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Black Friday is always a good excuse to load up on new devices as gifts, and the 2024 edition is no different.
This year could be especially good for outdoorsy iPhone owners, with Apple Watch Ultra models potentially going on sale. The rugged, feature-packed premium Apple Watch could get discounted to some extent, so if you're in the market for one, the first thing you should do is figure out which model to buy. Let us help.
The bottom line is that Apple Watch Ultra 1 is a very capable device, with Apple hitting all the right spots from the get-go: It's rugged, durable, has great battery life, and is great for serious sporting activities, be it diving, snorkeling, hiking, or running.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is, in many ways, identical to the original. It looks exactly the same, has a very similar (albeit brighter) display, very similar battery life, and pretty much the same set of features when it comes to durability, health, and fitness tracking. Instead of listing the similarities, we'll focus on the differences — and you'll get better insight into whether you should opt for the older, first-generation Apple Watch Ultra 2 or the newer Apple Watch Ultra 2/
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a starting price of $799 via T-Mobile.
You won't find the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on T-Mobile, but you can find some options via Amazon, Best Buy, and eBay — we've seen refurbished units go for less than $500. If you can snag one from a reputable vendor with great reviews, that's a pretty sweet deal.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specs
The Apple Watch Ultra has an Apple S8, dual-core processor, the first generation of Apple's ultra-wideband chip, with 32GB of storage; the Ultra 2 has the S9, dual-core processor, the second generation ultra-wideband chip, and 64GB of storage. It is a significant upgrade, but we bet a lot of users won't notice the difference. Personally, I jumped from a Series 6 to a Series 9 Apple Watch, which is a far bigger leap in specs, and I did notice it was a little snappier, but it still wasn't a massive upgrade.
Other specs, such as dust and water resistance, the customizable action button on the side, and a multitude of sensors that track temperature, heart rate, and other metrics, have remained unchanged on the Ultra 2.
Bottom line: Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is fast, but the old model should also be plenty fast for most users.
One more thing: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports Apple's Double Tap gesture. It can be a nice addition if you get used to it; personally, I never managed to do so, and I stopped using it after initial testing.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design
There's nothing to say here except this: The two devices look exactly the same.
Even the display resolution is identical at 410x502 pixels. The Ultra 2 is significantly brighter though, at 3,000 nits vs. the Ultra 1's 2,000 nits maximum. This is important for outdoorsy types (which is sort of who this device is aimed at), as higher brightness makes it easier to use the watch in direct sunlight.
Interestingly, Apple didn't unveil a third-generation Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year, but it did add some updates to the Ultra 2 line. For example, there's a new jet black titanium option for those who gravitate towards onyx finishes. Plus, there are new bands for you to choose, including Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, and Titanium Milanese Loop.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Health and fitness tracking
Before Apple's "Glowtime" livestream launched in September, the Ultra and the Ultra 2 had the same health and fitness features initially — but that has changed with some new announcements from the Cupertino-based tech giant.
Both track your heart rate and sleep, as well as water depth, temperature, among other metrics. Also, they both have crash and fall detection. However, thanks to some new upgrades from Apple, the Ultra 2 now supports sleep apnea detection — something that the first-generation Watch Ultra doesn't have. (It's also worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 9 and 10 models also have sleep apnea detection.)
Curiously, the old Apple Watch Ultra has an edge over the Ultra 2: it has a blood-oxygen sensor, which is not present on newer Ultra 2 models in the U.S. due to Apple's legal issues with medical tech company Masimo.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Battery Life
The Ultra has a standard battery life of 36 hours, and extended battery life of 60 hours in Low Power mode.
The Ultra 2 improves on this slightly; it has the same standard battery life of 36 hours, but the extended battery life in Low Power mode is 72 hours. It's not much, but it is something to consider if you often take the watch for multi-day hikes or very long races.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Should you upgrade?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799, and it's a good price, considering that sports watches from the likes of Garmin and Suunto often cost north of $1,000 (although these typically feature much higher battery life). Technically, the Apple Watch Ultra isn't for sale new anymore, but we still think it's worth trying to find a refurbished or a pre-owned unit since the original Ultra is quite similar to the Ultra 2.
However, if sleep apnea detection is important to you, or the jet black model is calling your name, the Ultra 2 may be the most ideal option out of the two.
