[caption id="attachment_84557" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Modular Ultra Watch Face: 8 Complications[/caption] Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review ❌ a pointless purchase? perhaps More: Apple Watch 10 Review | Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review Rugged, durable, and precisely crafted, the Apple Watch ULTRA 2 lags behind the Garmin Epix 2 for serious endurance endeavours and adventures. Worse, it's $100 more expensive than its predecessor, yet is essentially the same watch as that, now with the same software. It's almost a pointless upgrade unless you're buying ULTRA 2 for whatever future abilities might be announced in 2024 and beyond. The latest Apple Watch sits atop Apple's watch range. It's a tad faster than last year's model and is sturdier, longer-lasting, and more durable than Apple's lesser watches. **If** its real purpose is to kill Garmin adventure watches like Epix and Fenix by introducing superior features, Apple fails big time. But as a watch for weekend warriors and occasional triathletes, it's a highly competent watch that I recommend. ULTRA's digital crown is super chunky and glove-friendly, and the side button is well-protected. Combine that with last year's new customisable action button, and the whole package works well and relishes in that overall Apple feel. Better still, the eco-titanium case and scratch-resistant Sapphire glass are fit for even the most arduous of expeditions. The display has been slightly tweaked for ULTRA 2 and is now 50% brighter than before - don't forget the display can be highly dimmed when in bed and has a redshift mode to retain night vision. Tip: Not for small wrists; it's at least 4mm bigger than the 45mm Watch 9 in every dimension H/W/D The latest Ultra is naturally expensive and only works with an iPhone. It costs $799/£799, considerably more than the entry-level Watch SE, which starts at $249/£219, and the mid-range Series 9 for $399/£399. However, if you buy a top-end Watch Series 10, which boasts a similar titanium case, scratch-resistant sapphire screen and 4G, you are paying the same price as the ULTRA 2 (actually £/$50 less). Buy: Apple Watch Ultra 2 from $799, Eu899, GBP799 Buy: Apple Watch Series 9 from $499, Eu449, GBP399 Those prices pitch the Ultra 2 directly against the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) at $899/£829 Here is a summary review, followed by comprehensive coverage of every sporting aspect of Watch ULTRA 2, some tips, and my recommendations of the best Watch apps for your sport. [caption id="attachment_84558" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Beautiful: 3,000 nits of brightness[/caption] [wp-review id="84173"] Apple Watch ULTRA 2 Review - What's New The new hardware features in ULTRA are extremely thin on the ground, but the latest software features shared by all Watches have some important updates. Here is some more detail Now made with 95% recycled titanium New bands, colours & materials New processing capabilities - 60% more transistors, 30% faster graphics, new neural engine to process voice and gestures 50% brighter display at max, 50% dimmer at min. Flashlight mode boost UWB2 capabilities to find or link to other Apple devices On-Watch Siri can interact with Health Double Tap gesture control Battery capacity increased by 4% And here are the new software boosts Smart widget stack access from watch faces with the digital crown (Excellent!) new Modular, Palette and Snoopy watch faces (meh) Bluetooth sports sensor support (power, cadence, speed) (Great) FTP detection and automatically calculated power zones (Cool) 3rd party workouts accepted, e.g. from Training Peaks (Should be great) Offline Topographic maps with elevation (I'll wait till I see them) 3D elevation view shows POIs, and new automated POIs show the last cellular and emergency locations (#Shrug) Nearby trailheads shown (limited) (Could be good globally) Contact sharing with Name Drop Apple Watch History - A Brief Timeline There are likely over 100 million Apple Watches in use today, and in 2020, sales of Apple Watch exceeded the entirety of sales in the rest of the watch industry. Apple Watch has become a novelty wannabe fitness companion from the iPhone 6 (2014) to a genuinely good, smart sportswatch (2023). Here are the highlights of that journey 2016 Apple Watch 2 - introduces better GPS tracking, waterproofing for swimming and Siri 2017 Apple Watch 3 - adds eSim option 2018 Apple Watch 4 - gets next-gen oHR with ECG, Bluetooth 5, a 64-bit processor, an improved gyroscope and an improved altimeter 2019 Apple Watch 5 & SE - now gets a compass and always-on screen 2020 Apple Watch 6- adds UWB finding capabilities, new optical HR sensor and blood oxygen sensing (SpO2) 2021 Apple Watch 7 - gets dust resistance and increased case size 2022 Apple Watch 8, Ultra, SE 2 - Gets Bluetooth 5.3, 100m swimming/dive, Gen 3 optical HR, next-gen dual frequency GNSS/GPS, fast charging battery, new gyroscope, temperature sensor and altimeter 2023 Apple Watch 9, Ultra 2 - Gets UWB2, faster S9 chipset with gesture control and Siri processing The 2024 Apple Watch 10 gets a newly sized case and redesign of minor internal components Ultra Gen 1 and Watch 8 are the statement editions for now. Ultra 2 is a modest evolution. [caption id="attachment_76516" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Apple Watch Ultra side view[/caption] Apple Watch Ultra 2 Design: Robust & Thoughtful. This is a watch for the future. Apple Watch Ultra 2 appears identical to the original Ultra 1 yet remains radically different from mainstream watches' ubiquitous rounded cases. The hardware is appropriate for many Ultra-like events, although, at 2.2 ounces (61.3g), it's already too heavy for some Ultra Runners. The lens and case are sufficiently scratch-resistant, and the case edge better protects the glass. The screen is radiantly bright, and the three evolved straps are excellent for sports. The customisable action button is good when assigned to your favourite sports app and can even trigger manual laps after your workout app has launched. Even when wearing gloves in cold weather, the digital crown is easier to use, but now Watch Ultra 2 offers a tantalising new way to control it using hand and finger gestures. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Display: Big And Bright Ranking high on the unnecessary scale, the display is 50% brighter than on the previous Ultra and 7% bigger than that on the 45mm Apple Watch 9. It has a beautiful and colourful screen and excellent touch functionality. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Sensors + Connections The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has every commonly available sensor onboard plus a sometimes more precise UWB sensor that delivers excellent 2-way finding. Apple's Workout app adds the ability to pair to common sports sensors, but more specialist sensors will require the manufacturer's app. The glaring omission is the ability of Watch Ultra 2 to broadcast your heart rate. In contrast, more serious cyclists would say a bigger omission is the ability to control the resistance and incline on some forms of gym equipment. Alternative: Broadcast HR with Heartbeatz Apple's wellness sensors cover SpO2, Afib, skin temperature, and ECG/EKG. For athletes, there are more useful sensors like optical HR, dual frequency GNSS/GPS reception for position and speed, a barometric altimeter, and a magnetic compass. Apple would then point out that third-party Watch apps support niche sports equipment like Stryd running footpads, FORM Smart swimming goggles, Core body temperature sensors, ActiveLook Heads-Up Display, and more. Sure, Garmin supports all those, but support from competitors Suunto, Coros, and Polar is patchy. Traditional sports sensors, or pro ones if you like, use ANT+ connections, and Apple will never support those. But now Garmin remains the only sports watch company of note to support ANT+; almost every other app and watch uses Bluetooth. Apple also touts its support for crash detection, fall detection, sleep stage tracking, menstruation tracking, HRV, and diving with EN13319 certification. Every Apple Watch ULTRA 2 has an always-on LTE connection for internet access without a phone. Those features are also available on other serious smartwatches and, to a lesser extent, some sports watches. Take Out: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has all the necessary capabilities to support sensors and connections. However, serious athletes, the ones this watch is supposedly targeted at, might not meet their needs and will buy a Garmin. It is that simple. Apple Watch Ultra Comparisons and Sports Suitability Note: Some images are from my original Ultra Review I'll look at running, cycling, swimming, triathlon and adventure hiking sports and tell you the gaps where the Watch Ultra 2 fails to deliver. Q: Is Watch Ultra 2 Suitable for Running? Yes, Watch Ultra 2 is suitable for training and racing up to a marathon duration event, but you might find it a little bulky for an ultra. Apple has ticked off almost all the mainstream running features, plus some of the esoteric ones, such as track mode, Running Power, and ground contact time metrics. Heart rate zones and other zones are fully supported and can be used to pace your efforts. You are alerted if you leave your chosen zone. Other workout targets are easily possible based on calories, distance, pace, power, and time. Even starting workouts with the customisable action button allows a single button-press start to a race after you've ensured your GPS is locked on. [gallery size="medium" link="file" columns="6" ids="76614,76616,76612,76615,76611,76613"] Serious athletes can build and follow complex workouts and will soon have the same kinds of workouts available from 3rd party digital training plans to drop into calendars. As an example of what's possible, you could create and follow this workout: 15-minute warmup with a power alert range of 150-200w: 5 repeats of 1km with a pace target of 4:00/km each followed by 3 minutes recovery; and then all followed by an open cool down. Q: What Major Running Feature Will Apple Add Next? A: The essential running features of Watch Ultra 2 are complete in Apple's eyes. Expect to see improvements to the flow of the interface and the ability to better find and follow routes/courses. [gallery size="medium" columns="2" link="file" ids="76617,76618,76620,76621"] Q: Is Watch Ultra 2 Suitable for Cycling? A: Apple Watch Ultra 2 suits keen cyclists but not competitive cyclists. You can now easily connect to common cycling sensors and display core metrics. A small-screened wristwatch is less than ideal as a cycling companion for serious cyclists, and that's perhaps why Apple added the ability to mirror your Watch screen onto your much larger iPhone screen. An iPhone on the handlebars is a great display option for cyclists, but if you plan a 100-mile trail ride over an unfamiliar route, Apple's Workout & Maps apps and a fragile iPhone aren't up to the task. Similarly, if you want to follow a structured cycling plan on an indoor trainer, Watch Ultra 2 won't be able to control the workout. Q: What Major Cycling Feature Will Apple Add Next? A: Bike routes and directions will be improved. Resistance levels of smart trainers may become controllable. Safety radar/lights will be supported. [gallery size="medium" columns="5" ids="84570,84567,84568,84569,84571"] Suitability for swimming (and diving) - Watch Ultra 2 Review It's a certified dive watch (to 40m) and is water resistant to 100m, so you can feel pretty secure using it to swim in your local pool or lake. Stroke detection is good, and outdoor swim GPS tracks are accurate enough. However, heart rate is often incorrect when swimming. Q: What Major Swimming Feature Will Apple Add Next? A: None. Q: Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Suitable for Triathlon? A: Yes. Apple Watch Ultra 2 has some surprisingly good triathlon features; my favourite is the optional auto-transition feature, which detects when you change from one sport to the next and works reliably well. I am also impressed by Watch Ultra's ability to create profiles for different kinds of multisport activities such as a duathlon, indoor pool triathlon or multiple training repeats of run+bike. So, if you plan to do a tick-box triathlon, perhaps even a Half-Ironman, why not use your Watch Ultra 2? [gallery size="medium" columns="5" link="file" ids="76588,76584,76585,76587,76586"] Q: What Major Triathlon Feature Will Apple Add Next? A: None. The features introduced for biking and running (above) will be all that triathletes need. At least, that's what Apple will think. Suitability for Adventure Hiking An adventure hiker has a backup of an iPhone, whereas an explorer has a backup of a physical compass and paper map. Watch Ultra 2 is not suitable for involved hiking and explorers. I'll clarify that: the physical hardware is great within the constraints of the battery life, but the Apple Maps/Workout combo is not good enough. You will need third-party routing/mapping from another app like Footpath or Workoutdoors. Apple's intelligent POIs can direct you back to the last places you had emergency cell connectivity and connectivity to your provider. If you can't get there, you have a loud emergency siren. [gallery size="large" columns="2" ids="84554,84556"] Apple builds on the revamped compass watch face and adds Topo Maps and elevation contour, but these features are incomplete. [gallery size="medium" columns="5" ids="76535,76534,76533,76532,76537"] Watch Ultra's onboard sensors, which are all pretty good. An Altimeter, Barometer, and Magnetic Compass are great; you can also get live weather updates. However, there is no navigable map natively on the Watch. As of 2023, Apple has added restricted offline maps to the iPhone, which must be present for the Watch to share. Sure, you can navigate in straight lines to specific points or retrace your steps, but it is impossible to follow a pre-loaded route unless you use a 3rd party app and/or your iPhone. Q: What Major Hiking/Adventure Feature Will Apple Add Next? A: It seems that Apple intends to focus its hiking support on popular and official trails rather than personally curated adventures. A lot has been promised that still hasn't been delivered. [caption id="attachment_84553" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Athlytic: HRV[/caption] Deep Dive Apple Watch Recovery, Sleep & Stress Metrics Apple Watch Ultra 2 can collect sleep, stress, and recovery information using HR, HRV, breath rate, and temperature. However, it only provides rich insights into sleep and sleep stages. You will need a 3rd party app like Athlytic to show stress and recovery levels once you've enabled AFIB History (explanation). Deep Dive: How does Apple make Watch Ultra 2 a true competitor in sports tech? With caveats, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is already a true competitor in sports tech. It only lacks out-of-the-box niche sports features, which its app store largely resolves. Your issue is researching and curating a collection of apps that do your desired jobs. Here are ten or so top apps that will help. The best Map App for Apple Watch Ultra If you want to try to find a better map app than WorkOutdoors or Footpath, then good luck. I just can't see how you can get better maps than this. WorkOutDoors is one of the go-to sports apps with many other features. Just download it now. The app can run in display-a-map-only mode, and you can easily toggle it from, say, Apple's workout app or a complication on the Compass Watchface. The best Tides App for Apple Watch Tides is the best free high/low tide app, in my opinion. Although you can't always find a super-close measuring station to your precise location to get the exact tide status, it's good enough for me. Its handy tide chart (sine wave) can be shown as a complication on some watch faces. The best sunset/sunrise/phase app Sundial is a pretty app that shows most things related to the sun and moon phases. A Good Barometer App in the free version I like the Barometer & Altimeter app, which gives a simple and free one-pager for atmospheric pressure. I couldn't find any watch apps that included a free barometric pressure complication, although many were available in paid-for versions of apps (such as MyRadar and AltiBarometer) This particular app also includes altitude information. However, Apple now natively provides good elevation data, so you might as well use that. You can easily add elevation as an extra screen to many profiles within Apple's Workout app. What's missing here is storm alerting. You can get that in weather forecasting apps, but it would be good to find a free one that alerts you to sharp drops in pressure when you are off-grid. A Great Wind App I love the Windy app. As well as giving a nice weather watch face and free wind complications, Windy also gives a great 2-day, fullscreen wind forecast for free on your wrist. It combines several wind forecasts in an interesting circular chart format, showing each forecast's direction and strength. Like this... [gallery size="medium" link="file" columns="2" ids="76577,76576"] A great Weather Radar Map I've used the free weather map view from the MyRadar app for quite a few years, and there's no reason to stop using it on Ultra 2. Sometimes, a visual of approaching an intense storm brings home the reality of your situation more than a digit on a weather forecast. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="76598,76599"] Best sports & Adventure Apps for Apple Watch ULTRA 2 Apple's workout app and other features, such as the compass, are basic but good enough for most of us. These apps are the best apps for your sports and adventures on any Apple Watch iSmoothRun (app, workouts) Workoutdoors (web, workouts and maps) Footpath (web, route planning) Swim Smooth (app, swimming and technique) Swim.com (swimming) Athlytic (app, recovery/readiness, like WHOOP) Great: Lumen tracks your carb burn (device, lumen review) [caption id="attachment_65812" align="aligncenter" width="300"] from the Lumen app[/caption] More Insights - FindMy and Sports - Using 4G/3G My UK cell carrier is O2. They charge an additional £/$5/month for an Apple Watch data plan, and after a month, I am nowhere close to using the meagre data allowance. Had I downloaded music or other content, it would have been different. Putting the galling additional cost aside, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the always-connected experience. [gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="76581,76582"] Using LTE/4G/3G decimates the battery life, but once enabled, your family can track your approximate location with FindMy. You should get great call quality and can easily call for help if needed without an iPhone. While on my bike rides, I can interact with my Google Nest doorbell via the Watch, and I could probably even open my front door if I had a smart lock. Tip: Only turn on 3G/4G when needed to lessen the battery consumption. Some bikes and other sporting gear are also being added to the FindMy network. However, that is more for loss prevention or recovery and won't impact your workouts or adventures. Competitor Comparisons - Suunto, Coros and Polar Suunto Vertical, Coros Vertix 2 and Polar Grit X offer comparably rugged and excellently made alternatives to Apple and better sports-adventure features. None of them are as good as the Apple Watch for smart features (iPhone integration), and they also lag behind the Watch ULTRA 2 for wellness features. Thus, those brands offer good alternatives if you want a dedicated sports/adventure watch to support your fitness and activities. If you want the whole 24x7 package and restrictive battery life...get Apple. When to opt for Suunto - Suunto's strength is adventure-focused, producing quality outdoor watches with great sensors. When to opt for Garmin - Garmin has all the features, such as being the leader in navigation and triathlon. When to opt for Coros - Coros is cheaper than Garmin and has many high-level tick box features, but sometimes the details are lacking. When to opt for Polar - Polar's strength is its runner-focussed and fitness-focussed ecosystem. [caption id="attachment_84565" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Coros Vertix 2, Suunto Vertical & Watch Ultra 2[/caption] Apple Watch Ultra 2 - What sets it apart from its competitors? The main differentiator is that Watch Ultra 2 integrates awesomely with your iPhone. It has simple and familiar ways to access the most often-used sports/adventure features. You don't have to read a manual or learn about the minutiae of sports science; Watch ULTRA 2 is a simple add-on to your life that you will trust to do a good job. Beyond that, Apple Watch's non-sporty uses are excellent and cover things like music playback, payments, shifting many iPhone interactions to a more convenient place (your wrist), smart home control, FindMy, and an excellent sleep and wellness ecosystem that is probably the most scientifically accurate for consumers. Garmin either can't do those or struggles or overly complicates interactions wherever possible. Pro Use - The Garmin Killer? Q: How does the Apple Watch 2 Ultra stack against a top-end Garmin watch? Apple Watch ULTRA 2 is not, nor ever will be, a better-featured sports watch than a high-end Garmin Fenix or Epix. It won't even match the richness of features on other sports watch brands like Coros, Polar and Suunto. It will NEVER win as customers, those athletes who want all the fancy sports features. That's maybe 20% of the iPhone side of the market, but it can't win. ***** Apple Watch ULTRA 2 is not sufficiently ULTRA to last long enough to support you on those long expeditions or ultra sporting events. ULTRA is a bad name for a watch that isn't able to do Ultra things. That's maybe 10% of the iPhone side of that market it can never win over. You've done the math. Ultra 2 CAN ALREADY do what most iPhone users need for their sports. And because the Apple Watch is a FAR superior smartwatch to Garmin, that is why Ultra 2 and Watch 9 will eventually decimate Garmin's market share on iOS. You'll be relatively happy about it because using an Apple Watch is a joy, not a convoluted burden. (I'm a heavy Garmin user, by the way!) [caption id="attachment_84566" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Coros Vertix 2, Suunto Vertical & Watch Ultra 2[/caption] Apple Watch Ultra 2 Accuracy & Performance Review - A Detailed Report TL;DR - Best-in-class accuracy at times. Watch Ultra 2 occasionally lacks GPS accuracy where tall buildings are involved, and heart rate accuracy is always person-specific and use-case specific but I found it acceptable. I have undertaken thousands of hours of sports testing with Apple Watches over the years. Apple Watch Ultra 2 and its predecessor are the most accurate sports watches. In real-world use, however, you will notice no difference in accuracy between a Garmin Epix 2 and a Watch Ultra 2 or Watch Ultra 1. If you like, I can cherry-pick some results from my recent tests. Apple Watch Ultra 2 scores the second-highest-ever GPS score in a demanding 10-mile test. (#1 = Suunto Vertical) I would subjectively score Apple's optical heart rate as 8/10. Other sports watches equal that, but none exceed it. YouTube's Quantified Scientist claims good accuracy for SpO2 and sleep/sleep stages. Subjectively, to me, SpO2 is sometimes simply wrong, and sleep stages appear broadly similar to those on all my other tech, like Eight Sleep Pod 4 (review) and Oura Ring. https://the5krunner.com/2023/09/27/is-apple-watch-ultra-2-accurate/ Apple Watch Ultra 2 Battery Life: Unless you want to do an Ultra event, it's OK. Q: What is the Apple Watch Ultra 2's battery life? A: The Apple Watch Ultra 2's battery life is up to 60 hours, but the continuous GPS recording life is max. 12 hours. Scenario: Turn the display to 3,000 nits, start listening to streamed music, start a fast-moving gravel ride with tree cover, record your GPS position and set your map with Always-On display. You might get a 2-hour battery life. Luckily, 99.99% of you are sensible enough NOT to do that, and your real-world usage probably will require you to charge the Watch every other day or periodically drip charge it with Apple's excellent fast charger (as provided). Q: What is the lifespan of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 battery? A: About 3 years, maybe less. My experience is that the Watch gets slower as its charge capacity drops toward 80%. Once you get below 80%, Apple will let you change the battery, costing about $/£100. At that point, you might as well trade it in. That point is three years. Apple makes thorough battery performance claims, which can be summarised as follows: Smartwatch Mode with varied usage including GPS: 36 hours Continuous GPS Workout Mode with maximum GPS accuracy: 12 hours Low Power Workout Mode: Implied to cover an average Ironman triathlon, about 15 hours Low Power Multi-Day Adventure Mode: 60 hours If you limit recharging to 80% of capacity, the battery lifespan will be extended. [gallery size="medium" columns="5" ids="76622,76629,76628,76627,84548"] As its name implies, the multi-day adventure mode is for a weekend adventure. It's not for Ultra Runners who might undertake a 24-hour race or longer. The multi-day adventure mode significantly cranks down the frequency of GPS to one reading every two minutes and also cranks down heart rate sampling. This feature is USELESS for athletes but of some limited use to walkers/hikers/adventurers. ZERO Ultra runners will use it unless sponsored. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specifications Case Size: 49mm Case Thickness: 14.4mm Weight: 61.3g Processor: S9 (new from S8) Storage: 64GB (up from 32Gb) Operating System: WatchOS 10 Water Resistance: 100 metres (10ATM), dive-capable Sensors: HR, ECG, spO2, temperature, altitude+depth, mic, speaker, NFC, dual-frequency GNSS, magnetic compass Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi bgn 2.4 GHz and 5GHz, NFC, ultra-wideband U2 (new), 4G/eSIM Let's take a deeper look at two areas that many consider to be important - battery life and eco-friendliness Bigger battery The Ultra 2 has a 4% larger battery capacity than the original ULTRA and a whopping 82.5% more than the Watch 9 (45mm); in real life, that translates to almost double the battery hours. When new, you can get under 3 days of daily usage at one charge or complete a 12-hour mammoth workout with continuous GPS recording. But when you turn the brightness up or turn 4G on, those battery hours will come tumbling down. Worse still, you can expect the battery capacity to degrade by about 10% a year, and once you get down to about 80% with Watch 9, you pretty much have to change the battery; the larger Watch ULTRA 2 will keep you going for an extra year but forget those 12-hour workouts as time passes. Reality Check: Garmin Epix Gen 2 has a 300% longer battery life than ULTRA 2. Epix provides continuous GPS recording for 30-42 hours, not 12. Reality Check: ULTRA 2's 90-minute fast charge and bigger battery are game changers. You only have to put it on the charger every other day in many realistic scenarios. Reality Check: You can't do an Ironman triathlon or 100-mile Ultra run in less than 10 hours, so you shouldn't buy ULTRA 2. You can only use it in a battery-saving mode for those kinds of events. Technical Performance I used watchOS 10 from the early beta releases, and it was noticeably slower than watchOS 9 from the get-go. However, the launch software was faster. The Ultra 2 adds back more speed and is faster and smoother than recent Editions...however, it's only slightly faster. The extra speed does nothing to help my enjoyment of the watch. The double-tap gesture is now available and uses aspects of Ultra 2's new processor. Gesture recognition seems moderately more reliable than when I first used the accessibility gestures a couple of years ago. However, the big difference back then was that the accessibility gestures quickly decimated the battery; that doesn't happen now. Gesture control of the Apple Watch will become significant, and actions will be identical to those of the Apple Vision. That's why a huge chunk of the new processor is dedicated to gesture control. This is the tech future you might buy Ultra 2 to support, along with the improved Siri support, which will morph over the years as AI extends its reach through Apple products. Apple Watch Ultra 2 - FAQs Q: Is the 2nd-generation Apple Watch Ultra still good? A: Watch Ultra 2 is a slight improvement over the first-generation model, offering some modest performance boosts. Q: What's special about the Apple Watch Ultra? A: The only truly special aspect of Watch Ultra 2 is its close integration with the iPhone; no other brand can offer that—other than that, its capabilities as a sports Watch compare favourably with other brands. Q: What is the battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 2? A: The ULTRA 2's headline battery life is misleading. It can only record 12 hours of GPS-enabled sport. Battery life is longer than that, even in general use. Q: Is the Apple Watch Ultra worth the upgrade? A: It depends on what you are upgrading from, but it's certainly not worth the upgrade from the first-generation Ultra. It makes a nice upgrade from Series 5. Q: Is the Apple Watch Ultra better than the Apple Watch? A: The Watch Ultra is no better or worse than the regular Apple Watch; it's different. That difference is reflected in its superior construction, larger size, and longer battery life. Q: Why is the Apple Watch Ultra so expensive? A: The ULTRA is priced in line with the stainless steel Apple Watch, which has very similar hardware and is comparable to competitors like Garmin Epix 2 Pro. The Apple brand commands a premium price. Q: Should I sleep with my Apple Watch Ultra 2? A: Yes, absolutely do sleep with the Watch Ultra 2, as some of the nighttime metrics it collects are useful, scientifically validated indicators of wellness and sporting readiness. It charges quickly, so 20 minutes while you bathe or shower should be enough rather than charging overnight. Q: Why is my ultra Apple Watch battery dying so fast? A: Apple has no magic formula for battery life, and if you crank up the screen brightness, record a GPS track, listen to music, or use 4G connectivity, the battery will quickly die. Q: Should I charge my Apple Ultra watch every night? A: Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be fully charged once every two days in normal usage, which takes just over an hour. It's best to get into a routine, and I suggest partially sharing daily, which will also increase the battery longevity. Eco Credentials Apple is committed to its eco-credentials, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. From the outside, the organisation certainly exudes credibility and honesty in its eco policies, as evidenced by reduced packaging, recycled materials, the generation of renewable electricity, and the planting of many trees. It certainly is possible to pick fault. For example, not all Watch strap options are carbon neutral (yet), and planting trees is a temporary, nice-sounding but nonsensical solution that releases CO2 when the tree dies. Apple could sell its Watches without a strap, allowing you to reuse an old one and design a user-replaceable battery. However, for financial reasons, it won't pursue either of those eco-friendly options. Another eco-option would be for Apple to introduce Sapphire screens on all its watches. It doesn't do that for cost reasons, but unsuspecting customers don't realise how easily base-level Apple Watch screens scratch, and, soon enough, you need to buy a new watch to make it look nice. That is not eco-friendly. The bottom line is that the most eco-friendly route is to keep your existing Watch. Buying new stuff is not eco-friendly! Q: Is Apple green-washing? A: Yeah, I think so, a bit. But it is making better attempts than many other companies to be eco-friendly. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review of the Reviews Thanks for getting this far! Other Apple Watch Ultra 2 Reviews by DC Rainmaker, CNET, Engadget, and those on Reddit and YouTube from the UK and beyond all tell a similar story to what I'm telling here. Whilst I'm in your face saying, 'It's not an Ultra Watch,' other reviewers are somewhat kinder and more nuanced. There is universal agreement that this is the best smartwatch for sports and that the three new straps are great. Perhaps the main thing to watch out for with other reviews on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is that many are written by non-athletes who have no idea how athletes use their tech. To varying degrees, they applaud features for being new rather than for doing the job properly. Apple Watch Ultra Bands Apple keeps the new strap designs from 2022, but this time, there are new materials and three colours. [gallery size="medium" ids="84504,84505,84506"] These are all excellent straps but expensive at about £/$99 each when bought separately; however, they are a tad better made than the much cheaper Amazon replicas. The Ocean band is my favourite as it stretches nicely, fits snugly, and can easily be kept clean. The same can't be said of the Trail and Alpine Loops, which, admittedly, look better. Trail Loop is the easiest to wear and remove. Watch ULTRA 2 straps are fully compatible with older 44mm/45mm versions; my favourite old strap is a super-smart titanium link strap from Infinity Loops that suits formal attire. Apple Watch Ultra: Should You Upgrade? If you are considering an upgrade, ask yourself, "What needs to improve?". Remember that your existing Apple Watch will probably get most of the new software features. Then, if you're annoyed by your current watch's lack of a sport-specific button, a smaller screen, a shorter battery life, or a few scratches, the Watch Ultra may well address all those annoyances. The main problems for me against upgrading are size - Ultra 2 is notably bigger than your current Apple Watch cost - prices outside the USA are higher than a simple exchange rate conversion merits, and there will be an extra monthly cost for cellular connectivity 24x7 looks - I like Ultra's looks. However, the looks don't translate well if you want a watch to wear in formal settings. In those scenarios, other Apple Watches can be used with a different strap and watch face. For me and my relatively skinny wrists, it's just too big. Q: Should I upgrade from Ultra 1 to Ultra 2 A: No. You'd be crazy, too. Ultra 2 is a better Watch, but only just. Q: Should I upgrade from any older Apple Watch to Ultra 2 A: Again, the answer is NO. The logical thing to do is save $/£100 and get the original Ultra. It's the same Watch. Q: Is an upgrade from Watch 5 or Watch 6 to Ultra 2 sensible if I want a more sporty version? A: Yes, that would be a vaguely sensible Watch to upgrade from. Your current battery is about to die. Some Take Outs from this Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review In many ways, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 represents a modest improvement over last year. It boasts slightly better, slightly faster internals. However, the new processor's true potential lies in the future rather than the present. Ultra 2 marks the first generation of the Apple Watch, prepared for a new world of rich AR interactions and other novel ways to engage with our environments, affecting sports and non-sports usage alike. This may sound far-fetched, but such a future is fast approaching. Apple Vision Pro (2023) was the first step for the company towards becoming a dominant player in augmented reality. The rehashed double tap gesture we see today on Watch Ultra 2 - identical to that on Vision Pro - serves merely as a small nod towards Apple's true intentions in AR. Apple has its sights set on the future, but today's progress towards a holistic sports offering that covers running, cycling (triathlon), swimming, indoor fitness, hiking, and diving is behind schedule. This year's mission was to deliver a part of that mix with a competent cycling experience covering third-party workout support, mirrored iPhone display and power compatibility. It appears that Apple is making significant progress in this direction, with the workout support at an advanced stage. This will represent a promising addition for both cyclists and triathletes. Yet, workout plans will also cross over to the indoor fitness communities, where Apple has introduced Stacks, essentially a daily workout encompassing disparate activity types. Maps, routes and navigation are key parts of Apple's plans to cater to weekend warriors of all types (hike, run, cycle), but its progress has stalled. Put another way, Ultra 2 can't do its job properly without full Global Maps. Apple appears to have made no headway behind the scenes in connecting its technology to gym-like environments to compound that public shortcoming. Where is the heart rate broadcast? Where is FTMS control for gym equipment? Where are more detailed fitness machine statistics and targets in Fitness+? I've not touched on it in this sports-focussed review, but elsewhere, the Apple Watch cleverly integrates with Matter/Thread home automation environments and, in richer ways, with UWB2 technology to interact with other Apple devices (HomePod) As Garmin proved, achieving an open and integrated platform covering all sports is tough. Yet Garmin did it. Apple decided to re-invent several parts of Garmin's and others' efforts, so sports and adventures are still a work in progress. Of course, Apple has embarked on a much more difficult task than Garmin did for digital sports; Apple intends to create a platform for digital life. Each year, the Apple Watch becomes more competent as it moves towards that vision. Sometimes, we lose sight of the journey to date, and I've not even talked about its excellence at music playback, NFC payments, making audio calls, messaging, and, oh yes, telling the time. And there we were, thinking we only bought these sports devices for a run! Pointless? Perhaps not. But it is a pointless upgrade. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Price, Availability & Discounts Buy: Apple Watch Ultra 2 from $799, Eu899, GBP799 Buy: Apple Watch Series 9 from $499, Eu449, GBP399 Buy (Alternative): Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) from $899/£829 Remember that the stainless steel Watch 9 can also take an eSim/4G and has a Sapphire screen like the Ultra 2. It's priced very similarly to Ultra 2. Hence, Ultra 2 is a significantly better-made and more durable watch than the Series 9 and SE models, whose screens WILL scratch.
