Poor connectivity and battery life
I bought the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra with cellular primarily because I’m a distance runner. The workout tracking is useful, but reliable access to music was an equally important reason for my purchase.
Unfortunately, listening to Spotify during long runs has been very inconsistent. I download my playlists to the watch beforehand, yet it is still hit or miss whether they will play. At times, the music remains stuck buffering, especially because cellular coverage in my area is poor. Downloaded music should work reliably without depending on cellular service, and a premium watch marketed for endurance activities should not leave runners wondering whether their music will be available.
The battery life has also been disappointing. Even when I use Low Power Mode or Airplane Mode after workouts, the battery does not last as long as I expected from an “Ultra” device.
When you pay this much for a product, you expect its key features to work consistently—not sometimes, and not only when cellular coverage or third-party software cooperates. The watch has strong fitness-tracking capabilities, but the unreliable music experience and underwhelming battery life keep me from truly enjoying or even recommending the watch. Any help with the above would be appreciated.
Apple Watch Ultra, watchOS 26
