Motorola is expanding its smartwatch lineup and getting back in bed with Google. Just as earlier wearable leaks suggested, the new $350 Moto Watch Ultra, announced at IFA 2026, supports cellular connectivity, while also switching from a custom wearable operating system to the tried-and-true Wear OS 6.
The Moto Watch Ultra features a smaller 46mm body than the previous Moto Watch, but a larger 1.5-inch OLED touchscreen. On the side, there’s a rotating crown and a button for navigating the Ultra’s interface, something you might spend more time doing now that its Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip can actually run apps. The smartwatch has an IP68 rating and water resistance up to 5ATM if you want to take it swimming. Color options are unfortunately limited to silver and black, but Motorola plans to sell several watch bands with Pantone-approved colors.
The real draw here is the software and the LTE connectivity it enables. With Wear OS and a cellular plan, the Moto Watch Ultra can receive phone calls and send messages when you’re away from your phone or even stream music while you’re on a run. Google’s wearable software naturally adds the company’s own apps, too, along with two AI assistants, Gemini and Motorola’s own Quira.
If exercise is your goal, Motorola’s partnership with Polar is also still in place for the Ultra. The company says the smartwatch now includes a breathing exercise app called Serene and sleep tracking improvements. If you enjoy running, the Moto Watch Ultra also has a Running Coach feature that can lead you through guided runs and walks.
Those new features do include one major drawback: battery life. Whereas a lightweight real-time operating system made a 13-day battery life possible on the Moto Watch, Motorola is only guaranteeing two days of battery life on the Moto Watch Ultra, and that’s specifically with the smartwatch’s always-on display turned off. Wear OS and cellular radios likely play a role, but it’s a significant change for anyone used to not reaching for a charger.
At $350 with Wear OS in tow, the Moto Watch Ultra’s main advantage over something like the Pixel Watch 5 is now being $50 cheaper. That’s less exciting than ridiculously long battery life, but it might be worth it to be on a modern wearable operating system.
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