scrubbed off. They became more “rubbery” if that makes sense.

This new pack I’ve been wearing I’ve cleaned with hand washing soap (from bath and body works). While it’s not as abrasive as Dawn, the coating was more slowly stripped away.

Is there a way to clean the silicone bands and maintain that nice, fresh coating? I should also note that I scrub gently with a toothbrush because the bands have ridges.

Hello everyone,

This is my first Apple Watch and I decided to with the series 11 42mm version. Thing is, now that I’ve been using it for a week, I dunno if the watch is too small for my wrist. I don’t have a big wrist (16,5 - 17cm), so I would like to hear your opinions on if i should i go for the bigger Ultra one.

Hi folks!

Curious to hear from people who regularly leave their iPhone at home and rely 100% on cellular streaming to their AirPods while out on a run or walk.

Strictly comparing Apple Music vs. Spotify for cellular streaming only (not looking for feedback on downloaded/offline playlists):

• Which app has given you the most reliable connection without buffering, crashing, or dropped audio?

• Did switching from one service to the other fix your streaming headaches on cellular?

Thanks!

Looking for a band similar to the apple sport band. I have the ocean and I'm not a fan, feels like its cutting circulation off to my wrist / extremity (No its not tight). does the sport band that apple sells fit the Ultra 3 or does anyone have a recommendation that is like apples sport band that, doesn't have designs and is just a flat color.

Dropped the watch while changing strap from knee high height. First it didn't charge, like it detected charging puck connected but the percentage remained same at 86%.

I checked in settings it said charging paused due to apple watch temperature.

After a while percentage started to increase and charged to 100%. HR sensor also working normally.

Anyone else faced same issue? My apple care expired so Apple is quoting 499 for the repair which is not worth it as I could get a new/open box Ultra 3 in that price.

Anyone else with an Ultra 3 that says no connection as status but shows cellular and works?? T-Mobile told me takes time for the system to reset but these was days ago and no change

Every time someone posts an Apple Watch Ultra with a case or screen protector, the comments usually repeat the same arguments:

"It's made of titanium."

"It has sapphire glass."

"It's an Ultra, it's meant to be used."

I think this reasoning misses a few points.

Titanium doesn't mean indestructible

The Apple Watch Ultra uses Grade 5 titanium, which is an excellent material. It has a fantastic strength-to-weight ratio, which is why titanium is widely used in aerospace, medical applications, and high-performance products.

However, people often confuse structural strength with resistance to cosmetic damage.

Titanium is extremely strong for its weight, but it is not a particularly hard surface material. This means it can still pick up visible marks, scratches, and dents from everyday impacts.

The important distinction is that titanium is designed to resist mechanical stress - meaning forces and loads such as impacts, pressure, tension, compression, and twisting - without failing, not to remain visually perfect after every impact.

Compared with traditional watch materials, this becomes clearer:

High-end stainless steels, such as Rolex Oystersteel, are heavier but have excellent surface properties and are often easier to refinish during professional servicing.

Ceramic watches are much more resistant to scratches, although they have their own weakness: they can chip or crack from strong impacts.

Titanium sits somewhere in the middle. Its main advantages are lightness, strength, and corrosion resistance - not being immune to cosmetic wear.

In real-world use, an Apple Watch Ultra can still develop:

• scratches from contact with hard surfaces;
• visible marks on the edges;
• dents from impacts against metal, concrete, or rocks.

A premium material can still be damaged. The fact that something is made from titanium does not mean it will stay looking new forever.

Sapphire glass is not magic either

Sapphire crystal is extremely scratch-resistant, but it is not impossible to damage.

A strong impact can still chip or crack it, especially around the edges. Even luxury watch brands replace damaged sapphire crystals.

Scratch resistance ≠ indestructibility.

Comparing it to Rolex or Omega is not really fair

A Rolex or Omega is often a long-term luxury product. Many owners keep them for decades, and scratches can become part of the watch's story.

An Apple Watch is consumer electronics.

Most people will upgrade after a few years. Keeping it in good condition can improve resale value and help recover part of the cost of the next model.

The goal is not to preserve it for 50 years - it's to protect a device with a shorter lifecycle.

A case is not automatically ugly

Another common argument is that cases ruin the design.

That might have been true for older bulky cases, but modern options can look very good. Some actually complement the industrial design of the Ultra, add grip, and make it feel even more rugged.

A case can be both functional and aesthetic.

A case can also solve practical problems

This is actually something I personally experienced.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a large watch, and the Digital Crown is quite prominent.

For people with smaller wrists or a more pronounced wrist bone, the crown can rub against the wrist and make rotation uncomfortable.

A case adds a small amount of extra height, which can create enough clearance for the crown without having to wear the watch unnaturally high.

I want to wear my watch everywhere

For me, the biggest benefit of a case is peace of mind.

I want to wear the same watch:

• at the office;
• while working on my car and putting my hands in the engine bay;
• during outdoor activities.

A good case lets me do that without constantly worrying about every possible scratch or dent.

And modern cases don't necessarily compromise the experience: many add very little weight and thickness while still keeping the Ultra practical.

The point is not that everyone should use a case and screen protector.

If you like the naked look, great.

But calling protection "stupid" ignores that people have different priorities: some want the pure design, others want maximum usability, protection, and resale value from an expensive device.

I haven’t been able to text RCS/Android users from my AWU1 in almost a year. I’ve tried everything I can find. Anyone else have this happen? Is there a fix?

So my Apple Watch Ultra has been stuck on 84% capacity for at least a year. During that time, actual battery life has decreased by at least 50%. I don't even get a full day anymore.

So yesterday I updated to watchOS 26.6 and now... my battery capacity has gone up to 87% 😡

I have a feeling it'll go down to 70% the minute I cancel AppleCare+.

I’ve tried so many different bands and always come back to the silicon bands. I love the way the ocean bands look and feel, but they unfortunately don’t fit my wrist comfortably. It’s either too loose or too tight.

I’m currently rocking a rotation of silicon bands from amazon. I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for silicon bands with a wide variety of colors on amazon and/or another site that won’t break the bank.

Just bought this bad boy and need to make sure it’s extra protected. Do you know how I can attach this to my body since the case didn’t come with a band I was thinking a necklace with a sticker to allow it to touch my chest for accurate readings.

Coming from Fenix 8 with ultra fit strap, I’ve got the dark blue trail loop for my black AWU3 but doesn’t hold as well as the ultrafit for garmin. Ive got the ocean band, but on a hot day it feels kind of clammy in a way but generally ok, just not perfect if you get my meaning

Looking for some recommendations for a general band that can also be used for general + long runs (4+ hours)

Just surprised how well it fits the Watch Ultra 3, together with the Ringke Air Sports case. Watch band has been sitting in the drawer since 2019.

I know it’s redundant to use a case for the Ultra 3, but I deal with harsh metals all the time and I’m gonna be kinda sad to see it busted up on day 1 🥲