The Apple Watch Ultra It has been one of the great novelties of the event far-out, although in the previous one there was concern about its alleged lack of compatibility with the straps of other models of Apple smartwatches. Fortunately, this is not so.
Not only will you be able to use the straps you already had previously on the new Apple Watch Ultra. You can also buy the straps designed for the sport model and use them on other Apple Watches. Although this will be limited to certain sizes.
Rumors of Apple Watch Ultra not being compatible with older bands were based on the size of the device. Is that the version designed for extreme sports It comes with a 49-millimeter case., much larger than those of other members of the smart watch family. For reference, the larger Apple Watch Series 8 is 45 millimeters, while the new SE goes up to 44 millimeters.
However, this is ultimately not the case. If you browse through the section dedicated to straps on Apple’s website, you’ll be able to filter them based on the size of the box. If you choose the 49 millimeter option you will find all the versions compatible with the Apple Watch Ultra.
Band compatibility with the Apple Watch Ultra
Logically, in the first places you will find the new straps that have been specially designed for this variant. We talk about the Alpine Loop (for outdoor activities), LoopTrail (for endurance sports) and Ocean (for diving and water sports). But you will also see the rest of the options that can also be implemented in the smartwatch, such as the Solo Loop, the Nike Sport or the Nike Sport Loop, among others. It is worth clarifying, however, that only 45-millimeter versions are compatible with the 49-millimeter case.
An important fact is that many of the 45-millimeter straps are also compatible with the 42-millimeter Apple Watch. This means that, in theory, you could also use some old 42mm version on the Apple Watch Ultra, although those from Cupertino do not mention it on their website. It is different for the smaller sizes —38, 40 or 41 millimeters—, which are not directly compatible with the 49 mm model.
If you prefer to buy one that hasn’t been specifically designed for Apple Watch Ultra instead of using older bands, you can check compatibility individually at checkout.
If you wonder what happens when you think about this situation in reverse, it’s even simpler. Apple’s own online store indicates that the Loop Alpine, Loop Trail and Ocean straps of the Apple Watch Ultra can also be used in 44 and 45 millimeter models. This means that you can take advantage of the designs specially designed to secure the sports watch in extreme situations, in other Apple Watch.
In terms of prices, bands specifically designed for the Apple Watch Ultra cost €99 eachregardless of model and color.