Apple Watch Ultra 4 bands: from US$99 to US$2,199, and which Series 12 bands are compatible
Index
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrived in September with its own band catalog, separate from the rest of the lineup. There are four standard models and three Hermès options, all in 49 mm, and prices range from US$99 to US$2,199 for a single band.
That number above is not a typo, and the reason appears below.
The four Ultra 4 bands
Apple groups them by activity type: Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, and Titanium Milanese Loop. The first three cost US$99 according to MacRumors' survey of the U.S. store.
None of the four is an enlarged version of a band from the regular catalog. The clasp, the material, and, in two cases, the purpose all change.
Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band
The Alpine Loop is the one with the metal hook, designed so the band does not come loose when your arm hits something. The Trail Loop is the lightest of the three and the easiest to adjust on the go, because it closes with Velcro. The Ocean Band is the one Apple associates with water sports and diving, and the only one of the three with a translucent finish.
Of the three, the Trail is the one that makes the least sense at first glance. It looks like the cheap option next to the Alpine, but it is the one most people end up wearing all day: it weighs less, dries faster, and has no hard parts against the skin.
Titanium Milanese Loop
It is the only metal option in the group and the one that takes the Ultra out of purely sporty territory. The mesh magnetically attaches at any point, so there is no size to get right, and because it is titanium, it weighs less than its appearance suggests.
The problem is the same as always with metal mesh bands: they accumulate sweat between the links and are uncomfortable for sleeping. If the Ultra is your only watch and you also wear it at night, this cannot be your only band.
The Hermès bands for the Ultra 4
There are three, and none is shared with the standard model collection: Grand H Titane, Scub'H Diving, and En Mer. The Grand H Titane is the one that explains the top-end price: it is made of titanium, costs US$2,199 according to the same MacRumors list, and its product page confirms an extension mechanism for adjusting the watch over a wetsuit.
That detail is what separates it from just any luxury bracelet. Apple presents it as a diving band, and the mechanism exists because a rigid link bracelet does not fit over a wetsuit without it.
Scub'H Diving and En Mer
The other two Hermès bands for the Ultra are water-focused, and each costs US$549 in the surveyed list. The Scub'H Diving is made of high-performance rubber with porthole perforations as its visual signature. The En Mer is a water-resistant textile band with a titanium buckle.
Among the three Hermès bands for the Ultra, these two make functional sense in addition to being aesthetic choices. The Grand H Titane is a statement; the Scub'H and the En Mer are bands you can use in the water without feeling like you are ruining something.
Which Series 12 bands are compatible with the Ultra 4
The 46 mm bands are compatible, as are 44 and 45 mm bands from previous generations. Apple documents in its compatibility table that 49 mm bands are compatible with 44, 45, and 46 mm cases, and that those same sizes also work the other way around on a 49 mm case.
That means the Ultra 4 is not limited to its four bands: the Sport Band, Braided Solo Loop, stainless steel Milanese Loop, and Sport Loop from the regular catalog are valid options, and several cost half as much. What is left out is the smaller group, meaning 38, 40, and 41 mm bands.
The Ultra 4 specs page lists a 49 × 44 × 12 mm case that fits wrists from 130 to 210 mm.
Which one to choose based on your use
If the Ultra is your everyday watch and you do not do water sports, the Trail Loop is the best buy in the catalog: US$99, light, and comfortable at any time of day.
If you dive or do serious water sports, the Ocean Band is the one Apple built for that.
If you want the watch to also work outside a sports context, the Titanium Milanese Loop is the one that changes the tone the most, with the caveat that you should not sleep with it.
And if you are looking at the Grand H Titane, the honest argument is not the material but the mechanism: it is a titanium band that actually solves the problem of wearing the watch over a wetsuit. Whether that is worth US$2,199 is another conversation, and the answer depends on whether diving is your sport or your excuse.
Frequently asked questions
Do Apple Watch Ultra 3 bands work with the Ultra 4?
Yes. Both cases are 49 mm and the attachment system has not changed, so the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band from previous generations fit without an adapter.
Can you use an Apple Watch Series 12 band on the Ultra 4?
Yes, if it is 46 mm. Apple documents that 44, 45, and 46 mm bands are compatible with 49 mm cases. The 38, 40, and 41 mm group does not fit.
What is the cheapest Ultra 4 band?
Within the Ultra's own catalog, the three sport bands are US$99. If you open the door to the regular 46 mm catalog, there are cheaper options that also fit the 49 mm case.
Correa Loop Trail
The lightest band in the Apple Watch Ultra 4 catalog, with a Velcro closure. It is the one that works best for daily use within the sport group.
Pros
- It is the most comfortable for wearing the watch all day.
- It can be adjusted on the go without taking off the watch.
- It dries quickly after training.
Cons
- The Velcro loses grip with use.
- It does not have the reinforced closure of the Alpine Loop.
Correa Ocean
The band Apple associates with water sports and diving, with a translucent finish and a closure designed not to come loose under pressure.
Pros
- It is the one Apple built for the water.
- The translucent finish is not repeated anywhere else in the catalog.
Cons
- Out of the water, it is the least comfortable of the three.
- It adds nothing if you never dive.
Correa Grand H Titane de Hermès
The most expensive band in the Apple Watch Ultra 4 catalog, made of titanium and featuring an extension mechanism to fit the watch over a wetsuit.
Pros
- The extension mechanism solves a real diving problem.
- Titanium weighs less than its appearance suggests.
Cons
- It costs almost three times as much as the watch.
- It is the least practical option outside the water and the office.
Author
Alexis PaezReport based on official announcements and verified public sources at the time of publishing.
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