Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Ultra: Is the Upgrade Worth It

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: A Comparison of the Latest Smartwatches

In the world of smartwatches, Apple reigns supreme with its acclaimed Apple Watch series. The company introduced the well-received Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, followed by the enhanced Apple Watch Ultra 2 in 2023. While the latter is more of a gradual improvement than a significant leap, it’s worth examining the features of both models to determine if an upgrade is necessary and if the added cost is justified.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts the largest and most vibrant display ever seen on an Apple Watch, along with a new S9 chipset, making it an attractive choice. It also includes popular features like Double Tap, which is also available on the Apple Watch Series 9.

Patent Dispute and Blood Oxygen Sensing Technology

However, those interested in purchasing the Apple Watch Ultra 2 may face an additional challenge. In December 2023, one version of the device (along with the Apple Watch Series 9) was banned in the U.S. due to a patent dispute over the blood oxygen sensing technology. Currently, Apple offers a version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 without the blood oxygen features in the U.S. If this feature is crucial to you, it may be wise to wait and see if Apple can reach an agreement that would allow them to offer this technology in the U.S. once again.

Comparing Specifications

Design and Materials

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 closely resembles its predecessor in design, featuring the same natural titanium case. The only notable difference lies in the new bands that accompany it, which are compatible with both the Ultra 2 and the first-generation Ultra.

Unique Watch Face

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduced a distinctive watch face that quickly gained popularity. This model’s highlight is how it utilizes the device’s outer edge to display real-time data such as seconds, altitude, and depth. The watch face offers more customization options than any other digital face from Apple, allowing users to personalize it according to their preferences, whether they enjoy sports, outdoor activities, or water-based pursuits. Fortunately, this new watch face is also compatible with the original Apple Watch Ultra, so users who appreciate its appearance but don’t want to spend another $799 can still enjoy it.

Display Enhancements

Both models feature a sleek 49mm titanium case and a stunning always-on Retina display with a resolution of 410 by 502 pixels and an identical display area. However, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts a brighter display, offering 3,000 nits of brightness—a 50% increase from the previous model’s 2,000 nits. This improvement makes it the brightest display ever included on an Apple Watch, ensuring easy readability even in bright sunlight, which is ideal for those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Moreover, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a unique feature that allows the screen to lower its brightness to just one nit in dimly lit rooms, perfect for not disturbing others early in the morning. Additionally, users can temporarily double the screen’s brightness by rotating the Digital Crown of the Apple Watch Ultra 2—a cool and useful feature.

Internal Hardware Upgrades

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is powered by the new S9 chipset, which offers improved performance compared to the S8 chip found in the original Ultra. Both models feature 64-bit dual-core processors, W3 wireless chips, and 4-core Neural Engines. However, the Ultra 2 comes with double the storage capacity at 64GB, while the Ultra has 32GB.

In terms of battery life, both models offer up to 36 hours of regular use. The Ultra 2 has an improved low power mode that can extend battery life up to 72 hours, compared to the Ultra’s 60 hours. Both models support fast charging.

Connectivity and Sensors

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra share many connectivity features, including cellular connectivity on the GPS + Cellular model, cellular connectivity waypoints, Family Setup support, and international roaming. The Ultra 2 is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, while the Ultra has the U1 chip. Both models support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3.

Regarding sensors, both models include a blood oxygen sensor, electrical heart sensor, third-generation optical heart sensor, ambient light sensor, and water temperature sensor. However, it’s important to note that the blood oxygen sensor may not be available in the U.S. version of the Ultra 2 due to the aforementioned patent dispute.

Pricing and Availability

Both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra are priced at $799. While the Ultra 2 offers some improvements over its predecessor, the decision to upgrade ultimately depends on individual needs and preferences. Those who prioritize a brighter display, increased storage capacity, and slightly longer battery life in low power mode may find the Ultra 2 to be a worthwhile investment. However, for

The Apple Watch Ultra 2: A Worthy Successor with Impressive Upgrades

Apple Watch Ultra 2 (left) next to the Apple Watch Ultra

Joe Maring / The Zero Byte

S9 Chip and Neural Engine: Unlocking New Possibilities

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, akin to its sibling, the Apple Watch Series 9, boasts the cutting-edge S9 chip, delivering a range of system enhancements. Apple’s 4-core Neural Engine, integrated into the S9 chip, opens up a world of exciting features. One such feature is the ability to use Siri directly on the device, enabling secure and private access to your health data, even without an internet connection.

The enhanced Neural Engine delivers a remarkable 25% improvement in speech recognition accuracy. The introduction of a new double tap gesture empowers you to perform various actions effortlessly using just your index finger and thumb, without the need to touch the watch’s display. This gesture also grants access to the Smart Stack from the watch face, while an additional double tap allows for seamless scrolling through the widgets within the stack.

Precision Finding: Never Lose Your Devices Again

Precision Finding feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 2

Joe Maring / The Zero Byte

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduces an additional feature called Precision Finding, which works in tandem with the watch’s second-gen Ultra Wideband chip. This feature, integrated with the Find My app, helps you quickly locate your misplaced iPhone or other devices. When Precision Finding is activated, you receive visual, haptic, and audio cues, along with information on the distance and direction to your lost tech, making the search process a breeze.

Expanded Storage: More Room for Your Favorite Content

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers double the storage capacity compared to its predecessor, providing 64GB instead of 32GB. This increased storage allows you to keep more photos, music, and podcasts right on your wrist, ensuring your favorite content is always within reach.

Battery Life: Impressive Endurance and Low Power Mode

Andy Boxall / The Zero Byte

While the maximum battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains unchanged at an impressive 36 hours, a notable improvement has been made to the low-power mode. Apple now promises 72 hours of battery life in this mode, a significant increase from the previous 60 hours. Although it’s disappointing that the maximum battery life hasn’t been extended for normal usage, it’s still twice that of the Apple Watch Series 9, which offers only 18 hours. Both Apple Watch Ultra models support fast charging, making the charging process relatively hassle-free.

Health and Fitness: Enhanced Features for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Christine Romero-Chan / The Zero Byte

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 builds upon the outdoor workout capabilities of its predecessor, offering even more features for water sports and mountain climbing enthusiasts. Like the original, the new wearable is perfect for kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and recreational scuba diving, with the ability to reach depths of up to 40 meters. The updated Oceanic app now includes freediving as a new option.

The Depth app on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 allows you to save logs of your sessions and review them later, complete with GPS coordinates accessible through the Fitness app on your iPhone. The watchOS 10 update brings several health and fitness features to both versions of the Apple Watch Ultra, including enhanced cycling workouts with Live Activity on iPhone, an updated Compass app displaying elevation and 3D waypoints, new topographic maps in the Maps app, mental health support tools, and more.

It’s important to note that all the new fitness features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are software-related, meaning they will be available on the first Apple Watch Ultra through watchOS 10 updates. Regardless of which Ultra model you own, you’ll have access to the same health and fitness tools.

Environmental Impact: Apple’s Commitment to Carbon Neutrality

Apple

Apple has set an ambitious target to achieve carbon neutrality for all its products by 2030. The company has already made significant strides in this direction, with certain case and band combinations for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 now being carbon-neutral. To achieve this, Apple has utilized 95% recycled materials in the titanium case. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also incorporates several materials crafted from 100% recycled sources, including tungsten in the Taptic Engine, rare earth elements in all magnets, and tin in the solder of multiple printed circuit boards.

Other materials in the new watch that meet this distinction include gold in the plating of several printed circuit boards, foil in the main

The Apple Watch Ultra 2: A Worthy Upgrade for First-Time Buyers, but Existing Owners Should Wait

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts impressive enhancements, such as swifter performance, a more vibrant display, and innovative gesture controls. While these features are undeniably appealing, the question remains: is it worth shelling out another $799 this year for existing Apple Watch Ultra owners?

A Compelling Choice for First-Time Buyers

For those considering their first foray into the world of Apple Watch Ultra, the second-generation model is an excellent choice. The improved capabilities and sleek design make it a compelling investment, offering a premium smartwatch experience.

Existing Owners Should Consider Waiting

However, if you already own the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, it might be prudent to hold off on upgrading this year. While the new features are enticing, they may not justify the substantial cost of upgrading so soon. Instead, it could be wise to wait and see what groundbreaking innovations Apple has in store for the next iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 depends on your current smartwatch situation and personal preferences. If you’re new to the Apple Watch Ultra lineup, the second-generation model is a fantastic option. But for existing owners, patience may be the best approach, allowing you to maximize the value of your current device while eagerly anticipating the next game-changing release from Apple.