Motorola has unveiled its first Moto Watch Ultra, marking a shift back to Google's Wear OS platform just months after re-entering the smartwatch market with a custom operating system. The move gives the device broader app support, closer integration with Motorola's Android phones and NFC payments via Google Wallet, positioning it as a premium option, though it stops short of matching the rugged, outdoor-focused features found in rival Ultra watches from Apple and Samsung.

The watch runs on a Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chip and supports Google's Gemini alongside Motorola's own Qira assistant, but battery life takes a hit, dropping from the standard Moto Watch's 13 days to around 50 hours with the always-on display disabled. It features a 46mm stainless steel body weighing 51g, a 1.5-inch OLED display, IP68 and 5ATM water resistance, and Gorilla Glass 3, alongside Polar-powered health tracking including heart rate, sleep, stress and an AI running coach. Priced at $349.99 and launching on 10 September, it costs roughly half as much as competing Ultra models, though its feature set is closer to standard smartwatches than true outdoor-adventure devices.