Apple has officially announced its September event where we can certainly look forward to the arrival of the new iPhone 15 line. But not only will we have new iPhones, but we will also meet the new Apple Watch Series 9 and possibly the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 as well.
The Apple Watch Ultra was released last year alongside the iPhone 14 and is an Apple Watch designed for extreme activities like diving and mountain climbing. But it also has an incredible battery life, an Action button, and the biggest screen ever on an Apple Watch. In fact, if you want the best Apple Watch experience, you should definitely buy this watch.
This begs the question: is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth the wait, or will you be happy with the current Apple Watch Ultra? We are here to help you.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra Design
The Apple Watch Ultra features a 49mm titanium case with a flat sapphire crystal display. The display is an always-on LTPO OLED display with up to 2000 nits of brightness. They have a conventional digital crown and side button on the right side of the case, and an action button with orange accents on the left side of the watch.
Based on the rumors that have been circulating so far, it doesn’t look like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will have many design changes compared to the current model.
According to recent reports, one of the changes to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 lineup could be the addition of a dark titanium color option alongside natural titanium trim. It could be something similar to the Space Black titanium variant that debuted with the Apple Watch Series 5.
There are also rumors that Apple is using a 3D printing process for some of the mechanical parts of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, although this is likely just a cost-saving measure for Apple. The details themselves are likely the digital crown, side button, and action button, but the look and feel should remain the same.
Barring those two details, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 should retain the same design as the current Apple Watch Ultra. If you haven’t been a fan of the sheer size and “massiveness” of the Apple Watch Ultra, know that nothing will change with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra Specifications
The current Apple Watch Ultra uses the S8 chip, just like the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE 2. It’s pretty quick and snappy in terms of performance and handles whatever you put on it without a hitch.
If rumors are to be believed, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will get the new S9 processor, the same one we expect to see in the Apple Watch Series 9. This will reportedly be the biggest performance boost for the Apple Watch since the Apple Watch Series 6. Rumor has it that the chip The S9 is based on the A15 Bionic chip, which was first introduced in the iPhone 13 line.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that the S9’s performance boost will be “significant”. However, it is difficult to say how much of an improvement this will be; after all, the current version of the Apple Watch Ultra is already great.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: features
The Apple Watch Ultra has redefined the Apple Watch with a range of features designed for more extreme outdoor activities than previous models. The titanium case makes it much lighter and more durable than its aluminum and stainless steel counterparts, and the larger size means more room for a larger battery.
Because Apple Watch Ultra is built for more extreme outdoor activities, it’s also IP6X dust-resistant, 100-meter water-resistant, and swim-resistant, allowing you to dive up to 40 meters with EN13319 certification. There is also a depth gauge with a water temperature sensor, and you can download the Oceanic+ app to use it as a full dive computer.
And while we hope you never need to use it, there’s also an 86 decibel siren that you can activate with the Action button. It can be heard up to 600 feet away and can be very useful if you need help in remote areas.
At this point, we haven’t heard of any new features on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 that its predecessor doesn’t have. We can definitely expect it to have at least everything the current Apple Watch Ultra has. But other than the already mentioned new S9 processor, there are no other features to speak of.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: Health Tracking
One of the main reasons anyone wants an Apple Watch is the health tracking features. The Apple Watch Ultra offers everything the Series 8 has, plus a larger, stronger titanium case, longer battery life, and more features designed for extreme activities.
The Apple Watch Ultra currently has continuous 24/7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 (blood oxygen) tracking, an ECG app, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications (good for detecting atrial fibrillation), and cardiovascular activity notifications. . And, like the Series 8, there’s also a temperature sensor here, which is especially useful for cycle tracking thanks to ovulation estimation.
The Apple Watch Ultra can also track sleep if you wear it at night and has fall detection that alerts emergency services if you’re having a major stroke.
So far, we haven’t heard any reports that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will get new health sensors. Many people expect to see something new on this front, such as blood pressure measurement or non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, but these healthcare technologies are unlikely to be ready for their debut.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: battery life
The first generation Apple Watch Ultra has proven to be a beast in terms of battery life, with a battery life of around 36 hours on a single charge, twice as long as the Apple Watch Series 8. This can be extended up to 60 hours if you turn on low power mode.
We should expect the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to have the same, if not better, battery life with the S9 chip. Considering the S9 could offer better performance and more power efficiency, it’s entirely possible for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to deliver up to 40 hours of battery life between charges. This is speculation of course, but it might be possible with the new chip.
Like the previous version, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 must come with a magnetic USB-C fast charging cable.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: price
The Apple Watch Ultra is the most expensive Apple Watch on the market at $799 for one size and finish. While it may seem expensive at first glance, it’s actually only $100 more than the cheapest stainless steel version of the 8 Series.
We do not expect a price increase for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. However, there may be a slight price increase for the black titanium model, similar to how the Space Black Link bracelet costs $100 more than the silver version, but these are just speculations.
Either way, we can expect it to cost at least $799.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra Availability
Last year, the Apple Watch Ultra went on sale on September 23, 2022.
Apple has announced that its fall event will take place on September 12th. According to previous data, pre-orders should start next Friday, which is September 15, and will arrive in stores on September 22.
While the first Apple Watch Ultra is a great smartwatch, we recommend against buying it right now. At the very least, wait for the announcement of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and see if the upgrades (new processor and titanium color) are worth it. If not, you may be able to find the first generation Apple Watch Ultra at a discount at select retailers.
Source: Digital Trends
