Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review

Apple Watch Ultra 2 – What’s new?

It’s hard to tell the difference between the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the original Apple Watch Ultra. I really mean it! The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still called “Apple Watch Ultra” on the back. If not for the new Trail Loop in green/gray, I would have been unable to tell them apart.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a new design, but you can’t really see it.

The display is one of the most significant upgrades for this year. The display is the same size as before, but now it has a brightness of 3,000 nits. Apple Watch’s brightest display ever is a stunning piece of technology.

The screen is very easy to read and the colors are amazing. I have never had any problems with legibility, even on those sunny October days in the Midwest. The screen is also incredibly bright, even down to one nit. This has made it easier to use the Apple Watch in the dark or at night.

The Apple Watch’s brightest display is the most impressive Apple has ever produced.

The S9 chipset is another major upgrade. Apple claims that it is 30% faster than the Apple Watch Ultra of last year. It is based on Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, which was used in both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 as well. Yes, it is veryfast. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is able to handle everything without a problem, whether it’s opening apps, starting workouts or responding to notifications. The performance isn’t significantly different from my old Ultra but the extra horsepower will come in handy over the years and with software updates.

Siri is one area that I’ve noticed has seen a significant upgrade. Siri can now process requests that don’t need an internet connection on the device itself, without having to send them back and forth to your iPhone. Siri is now faster on the Apple Watch. It can be used to set alarms and dictate texts, among other things.

Siri will often take a few seconds to respond to my request on the Apple Watch Ultra before it actually activates the timer. On the Apple Watch Ultra 2 it is instantaneous and there’s virtually no delay. This small but significant change has been the most noticeable during my testing.

Other goodies are also available. The new Precision Finding feature, powered by Apple’s second generation Ultra Wideband chip, allows you to view the distance and the direction of your lost iPhone on your Apple Watch. The times I have tried it, it has worked really well. I can imagine this being a major selling point for those who tend to lose their iPhones. There’s also 64GB internal storage, up from 32GB, so you have more space to store apps, podcasts, offline music etc.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Double Tap

Double Tap is another major new feature of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Double Tap was the feature I noticed most at Apple’s fall event, in September. On paper, this should be the most impressive part of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. You can control your Apple Watch by tapping your index finger and your thumb together.

Double tapping on your Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be used to do several different things, depending on what you are doing. Double Tap can be used to pause/play the music if in the Music App, answer incoming calls, send a voice response to a text, stop a clock or alarm or scroll through your watchOS 10 smart stack widgets. Double Tap works every time.

Double Tap doesn’t really do much. I have used it a few times to scroll my Smart Stack widgets but I’ve never really needed it. Even when I use it, it is important to me that I remember it exists.

I would like to use Double Tap for scrolling through notifications, pausing/resuming workouts, switching between recent apps etc. Apple does not make it clear where Double Tap works and does not work in the UI, so I often assume that it won’t. It would be great if it also supported other hand gestures like a single tapping, clenching the fist etc. You can use AssistiveTouch on older Apple Watches to perform these gestures.

Apple could add new features to Double Tap in future software updates. It could and I hope that the company will. As it is, the trick is cool but not as useful as I hoped.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design, hardware and health features

Apple Watch Ultra 2 hardware quickly makes up for Double Tap’s disappointment. Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks almost identical to the original Apple Watch Ultra.

The case is made of titanium and comes in a 49mm size. This makes it the perfect match for both iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro. Apple was rumored to release a new titanium color for the second generation Ultra. However, the only option is the natural finish. This is perfectly fine with me, since the natural titanium finish looks stunning. It gives the Apple Watch Ultra 2 an elegant, rugged look that I love.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 still comes in a large size. Although I was initially concerned about the size of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, I have found it to be surprisingly comfortable, even with my tiny wrists. I have never felt the Ultra 2 too heavy, despite its 61.4-grams weight. That’s over 22 grams more than the 45mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 9. It fits comfortably on my wrist and doesn’t interfere with daily activities.

Other smaller details of the Apple Watch Ultra’s design remain impressive a full year after its introduction. The Digital Crown is a great addition, and the side button feels much better than on other Apple Watches. I also love the design of the guard that they are seated in. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is distinguished by this small detail. It makes it stand out from the Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch SE 2.

The Action button is also back, and it’s another welcome addition to Apple Watch. The Action button is great for launching the Workout app. I also love the fact that you can pause/resume a run by pressing both the Action and side buttons together, instead of using touchscreen controls. This makes it much easier to achieve new personal records while running. Apple could expand the functionality of this button to include additional gestures or actions (such as double- and triple press options). But it is still a great convenience and I really miss it when I switch between Apple Watch models.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has one of the best-designed smartwatches available.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 does not have any new health and fitness tracking features, but this isn’t necessarily a negative thing. Apple still offers its excellent all-day tracking of activity, 24/7 heart rate tracking, SpO2 monitoring, an ECG App, cycle tracking and custom heart rate zones while working out. Apple Watch Ultra 2 has one of the most comprehensive health-tracking systems on any wearable. It works as expected.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 battery life

The battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a major improvement over the original Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 lasts me about two days on a charge. This includes using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to track a few workouts each week (Apple Fitness+ strength and treadmill workouts plus GPS-tracked outdoor walks), receiving notifications every day, having the display always on, setting timers and not tracking sleep.

Apple Watches can’t compete with the Garmin Forerunner 265, Fitbit Charge 6 or other wearables. But this is still the best battery life you can expect. Keep in mind that I have been getting more than two days’ battery life even without Apple’s Low-Power Mode. You can extend the battery life of your Apple Watch Ultra to 5 days if you activate Low Power Mode and are willing to sacrifice some features.

Apple uses the same magnetic charging ball it has been using for many years to charge its Apple Watch Ultra 2 (take note Google Pixel Watch 2!). The charging process is simple and easy. It takes about an hour to charge the watch from zero to 100 percent.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: watchOS 10.

WatchOS 10 is the next major software update to the Apple Watch. It comes pre-installed on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. WatchOS 10 isn’t a complete overhaul of the watchOS formula but it does bring some significant changes. I think you will really enjoy them.

Smart Stack is one of the most important new features. The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s watch face is accessed by spinning up the Digital Crown. This reveals a collection of widgets you can arrange and move to your hearts content. My Smart Stack is set up to display a five-hour forecast of the weather, my upcoming events on my calendar, my Activity Rings, and a graph showing my heart rate.

Smart Stack will also add widgets based upon what you are doing. For example, if you play audio, a media widget is added. It can also be set to automatically display timers and Apple Wallet passes if they’re available. The widgets are beautiful and I like having so much information at my fingertips without cluttering up my watch face with unnecessary complications.

Many apps look much better in watchOS 10. Weather, for instance, now has beautiful animations and a logical interface. It also offers easy access to UV index, humidity and other details. The Activity, World Clock and Stocks apps have also been redesigned. Apple Watch apps have not all been redesigned, but those that have look stunning.

Other small changes that I like in watchOS 10. The Control Center is now displayed when you press the side button instead of the recently used apps. I find this much more useful. Snoopy is one of the best watch faces. It’s too cute.

WatchOS 10 is a great wearable and I have enjoyed using it on my Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s also important to note that watchOS 10, which is available for all Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 4, can be downloaded. Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers the best way to try out the new smartwatch software. However, you don’t have to purchase the Ultra 2 to enjoy it.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 price and availability

Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be purchased now through Apple’s official website as well as third-party retailers such Amazon, Best Buy and others. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799 regardless of the band that you choose — such as the Alpine Loop (pictured in this review), Trail Loop or Ocean Band.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 models all come standard with LTE connectivity, unlike Apple Watch Series 9. There is no additional charge for this. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will still require a monthly charge from your carrier to access their LTE service, but you can use the hardware if you wish.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: verdict

Is Apple Watch Ultra 2 boring? Does it show that Apple is playing things too safe? Sure, if you consider it an upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple Watch Ultra 2 will not be available to those who purchased an Apple Watch Ultra in the past year. This is something Apple has been doing for years. It’s not for those who bought an Apple Watch Ultra last year.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a lot of great features, and is just as good as its older brother. Siri is now better than ever and the brighter display adds a nice touch. I also look forward to Double Tap becoming a popular feature. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers the best Apple Watch experience for $799.

I still wish Apple had added more to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It could have been a different size, health features or anything else. It’s important to note that the Ultra 2 is not a bad product. This is because it doesn’t represent a major overhaul. The first Apple Watch Ultra had a revolutionary design, and the upgrade this year is a very minor one. I can understand why you feel disappointed.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains a delight, despite all of that. Wait and see what Apple comes up with for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Ultra 4. If this is the year you decide to purchase a new Apple Watch I cannot recommend it enough.