Deciding Whether to Upgrade: Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Review

Explore the key considerations and features in our review of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, helping you make an informed decision on whether to upgrade to this latest iteration of the popular smartwatch.

The initial release of the Apple Watch Ultra was a bold move, marked by its unique focus on a relatively niche market segment. While there is a population of outdoor enthusiasts, the specific target audience seeking a smartwatch for activities like hiking, ultramarathon running, and diving is comparatively small within the broader smartwatch market.

It's worth noting that this niche isn't completely untapped; Garmin, for example, has been catering to this demographic for a while. Garmin has successfully transitioned from standalone GPS devices to more advanced smartwatches as smartphones have largely taken over the standalone GPS market.

Apple, on the other hand, could have chosen to maintain a presence in this niche through app partnerships on its standard Watch line. However, the Apple Watch Ultra is far from a half-hearted
endeavor. It's a substantial, robust device designed to excel in challenging environments that most people actively avoid.

The initial reception of the Apple Watch Ultra was mixed, partly because many tech reviewers, including myself, aren't typically ultramarathon runners or extreme athletes. This raised questions about the size of the target market and the necessity of such a specialized device. However, there is a subset of extreme athletes who genuinely appreciate and rely on high-tech gadgets.

One common drawback of devices built for extreme sports is their bulkiness and complexity. The Apple Watch Ultra differentiates itself by retaining the core functionality and refinement of previous Apple Watch generations, avoiding many of the usability issues associated with purpose-built devices.

Design is another key factor in the Ultra's appeal. While its large, robust metal body may not suit everyone's taste, those who appreciate it often do so passionately. In fact, some individuals who aren't ultramarathon runners have opted for the Ultra solely based on its design, including some colleagues I know.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 isn't a revolutionary overhaul; it adheres to the old adage that "you have your whole life to write your first album and eight months to write your second." Given the significant investment in the first Ultra, it was unlikely that the second iteration would bring groundbreaking changes. Moreover, Apple has spent a decade refining the platform on which this product is built.

For a more in-depth look at the entire Apple Watch lineup this year, you can refer to the Series 9 review. Many of the improvements in the Ultra 2 are also present in the Series 9. Unlike the iPhone/iPhone Pro bifurcation, where one model gets exclusive updates, these two products share most upgrades, with some exclusives for each to cater to specific user needs.

One of the standout features in the Ultra 2 is its brighter display, peaking at 3,000 nits, making it the brightest always-on screen Apple has produced. It also offers a wide dimming range, going down to a single nit when needed. Storage capacity has also doubled to 64GB.

Both new watches don't represent a significant upgrade over their predecessors, especially if you already own the previous generation. This is even truer for the Ultra, considering its starting price of $799. With the new model on the horizon, you can now find the original Ultra at a substantial discount. It still boasts distinguishing features like a rugged case and long battery life (36 hours standard, 72 in low power mode).

However, if the latest upgrades, such as Double Tap and the enhanced S9 chip with its 4-core Neural Engine for faster machine learning processing, are valuable to you, the Ultra 2 is worth considering, even with the higher price tag. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade depends on how much you value these additional features.

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