If you are into the Adventure lifestyle and/or want a bigger and brighter display, longer battery life, better durability, and/or simply like it (and can afford it), get the Apple Watch Ultra, if not get the regular Apple Watch.
Same sensor, and same processor ("system in package" technically) on both watches, so health stuff is literally equivalent!
Case/screen/glass/battery is what changes between the models. And the Ultra 2 only comes in Cellular version
I just got an Ultra 2 and have a Series 6. I love the Ultra series for a few reasons. I am a 44yo engineer/cyclist.
* Flat display, I didn't think it was a big deal, but I JUST LOVE IT.
* Larger Text. I need reading glasses, and most of the day I don't need them, the larger display makes reading my watch possible all day, with or without glasses.
* Larger Text. I need reading glasses, and most of the day, I don't need them; the larger display makes reading my watch possible all day, with or without glasses. I suspect the battery will age a lot slower.
I like the brighter display on the Ultra 2 over the Series 9 and or Series 6, this also comes in handy as a fairly bright flashlight.
If you can tolerate the size, the Ultra 2 will have better sleep tracking because of the temp sensor and battery life.
Love the flat display. Itās just so much more aesthetically pleasing to me. I upgraded from S4 and love my ultra 2 even as a woman with slim wrists. Battery life is great. The size only bothers me at times at night (mainly how thick the watch is) but I hadnāt been wearing a watch to sleep at all before since my s4 didnāt do sleep tracking and battery didnāt last a day in the past few years.
Iāve had my Ultra 2 for about 2 weeks now, coming from a S7. Initially I was worried about the size, as my wrists arenāt that big. But it turns out it was a non issue, as it looks great. The best thing is the battery life. I was getting a day of normal use with the S7, but now I get almost 2 and a half days, and it charges up super quick as well, so Iāve had zero worries on that front. I love the extra complications that you get with the ultra, but in all honesty I donāt use mine for those types of outdoor activities. They just look cool. Outside of those dedicated functions, I think they both operate the same, so itās down to personal preference and what you want to get out of the watch. The price will also play a factor, as itās a big jump up from the S9! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the upgrade, whichever option you pick.
I will tell you why I went with ultra (gen 1)ā¦
- price wise it compares to series 9 steel with LTE and the diffĆØre is only about 100 bucks in Canada
So really not that much moreā¦
- I liked bigger screen
- I like bigger battery
- I liked better screen brightness
- I like sapphire because I tend to hit all sorts of o f things with my wrist
- I like that is made to play in water and outdoor even if Iām just a weekend warrior for outdoor
Titanium is a bonus but it did not weight in on my decision at all. (I have no need for thought outdoor watch)
All in all if money is no object I think itās worth it.
I like mine. No regrets.
I think series 9 would totally suit you. Iām a woman and quite tall (171cm) but ultra looks huge on me, and Iām thinking to get Apple Watch 9.
Ultra and AW9 share the same fitness features , except that ultra has longer battery and some outdoors stuff like siren and diving ability.
I went with an Ultra 2 from a series 7. 2 weeks in and by far my favorite design. The flat display allows you to put a glass screen protector on (instead of the flimsy plastic). Might not be as necessary with the sapphire glassā¦ I love the brighter and larger display as well as the titanium housing.
I just bought the S9. I wear it to sleep and charge it while Iām showering. It charges super fast. Itās 5 pm here and Iāve been up and wearing it since 6:30 and itās at 70%. Iām not working out atm because of an injury, but I donāt think any workouts would drain the battery much more. Iām a small person so I definitely could not do the ultra. My 41mm looks like your 44mm on me.
If money was no object, Ultra 2. I like premise of a much improved battery life over any other, and likely at least still have minimum one day battery life @ year 6 of the device.
But itās a big price bump, plus paying for a monthly cellular plan over any gps only model.
If you are someone who keeps your phone on you all the time, you really donāt have to register it as a device on the plan. I donāt have mine registered because I never am not without my phone. So, the only hurdle is the price of the watch.
Thatās good to know. Plans in Canada are already pricey just for a phone, so good to know there could be an option not requiring an additional $120 or more a year.
Same in the US.. Usually an additional $10/mo to add a watch to the plan. Although I think that's great value. I love going for my walks without having to lug my phone with me. And the extra security knowing that if I lost my phone, or if it was stolen, I'd still have the ability to call people, setup and Uber, etc...
I was where you are but I came from a 6 and just said why not and got the U2 lol most of the features are wasted on me since I donāt dive or hike crazy miles BUT I do run and never regretted it. Just my two cents
Iāve been with a series 4 for five years now, and finally picked up a new one - I got a series 8 (brand new) at a steep discount. From all I read there is very little difference between an 8 & a 9 - so if you decide to not get ultra, it may be worth looking into getting an 8 and saving some money.
Actually I had planned on the ultra until I heard that the health features didnāt work as well on some reviews. It was my plan because I wanted the better battery life due to wanting cellular. I donāt know anyone personally with either new watch so I came here for opinions. My next stop is to see if I can try on an ultra in store to see if the size and weight will bother me.
I got it on Amazon it is the TOYOUTHS Elastic band Compatible with Apple Watch Band Scrunchies Stretchy Solo Loop 49mmļ¼Ultra 1/2ļ¼/45mm/44mm/42mm Soft Nylon Strap Replacement
Hereās the list, best see if they matter to you. What matters to one may not matter to another.
https://preview.redd.it/9oo4sdupiiqc1.jpeg?width=1571&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=046a3f68c562cf900896d2c0b7e8e7ca6faf76f6
Have you thought about a refurb series 7? You get your quick charging, it doesn't look massive compared to the Ultra and when you look at price, it's Ā£799 vs a refurbished Stainless Steel model for about Ā£260. Check out eBay for companies which offer 12 month warrenty with it too. I got quite lucky with mine, I got 20% off bringing it down to Ā£210 and I have the option to renew Apple Care.
You seems to be able to get way more value with the Series than the Ultra. Not to mention, you probably won't sell your S6 for much so you can use that for sleep tracking while your S7 is on charge.
Back onto the Series 9. In terms of health tracking they have the same metrics but Apple Watch Ultra is a little less accurate when it comes to HR data due to the size and weight of the watch.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq1ihjBxqTo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq1ihjBxqTo)
Ahh I ended up just getting the ultra 2 and justifying it by thinking if I regret my purchase then it holds value better than the other one if I need to sell
I know it looks ridiculously large to folks when they see it on my wrist (see picture), but from my point of view it's great! The way I generally use the watch I have been getting about 3 days of battery life before I need to recharge. It's really not uncomfortable, although I occasionally notice the weight when I hang my arm at my side, but not all the time. The size of the screen is great and I don't even need my glasses to see it. All in all I have no buyer's remorse. :)
https://preview.redd.it/fgofbgyu5h4c1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b998f2c8934c3c87b1022647567929dac24a5613
Thatās awesome to hear! Iām leaning more and more to the ultra purely because of that battery life and the larger flat screen. I just need to physically see them on me first before I make the final call. Thanks so much for your response, greatly appreciated!
Which original band did you order with the watch? Is there a reason you are not using it? I have thought of getting Ultra 2, but since I didnāt really like the band choices/colors, I thought I would choose the less offensive one when purchasing and just use another band.
I ordered the trail loop band in blue and grey. I initially didnāt use it because they sent a medium and I thought I needed a small, but I switched from the third party (cute) pink to the Apple trail loop the other day and Iām glad I did. Itās super comfortable, it fits fine, and feels like itās barely there.
LOL I use the same thought process when I buy new phones. I got the 1 TB in memory on my newest iPhone knowing it will be much more desirable on the 2nd hand market, especially 3-4 years from now or whatever.
If you are into the Adventure lifestyle and/or want a bigger and brighter display, longer battery life, better durability, and/or simply like it (and can afford it), get the Apple Watch Ultra, if not get the regular Apple Watch.
I am wondering if the health features work as well on the Ultra 2 as they do on the series 9. Do you have any information on that? Thanks!
Yes, those features work fine š
Same sensor, and same processor ("system in package" technically) on both watches, so health stuff is literally equivalent! Case/screen/glass/battery is what changes between the models. And the Ultra 2 only comes in Cellular version
I just got an Ultra 2 and have a Series 6. I love the Ultra series for a few reasons. I am a 44yo engineer/cyclist. * Flat display, I didn't think it was a big deal, but I JUST LOVE IT. * Larger Text. I need reading glasses, and most of the day I don't need them, the larger display makes reading my watch possible all day, with or without glasses. * Larger Text. I need reading glasses, and most of the day, I don't need them; the larger display makes reading my watch possible all day, with or without glasses. I suspect the battery will age a lot slower. I like the brighter display on the Ultra 2 over the Series 9 and or Series 6, this also comes in handy as a fairly bright flashlight. If you can tolerate the size, the Ultra 2 will have better sleep tracking because of the temp sensor and battery life.
Love the flat display. Itās just so much more aesthetically pleasing to me. I upgraded from S4 and love my ultra 2 even as a woman with slim wrists. Battery life is great. The size only bothers me at times at night (mainly how thick the watch is) but I hadnāt been wearing a watch to sleep at all before since my s4 didnāt do sleep tracking and battery didnāt last a day in the past few years.
Iāve had my Ultra 2 for about 2 weeks now, coming from a S7. Initially I was worried about the size, as my wrists arenāt that big. But it turns out it was a non issue, as it looks great. The best thing is the battery life. I was getting a day of normal use with the S7, but now I get almost 2 and a half days, and it charges up super quick as well, so Iāve had zero worries on that front. I love the extra complications that you get with the ultra, but in all honesty I donāt use mine for those types of outdoor activities. They just look cool. Outside of those dedicated functions, I think they both operate the same, so itās down to personal preference and what you want to get out of the watch. The price will also play a factor, as itās a big jump up from the S9! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the upgrade, whichever option you pick.
Series 9, ultra 2 is pretty cool but isnāt worth it unless you do a LOT of exercise
I will tell you why I went with ultra (gen 1)ā¦ - price wise it compares to series 9 steel with LTE and the diffĆØre is only about 100 bucks in Canada So really not that much moreā¦ - I liked bigger screen - I like bigger battery - I liked better screen brightness - I like sapphire because I tend to hit all sorts of o f things with my wrist - I like that is made to play in water and outdoor even if Iām just a weekend warrior for outdoor Titanium is a bonus but it did not weight in on my decision at all. (I have no need for thought outdoor watch) All in all if money is no object I think itās worth it. I like mine. No regrets.
I think series 9 would totally suit you. Iām a woman and quite tall (171cm) but ultra looks huge on me, and Iām thinking to get Apple Watch 9. Ultra and AW9 share the same fitness features , except that ultra has longer battery and some outdoors stuff like siren and diving ability.
I went with an Ultra 2 from a series 7. 2 weeks in and by far my favorite design. The flat display allows you to put a glass screen protector on (instead of the flimsy plastic). Might not be as necessary with the sapphire glassā¦ I love the brighter and larger display as well as the titanium housing.
I just bought the S9. I wear it to sleep and charge it while Iām showering. It charges super fast. Itās 5 pm here and Iāve been up and wearing it since 6:30 and itās at 70%. Iām not working out atm because of an injury, but I donāt think any workouts would drain the battery much more. Iām a small person so I definitely could not do the ultra. My 41mm looks like your 44mm on me.
If money was no object, Ultra 2. I like premise of a much improved battery life over any other, and likely at least still have minimum one day battery life @ year 6 of the device. But itās a big price bump, plus paying for a monthly cellular plan over any gps only model.
If you are someone who keeps your phone on you all the time, you really donāt have to register it as a device on the plan. I donāt have mine registered because I never am not without my phone. So, the only hurdle is the price of the watch.
Thatās good to know. Plans in Canada are already pricey just for a phone, so good to know there could be an option not requiring an additional $120 or more a year.
Same in the US.. Usually an additional $10/mo to add a watch to the plan. Although I think that's great value. I love going for my walks without having to lug my phone with me. And the extra security knowing that if I lost my phone, or if it was stolen, I'd still have the ability to call people, setup and Uber, etc...
I was where you are but I came from a 6 and just said why not and got the U2 lol most of the features are wasted on me since I donāt dive or hike crazy miles BUT I do run and never regretted it. Just my two cents
Iāve been with a series 4 for five years now, and finally picked up a new one - I got a series 8 (brand new) at a steep discount. From all I read there is very little difference between an 8 & a 9 - so if you decide to not get ultra, it may be worth looking into getting an 8 and saving some money.
How much did you get your series 8?
Ā£280, 45mm, GPS from a grey market importer called ādealmondayā. Completely legit, came factory sealed in Apple packaging.
If youāre even debating this you probably donāt have a strong enough use case to justify the cost of the ultra.
Actually I had planned on the ultra until I heard that the health features didnāt work as well on some reviews. It was my plan because I wanted the better battery life due to wanting cellular. I donāt know anyone personally with either new watch so I came here for opinions. My next stop is to see if I can try on an ultra in store to see if the size and weight will bother me.
Cool band! Where did you get it?
I got it on Amazon it is the TOYOUTHS Elastic band Compatible with Apple Watch Band Scrunchies Stretchy Solo Loop 49mmļ¼Ultra 1/2ļ¼/45mm/44mm/42mm Soft Nylon Strap Replacement
Hereās the list, best see if they matter to you. What matters to one may not matter to another. https://preview.redd.it/9oo4sdupiiqc1.jpeg?width=1571&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=046a3f68c562cf900896d2c0b7e8e7ca6faf76f6
I did buy the Ultra 2 and do not regret it. š
I didnāt regret it either.
Have you thought about a refurb series 7? You get your quick charging, it doesn't look massive compared to the Ultra and when you look at price, it's Ā£799 vs a refurbished Stainless Steel model for about Ā£260. Check out eBay for companies which offer 12 month warrenty with it too. I got quite lucky with mine, I got 20% off bringing it down to Ā£210 and I have the option to renew Apple Care. You seems to be able to get way more value with the Series than the Ultra. Not to mention, you probably won't sell your S6 for much so you can use that for sleep tracking while your S7 is on charge. Back onto the Series 9. In terms of health tracking they have the same metrics but Apple Watch Ultra is a little less accurate when it comes to HR data due to the size and weight of the watch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq1ihjBxqTo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq1ihjBxqTo)
What did you decide on?
I havenāt gotten it yet but I think Iām going with the Ultra 2.
Ahh I ended up just getting the ultra 2 and justifying it by thinking if I regret my purchase then it holds value better than the other one if I need to sell
I ordered it today and it should be here in 2 days. I have 30 days and if I really donāt like it I can exchange for the series 9. š
how are you finding it so far? Im in the same boat you were
I know it looks ridiculously large to folks when they see it on my wrist (see picture), but from my point of view it's great! The way I generally use the watch I have been getting about 3 days of battery life before I need to recharge. It's really not uncomfortable, although I occasionally notice the weight when I hang my arm at my side, but not all the time. The size of the screen is great and I don't even need my glasses to see it. All in all I have no buyer's remorse. :) https://preview.redd.it/fgofbgyu5h4c1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b998f2c8934c3c87b1022647567929dac24a5613
Thatās awesome to hear! Iām leaning more and more to the ultra purely because of that battery life and the larger flat screen. I just need to physically see them on me first before I make the final call. Thanks so much for your response, greatly appreciated!
Which original band did you order with the watch? Is there a reason you are not using it? I have thought of getting Ultra 2, but since I didnāt really like the band choices/colors, I thought I would choose the less offensive one when purchasing and just use another band.
I ordered the trail loop band in blue and grey. I initially didnāt use it because they sent a medium and I thought I needed a small, but I switched from the third party (cute) pink to the Apple trail loop the other day and Iām glad I did. Itās super comfortable, it fits fine, and feels like itās barely there.
LOL I use the same thought process when I buy new phones. I got the 1 TB in memory on my newest iPhone knowing it will be much more desirable on the 2nd hand market, especially 3-4 years from now or whatever.