Moto Watch Ultra at IFA 2026
Initially among the pioneers that fully embraced the smartwatch trend with the impressive (albeit at times controversial) Moto 360 series, Motorola has since ceded its position to rivals. In light of the mediocre reception of this year’s Moto Watch, the company appears to be gearing up for a strategic shift.
Introducing the Moto Watch Ultra, unveiled at IFA 2026 in Berlin.
Not a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Competitor
This is not a rival to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, despite the similar branding. Instead, it signals a promising resurgence for Motorola, challenging the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Pixel Watch 5 by providing consumers with a much-needed alternative in the Wear OS domain, especially now that OnePlus has exited the competition.
Google Platform is a Big Deal
The Moto Watch Ultra’s use of Google’s platform is a significant development, particularly following the Moto Watch, which followed a similar path as the original (and subpar) OnePlus Watch by utilizing its proprietary software. However, the brand maintains its collaboration with Polar for fitness tracking solutions.
Motorola
Polar Fitness Tracking
Polar has carved out a strong reputation as a competitor to Garmin and Coros, particularly in providing clear guidance on when to exercise and when to rest. Having this software on a Wear OS smartwatch could give Motorola a competitive advantage.
Running Coach and Serene Modes
A dedicated Running Coach mode is included to assist users who are new to their fitness journey or aiming for a 10K or marathon. This is complemented by a mode named Serene, which Motorola touts as providing guided breathing exercises to enhance mindfulness during workouts.
Pricing and Size
As indicated by previous leaks, the Motorola Watch Ultra is available in a single 46mm stainless steel size, but at £369, it offers better value for those seeking a larger timepiece. In contrast, the 45mm Pixel Watch 5 is priced at £399 for the basic Wi-Fi model.
What you get for your money
The Watch Ultra represents the first Motorola smartwatch to include LTE connectivity and features Google Pay, dual-band GPS, IP68 and 5ATM ratings, along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for its 1.5-inch OLED display (without any flat tire design) boasting up to 2700 nits of brightness.
Performance is driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, which appears to be the primary cost-saving decision since this chipset was first launched in 2022.
Motorola
Motorola Qira vs Google Gemini
Motorola is also eager to highlight that the Watch Ultra provides access to Motorola Qira, the company’s response to Google Gemini. However, whether Qira can surpass Gemini remains uncertain, considering the extensive functionality that Google has integrated into its AI service, although Qira might still hold value and Gemini is part of Wear OS 6.
Battery Life
Battery life is expected to last around two days when the always-on display is activated, placing the device on par with the Galaxy Watch 9.
Availability
Motorola has announced that the Moto Watch Ultra will be released in the UK and Ireland on 18 September, and will also be accessible in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific shortly thereafter. It will come in two colors (black or silver) and four strap options (22mm universal) as follows.
- Pantone Black Beauty (silicone)
- Pantone Black Beauty (leather)
- Pantone Mountain View (silicone)
- Pantone Nathutch (leather)
It appears that the USA may not receive this device, but stay tuned for our comprehensive review to determine if the smartwatch can compete with the top smartwatches.
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Summary
Summary: “Watch Out! Motorola’s Back in the Game” – Motorola is making another attempt at smartwatches with the Moto Watch Ultra, and it seems they may actually have their strategy straight this time. Keep watching as the story progresses!
