Apple Watch Ultra 2 analysis: key improvements

If it’s on your wrist Apple Watch Ultra, which was announced and released in 2022, there’s not much else to say. He ultra 2 This is a relatively small version of the device that offers little new. But if you’ve been wondering for a year now when would be the right time to buy this version of the company’s smartwatch, this is your sign.

He Apple Watch Ultra 2 almost identical Apple Watch Ultra. Everything I wrote and explained last year during my in-depth analysis of smartwatches holds true this year as well. But a lot has changed over the year, and I’m not just talking about device improvements. I explain:

He Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with three key improvements:

1. New S9 chip: Speeds things up by up to 30% and now has Siri on the device
2. New brighter screen, up to 3000 nits brightness.
3. New ultra-wideband chip

In my review of the 2022 Apple Watch Ultra, I focused on the device itself. Especially for those people who want to use them, but aren’t necessarily into extreme sports where a more robust watch with a larger screen would come in handy. But, as I already said, a lot of things have changed over the year, besides the device itself. And it has to do with me. A week after I started using Ultra, I began an extremely strict training regimen focused on strength and functional exercises with a personal trainer using the 1:1 method, which I stuck with for a year—and will continue to maintain for the rest of my life. .

This gave me a great opportunity to test the device—both the previous generation Apple Watch Ultra and the Ultra 2—in a sports or training environment. Since these two devices are very similar in everyday use, everything I said last year still applies, but now I’ll tell you more about using them in your workouts.

Why the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s big screen is important during exercise, and its titanium case

In the past, before I started working out, I thought a larger screen for working out wasn’t a big deal compared to a smaller one like the Apple Watch Series 9 or Series 8. “Who cares?” I thought. Well, I’m very wrong.

When you’re constantly on the go, a larger screen makes sense. Not only for viewing training information, but also for interacting with the interface. Especially in those moments when you have to press things during training, when every tap It’s very inaccurate on screen.

And when you work out almost every day, activating your workout app with the action button makes a lot of sense, too. Although it can be programmed for many other things, I leave the settings at their defaults.

To this we add a fairly durable and very light titanium body. Did you accidentally hit your watch on a dumbbell or kettlebell in the middle of a workout? You don’t even consider the possibility that Apple Watch Ultra 2 suffered. And yes, it is big, but so light that you don’t feel it on your hand either during training or in everyday life.

Much brighter screen

Screen brightness Apple Watch Ultra 2 This is one of the most important changes of this generation of the device. Up to 3000 nits in bright sunlight. In fact, it’s the brightest screen of any Apple device.

I tested it in the most unfavorable conditions: at 15:00, with the Madrid sun directly above my head, in a 400 square meter parking lot, with that asphalt that reflects the light and makes you half blind.

But is it noticeable? Yes, it’s noticeable. The screen will not always be at these 3000 nits and will increase the brightness to maximum if necessary. This generation of Watch Ultra is designed for those people who play outdoor sports and previously had difficulty reading information on the screen.

Much more autonomy

He Apple Watch Ultra 2 According to Apple, its approximate battery life is 36 hours. They calculated it this way: 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with Apple Watch music playing via Bluetooth.

Of all these activities, training requires the most energy as it constantly monitors movement and heart rate. During my review of the previous generation Apple Watch Ultra, I mentioned that the battery lasted well beyond that 36 hours, even exceeding 48 hours.

But, of course, with almost daily training the situation changes significantly. In my testing the last few days when I work out, I end the day with about 60% battery and sleep with the watch to monitor my sleep. I charge it (almost never to 100%) when I shower, usually to 80-85%.

This ensures that I can use the watch all day, exercise without worrying about the battery, sleep with Apple Watch Ultra 2, and have enough battery the next day to workout again and make it through the night.

For those people who do not have a charger, the device has a low consumption mode that can extend battery life up to 72 hours.

Siri on device and gestures

He Apple Watch Ultra 2 It includes a new chip (technically a SiP or system on a chip) called S9. Using two cores, it processes machine learning tasks almost twice as fast. Along with this, it becomes possible to launch Siri on the device.

Some of the most common tasks, such as starting a countdown or starting some physical activity, are completed entirely locally. Previously, processing had to be done on a connected device or in the cloud.

Another change that comes with the new S9 is gestures for some common tasks. Apple Watch Ultra 2 recognizes the double tap of your index finger and thumb, allowing you to answer a phone call, reply to a message, or pause a timer. Finally, you no longer need to use your nose to interact with the watch when your other hand is occupied. A classic situation when you are carrying shopping bags. This is not yet availableand will appear later with a software update.

Exact search

Another improvement to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the new Ultra Wideband chip. One of the things I do most often with my smartwatch is use the Find My iPhone feature to make it beep.

This feature has been greatly improved and is now similar to AirTag search. Pressing a button to make your iPhone make a sound activates an interface that tells you the approximate distance the device is located. When you get closer, he will show you with an arrow where he is.

Under ideal conditions, Apple Watch can detect the position of an iPhone from approximately 20 to 25 meters away. In areas with many walls and obstacles, the distance decreases.

For all this to work, the iPhone must also have the new Ultra Wideband chip, meaning it’s only available in the iPhone 15 and later. Otherwise it works as usual, just making a sound.

Almost imperceptible design change, but welcome

Apple Watch Ultra 2 is virtually identical to the first generation Apple Watch Ultra, but there is a slight design change that is almost invisible. The crown is now a little further away from the hand so it doesn’t get tangled in the hair when handling it.

The change is welcome, but I wish they would do the same with the action button. Make it more visible or change its position. Because when I press it, I pull out some of the hair on my arm.

Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth buying?

Like any new Apple Watch, the Ultra 2 is not intended to be upgraded from the first generation Ultra. The idea is to attract new customers who have not yet used the device.

In fact, according to official Apple data, two out of every three people who buy an Apple Watch have never owned one before. The company still has a lot of ground to cover and opportunities in the world of wearables.

For its price, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is not for everyone. The main reasons I would recommend this watch are: durability, battery life, screen (especially its size) and workout features. If any of these four pillars are very important, it will be a great purchase. Otherwise, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a capable smartwatch.

But whether you choose the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple’s smartwatches remain unbeatable and are still the best wearable products you can buy.

Of course, I’m missing more colors, and not limited to just the natural color of titanium. The dark gray Apple Watch Ultra should look impressive. Perhaps this will happen next year. At the moment we only have one color available.