Apple Watch Ultra vs Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra line

Ten years after the launch of the first Apple Watch, the world’s best-selling smartwatch has progressed from an iPhone accessory to an entire product line of separate smartwatch models, including collaborative designs with Nike and Hermès. Today, the Apple Watch family has grown to include the entry-level SE, the mid-range Series 10, and the top-of-the-line Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The first Ultra, released in 2022, directly targeted the growing adventure smartwatch market, at the time dominated by outdoor-focused brands like Garmin, Polar, and Suunto. With its beefed-up proportions, cellular watch connectivity, and slew of outdoor-ready features, the Ultra line offers an alternative to the sleek Apple Watch core line, supported by more premium features like a brighter screen and eSIM cellular connectivity as standard.

With a focus on durability and build quality, original Ultra models still occupy a significant niche in the smartwatch market three years after their release. With this in mind, many shoppers may wonder if it's worth upgrading to an Ultra 2, released in September 2024. Here, we reveal every new feature of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and examine the differences between Apple’s top-of-the-line smartwatch models.

New features of the Ultra 2

While there’s little to separate the Ultra and Ultra 2 cosmetically, Apple has made plenty of changes under the glass. The most notable upgrade to the Ultra 2 is the new S9 processor. While not quite as fast as the S10 chip found in the Apple Watch Series 10, the S9 still delivers industry-leading performance and carries out most of the same functions as the S10. These include a more responsive Siri with access to personal health information, and a precision finding feature that’s more sensitive than the regular Find My iPhone ability found on the original Ultra.

The new double tap function found on the Series 10 has also made its way to the Ultra 2. With this enabled, wearers can control their Watch without even touching the screen – simply pressing the thumb and forefinger of the watch hand together performs a number of tasks, from opening notifications to playing music.

On the theme of music, media playback is a new feature for the Ultra 2. While the original Ultra was the first Apple Watch model to feature an external speaker, this was only used to sound the watch’s 86dB emergency siren. The siren feature is still present on the Ultra 2, though now wearers can also use this speaker to play music and podcasts through their preferred streaming app. This improved media functionality is supported by 64GB of internal storage — twice as much as the 1st-generation Ultra.

The screen, too, has received an upgrade: the Ultra 2’s screen is able to produce up to 3000 nits of brightness, around 1/3 more than the original Ultra. Elsewhere, the Ultra 2 underlines its increasingly fashion-forward status with a wider range of colors than the Ultra 1. The Ultra 2 is now available in jet black casing, as well as the original silver, with an optional black titanium band.

Is the Ultra 2 worth it?

As a ruggedized smartwatch, the Ultra is built to last. As such, the original models are still going strong today. Most of the basic features of the watch — screen size, casing dimensions, cellular capability, and battery life — are unchanged in the Ultra 2.

With prices starting at $799 (at the time of writing), the Ultra 2 is considerably more expensive than the Series 10. Buyers should note that Apple does offer a trade-in option on their website, where shoppers can return their original Ultra for money off an Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3

Those hunting for a deal might be better off waiting for the rumored release of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 before committing to a purchase. Apple is expected to continue its release schedule of a new Ultra model every 1-2 years, with the Ultra 3 predicted to appear at some point in mid-to-late 2025. Details on the new model are still scant, however.

What can be expected is a drop in the price of the Ultra 2 once the Ultra 3 hits the shelves. Canny shoppers may prefer to hold out on getting an Ultra 2 until this point, though they should be aware Apple has not officially confirmed the release date, or even the existence, of the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Apple Watch cellular plans 

Both the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 (and presumably the Ultra 3) feature cellular connectivity as standard. While GPS-only Apple Watch models require a nearby iPhone to access the internet and function correctly, cellular Apple Watch models are standalone mobile devices that can access the internet anywhere via an eSIM mobile data connection.  

Doing so requires a specialist Apple Watch data plan from an approved Apple cellular partner like BetterRoaming. Installing an eSIM on an Apple Watch is simple - it takes less than a minute. BetterRoaming is one of a select few network providers trusted to provide Apple Watch eSIMs. Visit the BetterRoaming Apple Watch site to learn more about an Apple Watch cellular plan and get online on your smartwatch today. 

Apple Watch Plans

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