Apple Watch Ultra 4’s case is Grade 5 titanium, sold in exactly two finishes, natural and black, weighing 63.0 grams and 63.1 grams. Apple states the case is 100 percent recycled titanium, part of a 45 percent recycled material figure for the watch overall, a claim Apple has now made for two Ultra generations in a row.
The case is the one part of Ultra 4 Apple does not offer in any other material. Series 12 also comes in titanium, but Apple sells it in aluminum and ceramic too; Ultra 4 comes in titanium only.
Key facts
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Case material | Grade 5 titanium | Apple’s tech specs page |
| Finishes | Natural, Black | Apple’s tech specs page |
| Case dimensions | 49 mm H x 44 mm W x 12 mm D | Apple’s tech specs page |
| Weight | 63.0 g (natural), 63.1 g (black) | Apple’s tech specs page |
| Wrist fit | 130 to 210 mm | Apple’s tech specs page |
| Recycled titanium in the case | 100 percent | Apple’s press release |
| Recycled material overall | 45 percent | Apple’s press release |
Two finishes, a tenth of a gram apart
Apple’s spec sheet lists natural titanium at 63.0 grams and black titanium at 63.1 grams, a difference Apple does not explain and that likely comes from the coating process used for the black finish rather than a different alloy. Both share the same 49 by 44 by 12 millimeter case and the same 130 to 210 millimeter wrist fit.
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A recycled claim that started with Ultra 3
The 100 percent recycled titanium case is not new to Ultra 4. Apple’s own historical spec pages describe the original 2022 Apple Watch Ultra case only as “aerospace-grade titanium,” and Ultra 2’s 2023 spec sheet as “Grade 5 titanium,” neither carrying a recycled-content figure in the material we checked. Ultra 3, launched in September 2025, is the first generation where Apple’s spec sheet states “100% recycled titanium” outright. Ultra 4 repeats that same claim rather than improving on it.
The case also grew slightly heavier along the way. Apple’s own generation-over-generation figures put Ultra 3 at 61.6 grams natural and 61.8 grams black; Ultra 4 adds about 1.4 grams to each, landing at 63.0 and 63.1 grams. Apple has not stated why, and the two watches share the same 49 by 44 by 12 millimeter dimensions, so the extra weight is not coming from a larger case.
What 45 percent and 100 percent actually measure
Apple’s two figures answer different questions. The 100 percent figure applies specifically to the titanium in the case; the 45 percent figure is Ultra 4’s recycled material content across the entire product, including the battery, where Apple separately states the cobalt is 100 percent recycled. A single component being fully recycled does not make the whole watch fully recycled, and Apple’s own numbers do not claim that it does.
How that compares with Series 12’s titanium option
| Figure | Ultra 4 | Series 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Case materials sold | Titanium only | Aluminum, titanium or ceramic |
| Titanium case, recycled content | 100 percent | 100 percent |
| Recycled material overall | 45 percent | 40 percent |
| Titanium finish price | From $799 (only option) | Not published |
Series 12’s aluminum cases are also stated as 100 percent recycled aluminum, so a fully recycled case metal is not unique to the titanium models this year. What Apple has not published is a separate price for Series 12’s titanium finish, which would let a buyer compare the same case material at two different sizes and two different chips.
What Apple has not said
- A separate price for Series 12’s titanium case, radiant gold or natural.
- Why the black titanium finish weighs 0.1 grams more than natural.
- Any recycled-content figure for the sapphire crystal, band hardware, or packaging beyond the case and battery.
- Whether the titanium alloy itself changed between Ultra 3 and Ultra 4, beyond the shared recycled-content claim.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 reaches stores Friday, September 18, at the same From $799 starting price Apple announced on September 9.
