Moto Watch Ultra Launches with Wear OS and Snapdragon W5 Plus
Motorola debuts the Moto Watch Ultra at IFA 2026 featuring Wear OS, a 1.5-inch OLED display, and a $349.99 price tag launching September 10th.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Motorola introduces the Moto Watch Ultra powered by Google Wear OS and Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1
- Battery life is rated at up to 50 hours with the always-on display turned off
- Features a 46mm stainless steel case, weighing 51g with a 12mm thickness and 1.5-inch OLED screen
- Priced at $349.99 and scheduled to go on sale starting September 10th
A few months after re-entering the smartwatch market, Motorola is setting its sights on the premium segment with the introduction of the first-ever Moto Watch Ultra. Unveiled during IFA 2026, this new flagship wearable brings significant upgrades over the standard Moto Watch, most notably shifting from a custom operating system to Google’s Wear OS platform powered by a Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chip. This transition grants users access to a robust ecosystem of applications, seamless interoperability with Android smartphones, Google Wallet NFC support, along with Gemini and Motorola's proprietary Qira AI assistant.
However, this computational upgrade comes with a trade-off in battery longevity. While the earlier Moto Watch boasted an impressive 13-day runtime, Motorola estimates that the Ultra model will deliver up to 50 hours of battery life with the always-on display switched off.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Measuring 51g and 12mm thick, the Ultra is a stocky smartwatch featuring a 46mm face that is slightly smaller than the standard Moto Watch. Despite the compact housing, it packs a larger 1.5-inch OLED display by employing significantly slimmer bezels. The stainless steel body comes in black or silver options, both shipping with two 22mm straps in the box—one silicone and one leather. The silver variant pairs with green silicone and brown leather bands, while the black model comes entirely in black.
The strategic shift to Google's Wear OS positions Motorola to better compete in the premium Android wearable space. As noted by The Verge news editor Dominic Preston, despite bearing the 'Ultra' moniker, the watch lacks the rugged outdoor and extreme sports capabilities found in elite competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, positioning it closer to standard flagship smartwatches instead.
For durability and fitness tracking, the Ultra is equipped with an IP68 rating, 5ATM water resistance, and Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the face. Health metrics are monitored through an ongoing partnership with Polar, covering heart rate, sleep, stress, SpO2, and recovery, complemented by an AI running coach, LTE connectivity, and dual-band GPS.
The Moto Watch Ultra will retail for $349.99—roughly half the price of competing Ultra models and about double the $149.99 cost of the standard Moto Watch. It will officially become available starting on September 10th.
Source: The Verge
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