Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: The high-performance smartwatch gets a sleek new color and useful software upgrades

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Apple didn't launch a new generation Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year with the upgraded processor of the Apple Watch Series 10, opting instead to refresh the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a new black titanium frame and a few new software-based features. Still, the Ultra 2 remains the high-end smartwatch in Apple's lineup, and compared to the Series 10, it's the best Apple Watch for fitness and outdoor enthusiasts or anyone who values longer battery life.

When it launched in 2023, the Ultra 2 offered several worthwhile improvements over the original Ultra, including a faster processor, the Double Tap Gesture for enhanced control and accessibility, expanded altitude and depth sensing, and watersports tracking for scuba and freediving. Now that watchOS 11 is available, the Ultra 2 adds even more features that haven't transferred to the original Ultra, like sleep apnea detection and media playback from the dual built-in speakers (great for listening to a podcast in the shower).

The Ultra 2 is Apple's best fitness tracker and one of the best smartwatches overall. Ultra 1 owners may want to trade in if they value the Ultra 2's exclusive new features or favor the new black titanium case option.

Design: The same rugged frame, now in a new color

Apart from the new black color option introduced in 2024, the Apple Watch Ultra 2's exterior hardware remains identical to the models released in 2023 and the first Ultra. The Ultra line's rugged titanium case is one of its primary strengths, making the Ultra 2 tougher than other current Apple Watches with aluminum frames.

While the Ultra 2 is just as bulky and heavy as the Ultra 1, those are tradeoffs for a watch with such a solid build quality; it's designed to be worn in harsh environments. In our experience of wearing the original Ultra and the Ultra 2 in the "natural" titanium color over time, we've accidentally banged them against various surfaces many times, and they've endured without a scuff.

In contrast, despite its sleeker appearance, the Ultra 2's new black titanium case has shown small scuffs more easily than the natural titanium option in our initial testing. It may ultimately be a minor issue, as these scuffs can mostly be rubbed away. However, we expect that deeper scratches may be more visible on the black color option, though we haven't damage-tested it to that extent.

The Ultra 2's Action Button remains exclusive to the Ultra line and functions the same as when Apple introduced it in the first Ultra. Among other features, it can start or stop a workout, open the stopwatch app, or activate the flashlight.

Still, the Action Button is a game changer because it allows you to wait for the GPS to sync before you start a workout, which helps improve the watch's overall accuracy. Health and fitness enthusiasts will find this hallmark feature a primary reason to choose the Ultra 2 over standard Apple Watch models.

Performance: The S9 chipset still runs smoothly with first-rate responsiveness

In our testing, we've found the Ultra 2's previous-generation S9 chipset is not an explicit reason to skip the high-end model in favor of the new Series 10 and its newer S10 chipset. Currently, the Ultra 2 is as quick and responsive as the Series 10, though the newer-generation processor will likely perform better in the long run.

Likewise, the difference remains subtle when comparing the Ultra 2's S9 chipset with the Ultra 1's S8 chipset, but the newer model does respond slightly faster to swipes and screen presses in texting, opening apps, accessing fitness stats, and navigating the interface.

As it stands, the slight performance boost alone isn't enough to warrant an upgrade if you own the original Ultra, but the Ultra 2 will have an advantage in the long run, especially when the operating system and apps become more power-hungry.

Performance isn't everything, however, and the Ultra 2's S9 chip powers newer features that the Ultra 1 doesn't support. For example, it's the driving force behind the useful Double Tap Gesture (also available on the Series 10). This gesture control allows users to interact with the central button in an app, like answering a phone call or snoozing an alarm, by tapping their thumb and index finger together twice. And with watchOS 11, the Double Tap gesture has been improved to scroll down on any app.

Double Tap is a beneficial feature for Apple Watch users who may have a disability or who are unable to interact with the wearable with another hand. The gesture does take some getting used to in terms of sensitivity, but it's very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

Unlike the Ultra 1, the Ultra 2 also supports on-device Siri interactions, which allows the watch to process Siri commands without an internet connection. For instance, we've often used this to start a workout. It works quickly and provides another way to use the watch hands-free.

Smart features: watchOS 11 offers new capabilities and improvements

The Ultra 2 launch coincided with the release of watchOS 10 in 2023, and the watch fully supports this year's watchOS 11 and all of Apple's latest smartwatch features. Though the Ultra 1 also runs watchOS 11, the older model lacks a few new features that are now exclusive to the Ultra 2, like media playback through the watch's dual built-in speakers and a new sleep apnea detection feature, which we detail further in the health and fitness section below.

Several software features introduced in previous watchOS generations have seen notable improvements in watchOS 11, including enhancements to the Activity rings, the Workout app, and the Smart Stack.

Introduced in watchOS 10, the Smart Stack feature lets you customize widgets accessible on the home screen. Apple upgraded it this year to include Live Activities, which makes the feature even more useful on a daily basis, as it intelligently pushes activities you're currently engaged in to the top of the Smart Stack. For example, an active timer or an incoming Uber ride's status will be the first card you see when you swipe up to see your Smart Stack. It's surprisingly effective in knowing what information would be useful to include at any given time.

Health and fitness: Still the ultimate fitness tracker in the Apple Watch lineup

As the original Ultra was previously, the Ultra 2 is the top fitness tracker in Apple's current lineup. It offers accurate and quick GPS, tracking capability for various activities, and a durable, rugged design. Exclusive to the Ultra 2 are watersports tracking, such as freediving, scuba diving, and wakeboarding.

It also has the brightest screen of any Apple Watch, reaching a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, which is 50% brighter than the original Ultra's and Series 10's 2,000-nit displays.

The difference in brightness between the watches is negligible indoors, but when outside in bright, sunny conditions, the Ultra 2's screen is easier to read and more vibrant overall. The brighter screen has also made a difference during workouts, as it makes it easier to read fitness data like running pace or mileage.

The Ultra 2 is also an excellent health tracker. It offers heart rate monitoring, sound exposure notifications, and in-depth sleep tracking with a new FDA-approved sleep apnea detection feature (exclusive to the Ultra 2, Series 9, and Series 10 in watchOS 11), which monitors and notifies you of nightly breathing disturbances over time.

According to the Ultra 2, I don't have sleep apnea, which is good to know. My wife complains that I snore once in a while, and getting a test for sleep apnea was on my mind, but I put off getting the test done as it seems involved. However, using the Ultra 2's analysis, I don't feel the need to do so.

It shows that my sleeping disturbances aren't severe enough to call for an alert from the Ultra 2 or Apple Health app on an iPhone. I should note that I have two young kids who struggle to sleep through the night and cause great disturbance in my sleep, so it's good to see the Ultra 2 and Apple Health app can discern unrelated sleep disturbances.

Sleep apnea detection readings are found under the "Breathing Disturbances" metric in the Apple Health app, which is somewhat confusing — I'd argue it should be named "Sleep Apnea" so it's found more easily.

Also available on the Ultra 2 and any model running watchOS 11, the new Vitals app tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature while you sleep to check your body's overall wellness. It alerts you if it notices consistent outlying data that deviates from your baseline ranges.

But the Ultra 2's primary point of separation is how well it performs as a fitness tracker relative to other Apple Watches. Performance was a highlight of the original Ultra, and the Ultra 2 functions the same. It syncs GPS quickly, which allows it to accurately track pace and distance during activities, and its Action Button is incredibly practical for starting and stopping workouts. Plus, with longer battery life compared to the Series 10, we've never had to worry about the Ultra 2 dying in action, even on a long bike ride.

The new Vitals app and its training load feature in watchOS 11 also make the Ultra 2 an even more powerful fitness tool by helping you decide when to push harder for an upcoming workout or take it easy that day.

The Ultra 2 has a higher altitude range and lower depth sensing than the Ultra 1, as it can go down to 500 meters below sea level and 9,000 meters above sea level. (For reference, the peak of Mt. Everest is 8,848 meters above sea level.) It has the same 100m water resistance rating as the Ultra 1, which bests the 50m rating of all other current Apple Watch models.

Battery life: Multi-day charge remains one of its best and most useful qualities

Although the battery life of the Ultra 2 didn't change compared to the original Ultra, it's still one of the newer model's highlights. We consistently get at least two, if not three, days out of the watch before recharging it. 

Even when we frequently use GPS or enable the always-on display, we still get almost two full days of battery life. We've found that when you need juice in a pinch, you can throw the Ultra 2 on the charger for about 30 minutes to get a full day's worth of battery. It also needs just an hour and a half for a 100% charge.

The only bummer here is the Ultra 2 doesn't support the new faster charging enjoyed by the Series 10 line, which charges from 0-80% in 30 minutes compared to 0-80% in about an hour.

Should you buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2?

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most full-featured wearable in Apple's lineup and the best Apple Watch for fitness tracking and outdoor activities, but because it's such a specialized and comparatively expensive product, it's not for everyone. This isn't to say the Ultra 2 isn't worth buying, but rather that it caters to a smaller crowd than Apple's primary flagship wearable, the Series 10.

Before purchasing the Ultra 2, consider the following: Will you use all the advanced features the Ultra line offers, particularly its exclusive Action Button? And do you already own a first-generation Ultra?

If you answered yes to the first question and don't yet own (but want) an Ultra-class Apple Watch, you should buy the Ultra 2. Yes, it's expensive, starting at $799, but if you use the watch to its full potential, it'll be a valuable investment, especially if you particularly value the Ultra 2's extended battery life compared to the Series 10 and its more rugged titanium design relative to the aluminum frames of other Apple Watches.

If you don't need all the bells and whistles, consider the Apple Watch Series 10. It's the best option for most people and offers many of the premium health and fitness tracking features found on the Ultra 2, and it also comes in a titanium case option.