Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: a superb all-rounder fitness watch
Top-tier Apple smartwatch gets a potent S9 chip - but not much else
Stuff Verdict
It’s brilliant, but there’s no way we’d bother upgrading to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from last year’s model, while the pricing is most definitely premium.
Pros
- Super-bright display
- Carbon neutral options
- Light on the wrist
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- Expensive compared to other Apple Watches
- Too big for many
Introduction
We were massive fans of last year’s Apple Watch Ultra. It really shook things up and changed what people expected from a smartwatch. Plus it was massive, with a new action button and some great new bands.
The Ultra 2 is an update to that formula, with the S9 chip plus watchOS 10. And it can use the new double tap gesture.
Design & build
Apple says 95% of the titanium in the Ultra 2 is recycled, whereas there was no recycled content in last year’s enclosure.
What’s more, if you buy your Ultra 2 with an Alpine Loop or Trail Loop then it’ll be carbon-neutral. The chunky Ocean Band isn’t yet included, which is a shame as it’s our favourite.
Screen
While the Series 9’s display is as bright as the one on last year’s Watch Ultra, the Ultra 2’s is even brighter, capable of 3000 nits. You can read it pretty well in very bright sunlight.
Night Mode – which shows the whole watch face in red – now automatically engages in low light, although you can turn this off if you want to.
Interface
Apple has really gone to town on watchOS this time around. The update does take a bit of getting used to, as bits have been moved around. Swiping up now shows a Smart Stack of widgets rather than Control Centre, which has been assigned to the side button. The dock’s gone, as is swiping between faces; you now long-press like on an iPhone.
A new Modular Ultra face uses the edge of the watch’s display to show things like seconds or diving depth. This can be customised in stacks of ways.
There’s also one totally new gesture: one-handed double tap. It’s arguably the most exciting thing about watchOS 10. To use it, you raise your hand with the watch angled towards you then pinch your thumb and finger together. It’s really useful for a number of one-handed tasks, although it doesn’t work with every app and screen.
Health & fitness
The new Ultra is once again a superb fitness watch.
Battery life
The one downer here is that we were really expecting better battery life this time around. Three days is only just about possible (or 12hrs of workouts in standard mode). You can eke things out for a lot longer with low-power mode, but in reality you’re going to be plugging in every couple of days.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 verdict
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Stuff Says…
It’s brilliant, but there’s no way we’d bother upgrading to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from last year’s model, while the pricing is most definitely premium.
Pros
Super-bright display
Carbon neutral options
Light on the wrist
Cons
Battery life could be better
Expensive compared to other Apple Watches
Too big for many
Apple Watch Ultra 2 technical specifications
| Screen | 1.9in, 502×410 Retina OLED |
| CPU | Apple S9 |
| Storage | 64GB |
| Operating system | WatchOS |
| Sensors | Heart rate, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, altimeter, barometer, body temperature, water temperature SpO2, VO2max |
| Battery | 564mAh |
| Durability | IP6X, 100mm water resistant, 40m diving (EN13319), MIL-STD 810H |
| Dimensions | 49x44x14.4mm, 61.4g |
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
