When it comes to the Apple Watch, less is often more. A focused device with fewer notifications and a small number of meaningful complications can feel better than a screen stuffed with data. This philosophy carries over to watch faces. Even though watchOS 27 has not yet introduced any new Apple Watch faces, there is still a way to make an existing face feel fresh and personal: take the very busy Modular Ultra face and scale it back.

Key facts

• watchOS 27 has not introduced any new Apple Watch faces yet.
• Modular Ultra is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra family.
• The face can show six compact complications, a medium complication, and bezel data.
• A simplified configuration uses large time, visible seconds, and just two complications.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 can keep seconds visible even in always-on mode.
• The red notification dot sits off-center when the top-middle complication is empty.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at $699; the Ultra 2 is available refurbished for $589.

A more modular, less ultra version of Modular Ultra face

Modular Ultra was designed for people who want to see as much information as possible. It is the most capable watch face on an Apple Watch Ultra. The screen can be divided into many sections, each one dedicated to a different piece of data. With the right setup, the face can show everything from weather and activity to altitude, depth, and training load. That is ideal for adventurers, athletes, and anyone who likes to monitor multiple metrics throughout the day.

Yet the same face can also be configured in a much calmer way. Instead of filling every slot, the main time display can be kept large, with a second readout. The remaining complications can be reduced to just one for weather and one for activity rings. The other slots stay empty. This creates a different personality. The technical dashboard becomes a quiet watch face that still retains the core tools of a sports watch.

On Apple Watch Ultra 3, the large time display with seconds is especially nice because the seconds are always visible. In always-on mode, the watch dims the screen but continues to show the time and the top-level state. On many previous Apple Watch models, a seconds readout would disappear when the wrist was lowered. The Ultra 3 changes that behavior. Watching the seconds tick by is a small pleasure, and it makes the watch feel more alive.

The bottom left complication in this pared-down layout is the current temperature with the day’s low and high. This is a compact way to answer the most common weather question: Do I need a jacket? The top right complication shows activity rings. That slot can change based on interest. Some days it may show the UV index, especially during summer months; other days it might show a timer or the next calendar event. The four remaining small complication slots are intentionally blank. This produces a balanced look and gives the eye space to rest.

Modular Ultra can display a lot of data

For comparison, a fully loaded Modular Ultra face is a different beast. It can show six compact complications spread across the screen. Below the smaller clock, a medium complication can be added. Around the edge, bezel data can be assigned to show seconds, depth, elevation, or training load. In this configuration, the face becomes a miniature data center on the wrist.

This full-capacity setup is useful in specific situations. A diver can check depth without opening an app. A hiker can keep an eye on elevation. A runner can watch training load and heart rate. The weather can appear alongside a calendar, and activity rings can remain visible. There is no denying the power of that many complications in one glance.

However, cramming in every possible data source comes with a cost. The more icons and numbers on the screen, the harder it is for the brain to identify what matters. A dense watch face can be noisy. It requires a moment of scanning, and that moment can make the watch feel less efficient. The same information can be obtained by opening an app or checking the Siri watch face when needed.

The minimal configuration avoids that problem. With only two complications and large negative space, each element gets more attention. The time is the hero. The temperature and activity rings are secondary. No other element competes for space. This is why a scaled-back Modular Ultra can feel like a better everyday face than the full data version, even if it technically uses fewer features.

The versatility of Apple Watch faces

Apple has offered many different watch face styles since the first Apple Watch launched. Some are minimal, like the Solar Dial or Numerals. Others are packed with information, like the Infograph face that appeared with Series 4. Modular Ultra, introduced with the first Apple Watch Ultra, took the idea of Infograph and made it more extreme. It was built for a larger display and a more rugged audience.

The watchOS ecosystem has continued to evolve. Each big update often introduces new faces, but watchOS 27 has not yet done so. That means current users are spending time with the faces already available. Reconfiguring a face is the easiest way to make the watch feel new. The colors, complications, and layout can all be changed in a matter of seconds. Modular Ultra offers more adjustment options than many other faces, which is why it remains so popular.

The lack of new faces does not mean the watch experience is stagnant. Apple sometimes adds new faces in later updates or with new hardware. A leak has suggested that watchOS 27 could eventually bring an upgraded version of an existing face, and rumors point to a brand new face arriving down the line. Until that happens, customization is the best way to refresh the look of the watch.

How to set up a simplified Modular Ultra face

Changing the face is easy. Press and hold the current watch face, tap the plus button, and choose Modular Ultra from the gallery. Then tap the face to enter edit mode. The Apple Watch shows a series of controls. Scroll through the options to

Source:9to5Mac News