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Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review Round-Up: The Best Apple Watch Yet?
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here, and let’s look at the device reviews from major outlets. Here’s our Apple Watch Ultra 2 review round-up!
⌚ Apple Watch Ultra 2 Pros and Cons 🆚
Pros: Advantages of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ✅
- Rugged, Durable Design 🛡️: Built to withstand extreme conditions with water and dust resistance.
- Bright, High-Resolution Screen 💡: Features an Always-On Retina display with 3000 nits peak brightness.
- Advanced S9 Chipset 🚀: Offers faster and more efficient processing capabilities.
- Enhanced Independence from iPhone 📱: Capable of functioning as a standalone device for music and more.
- Precision Dual-Frequency GPS 🌐: Provides accurate location tracking for outdoor activities.
- Action Button for Quick Controls ⚡: Customizable for various functions like workouts and dive starts.
- Extended Battery Life 🔋: Up to 36 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours with low power settings.
- Innovative Health and Fitness Features 🏃: Includes depth gauge and temperature readings for water adventures.
- On-Device Siri and Machine Learning 🗣️: Enhanced voice control and smart features.
- Eco-Friendly Approach 🌿: Emphasizes sustainability with carbon-neutral options.
Cons: Drawbacks of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ❌
- Limited Size Option 📐: Only available in a 49mm size, which may not suit all users.
- Higher Price Point 💸: More expensive than other models in the Apple Watch range.
- Complex Features for Average Users 🤖: Some advanced functionalities might be overkill for everyday use.
- Bulkier Design 🏋️: Heavier and larger compared to other Apple Watch models.
Who Should Consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2? 🤔
- Outdoor Enthusiasts and Athletes: Ideal for those who engage in rigorous outdoor activities and fitness regimes.
- Tech Savvy Users: A great choice for individuals who appreciate the latest technology and advanced features.
- Users Seeking a Robust Smartwatch: Perfect for those who need a durable and feature-rich device.
Overall, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 stands out with its robust build, advanced technology, and enhanced fitness tracking capabilities. While it excels in durability and functionality, its size, complexity, and price point may not appeal to all users – the Apple Watch Series 9 is plenty cheaper. It’s an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and tech aficionados, but those looking for a simple, everyday smartwatch might find it to be more than they need.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the successor to the ultra-successful Apple Watch Ultra.
As with true Apple fashion, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has no visual changes – it looks identical to its predecessor. But looks can deceive you. Apple Watch Ultra 2 brings many new features that could make it a must-buy for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Let’s take a look at the reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Here’s what we’re going to cover in this review round-up:
- How the Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks similar to the Apple Watch Ultra.
- The big performance upgrade the new Apple S9 silicon brings and the new features powered by this chip.
- The new display turns up the brightness to the max.
- The new Precision Finding feature is powered by the new UWB chip.
- The battery life of Ultra 2 is the best among Apple Watches, but is it enough?
- And, of course, is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth buying?
Read on!
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Reviews
Review By CNET
General Observations
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a nice upgrade but not necessary. Apple Watch Ultra users can skip the Ultra 2, as all the new features would trickle down to older watches through updates. Ultra 2 would be a more compelling choice for the earlier Apple Watch Series users.
Pros
- Display: The screen of the Apple Watch is pretty nice; with the improved brightness of 3000 nits, it can go incredibly bright and get dimmer in dark environments, going down to just one nit.
- Performance: The new Apple S9 silicon makes the Watch Ultra 2 faster than ever. Thanks to it, the watch supports on-device Siri, which means you can now use Siri even if you aren’t connected to the internet.
- Bigger Storage: Apple Watch Ultra 2 has double the internal storage of its predecessor, 64 GB. This means you can store double the songs in the watch for offline playing.
- Software: Watch OS 10 brings features such as offline and topographic maps, support for Bluetooth accessories like power meters, and the ability to view your metrics as a live activity on your iPhone.
Cons
- Battery Life: Battery life is more or less the same as the first generation Ultra; it hasn’t improved.
- Double Tap: The fancy new feature Apple announced at the launch event will not be available at launch.
- Limited Recovery Metrics: The recovery metrics are still limited.
Review By Wired
General Observations
Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks more or less like its predecessor, Apple Watch Ultra, but with a few key differences. The faster chip enables new features like offline Siri interactions, so you don’t have to wait for simple voice commands to travel up and down from the cloud. The chip has also made it faster than its predecessor.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is not a standalone unit. It needs an iPhone for many key functions – even the offline maps. The shortcoming of codependency with an iPhone works in favor when you look at this watch’s competition from other outdoor watches. The Apple ecosystem just works; if you already have an iPhone, you don’t need to get a GPS cycling computer, hiking GPS, and a regular smartwatch; just buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Pros
- Display: The watch is shockingly bright, maxing out at 3,000 nits – compared to the iPhone 15 series’ 2000 nits.
- Performance: The new Apple S9 silicon is faster and powers offline Siri on the watch, making it faster to respond and the whole experience faster.
Cons
- Dependency on the iPhone: Some key functions, such as offline maps, need you to be connected to your iPhone.
- Battery Life: The battery life is nowhere near the competing sports watches. The watch drains about 25% of its battery in 2 hours on a trail run with GPS-enabled workout tracking, playing music, and Backtrack running.
Review By Tom’s Guide
General Observations
Apple Watch Ultra 2’s Apple S9 silicon marks the “first true power upgrade since Apple Watch Series 6”. It powers the new offline Siri, the new double-tap gesture, and makes the experience overall faster. The upgraded ultra-wideband chip will help you find your misplaced iPhone by giving you directions to your phone, but it only works with iPhone 15 and not the older ones.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 scores high regarding the outdoor and safety features. The new biking features of WatchOS 10 are great – you can now connect your Ultra 2 Bluetooth-connected power meter, speed sensor, and other Bluetooth-powered accessories. Your phone can now mirror the data from your watch, which comes in handy while biking.
Even though the Watch Ultra 2 has the best battery life of any Apple Watch, it still lags behind most other sports watches, such as the Garmin Forerunner 265, which lasts 15 days.
Pros
- Build: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comprises 95% recycled titanium. It looks excellent with the titanium finish as well.
- Display: The display is brighter with its 3000 nits peak brightness, which is better than ever.
- Performance: Apple Watch Ultra 2 is faster, thanks to the new Apple S9 silicon. It also enables faster responses from Siri, as the new chip powers offline Siri.
- UWB To Find iPhone Easier: It is now easier to find the iPhone with the watch, thanks to the ultra-wideband chip in Watch Ultra 2.
- Double Tap Gesture: The double tap gesture, the new feature in Watch Ultra 2, is excellent, even though it won’t roll out to the watch until October.
- Modular Ultra Watch Face: The new Modular Ultra watch face in Ultra 2 is great.
Cons
- Must-Have iPhone 15 for UWB: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 needs to be paired with an iPhone 15 to use the UWB-powered features such as easier finding the phone.
- Battery Life: The battery life is average with Ultra 2.
- Also Read: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Colors: What Colors Does The Apple Watch Ultra 2 & Its Bands Come In?
Review By Gear Patrol
- The brighter display of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 makes it much easier for outdoor viewing; the max brightness of 3,000 nits significantly improved over the 2,000 nits of its predecessor.
- Precision Finding, the feature that helps you find your misplaced iPhone by pinpointing the location and guiding you, is the killer feature. The only caveat is that it works only with an iPhone 15 series phone.
- The double tap gestures introduced this year for Ultra 2 are good but not a “game changer.” The double-tap feature can be used to access the widgets in the Smart Stack, answer calls, start and stop a timer, and even play/pause music. It is yet to be enabled on Ultra 2, which arrives only in October.
- Siri is now faster, thanks to the offline Siri enabled by the faster Apple S9 chip.
Pros
- Precision Finding: The new killer feature of Ultra 2 helps you locate a misplaced iPhone using the new Ultra Wideband chip with a directional guide.
- Brighter Display: The new display is as bright as ever, with peak brightness reaching 3,000 nits.
Cons
- Not So Different From The Apple Watch Ultra: The new Ultra 2 has more or less the same design, build, and features.
- Probably And Overkill: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an enthusiast watch, especially for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. It is probably an overkill for most people.
- Key Features Not Available At Launch: Some features, such as the double tap gestures, are unavailable at launch.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: Is It Worth Buying?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers many things, but it might not be the value proposition you want. At $799/£799, it costs the same as the new iPhone 15.
But the Apple Watch Ultra 2 isn’t for everyone, and it is probably an overkill for most people. The Ultra 2 is really a niche product, specially crafted for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
It is an incremental upgrade over Apple Watch Ultra and has the same health and fitness tracking capabilities. What the Ultra 2 brings new is the new offline Siri, which processes the Siri request in-device, thanks to the leap in performance with the Apple S9 chip. Ultra 2 offers something new for bikers – support for Bluetooth accessories. You can now connect to Bluetooth-powered cycling accessories.
If you already own an Apple Watch Ultra, this might not be the right time for an upgrade. Considering the minimal changes in design and build, most features in Ultra 2 are now available in the original Ultra with the watchOS 10 upgrade.
So, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an excellent buy if you want the best Apple Watch or if you’re in the market for a fantastic sports watch. It integrates pretty great with your iPhone, which other sports watches can’t do. It is also a great buy if you’re coming from an older Apple Watch Series, but not as much if you already own an Apple Watch Ultra.
⌚ Apple Watch Ultra 2 Pros and Cons 🆚
Pros: Advantages of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ✅
- Rugged, Durable Design 🛡️: Built to withstand extreme conditions with water and dust resistance.
- Bright, High-Resolution Screen 💡: Features an Always-On Retina display with 3000 nits peak brightness.
- Advanced S9 Chipset 🚀: Offers faster and more efficient processing capabilities.
- Enhanced Independence from iPhone 📱: Capable of functioning as a standalone device for music and more.
- Precision Dual-Frequency GPS 🌐: Provides accurate location tracking for outdoor activities.
- Action Button for Quick Controls ⚡: Customizable for various functions like workouts and dive starts.
- Extended Battery Life 🔋: Up to 36 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours with low power settings.
- Innovative Health and Fitness Features 🏃: Includes depth gauge and temperature readings for water adventures.
- On-Device Siri and Machine Learning 🗣️: Enhanced voice control and smart features.
- Eco-Friendly Approach 🌿: Emphasizes sustainability with carbon-neutral options.
Cons: Drawbacks of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ❌
- Limited Size Option 📐: Only available in a 49mm size, which may not suit all users.
- Higher Price Point 💸: More expensive than other models in the Apple Watch range.
- Complex Features for Average Users 🤖: Some advanced functionalities might be overkill for everyday use.
- Bulkier Design 🏋️: Heavier and larger compared to other Apple Watch models.
Who Should Consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2? 🤔
- Outdoor Enthusiasts and Athletes: Ideal for those who engage in rigorous outdoor activities and fitness regimes.
- Tech Savvy Users: A great choice for individuals who appreciate the latest technology and advanced features.
- Users Seeking a Robust Smartwatch: Perfect for those who need a durable and feature-rich device.
Overall, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 stands out with its robust build, advanced technology, and enhanced fitness tracking capabilities. While it excels in durability and functionality, its size, complexity, and price point may not appeal to all users – the Apple Watch Series 9 is plenty cheaper. It’s an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and tech aficionados, but those looking for a simple, everyday smartwatch might find it to be more than they need.