Differences Between Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are two of the most anticipated smartwatch releases this year. All eyes are on Apple to see how its top wearables perform when placed side by side. Will the more expensive Ultra 2 be worth the extra money, or should you just stick with the Apple Watch Series 9? Here’s what we learned after Apple’s big “Wonderlust” event in September .

Prices

One of the most obvious differences between the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the price. The Ultra 2 is the more premium option of the two devices, priced at $799. This includes a 49mm face as well as a GPS + cellular configuration.

Apple Watch Series 9 doesn’t stray from Apple’s past pricing models for its smartwatches, with the 41mm model starting at $399 and the 45mm model starting at $429. Add $100 for any GPS configuration. If you want stainless steel, which only comes in GPS configuration, you’ll pay $699 for 41mm and $749 for 45mm.

You can order both today and they will be available for purchase starting Friday, September 22nd.

Design and Features

While the Series 9 and Ultra 2 are very different smartwatches, they have a lot in common. Both devices run watchOS 10, the latest version of Apple’s smartwatch operating system. Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a more rugged design and more outdoor capabilities than Watch Series 9, including a more durable design and higher peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The Series 9’s maximum brightness reaches 2,000 nits, which is an excellent range for most people. Both watches can also reduce brightness by up to one nit.

The Watch Ultra 2 is designed for outdoor use, with features like a built-in siren as well as the longest battery life of any Apple smartwatch on the market right now. The Ultra 2 also features the same additional action button functionality we saw on the first-generation Ultra.

Overall, the design and features of each device aren’t superior to the Watch Series 8 or the previous Ultra, but we do get the faster S9 chip on both models. This chip has a more powerful CPU and GPU than previous chips, with a quad-core neural engine that allows Siri to be processed on the device. It also features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip with precision search, making it even easier to find your iPhone with Find My or pair with your HomePod speaker.

The Series 9 has a battery life of 18 hours, while the Ultra 2 has 36 hours of normal use and 72 hours in low power mode. The Watch Ultra 2 features more recycled materials and additional color options for those interested.

On both devices, Apple introduced a new gesture for using the Apple Watch with one hand: double-tap. Double-tap your index finger and thumb to control the main button in the app, so you can do things like answer a call on your watch, snooze your alarm, and scroll through widgets on your watch face.

The idea behind this latest Watch line seems to be one of evolution rather than revolution: it builds on the success of previous devices while helping to push things a little further with more accurate readings and efficiency.

Thin woven tapes

FineWoven is a new material for Apple Watch straps that is more environmentally friendly than leather. In fact, Apple is eliminating the use of leather in its products, including watch bands and iPhone cases.

Apple is also partnering with Hermes and Nike to add new bracelets to their offerings.

Which Apple Watch should you choose?

Ultimately, you won’t find much difference in the day-to-day use of the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2. However, the devil is in the details, and if you plan to do a lot of outdoor work or simply want a larger device, then the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be the best option. It’s more expensive, but its body is stronger and the larger display means it’s easier to interact with while out in the wild.

If you just want a great product that will combine everything Apple has already shown it can work well with the Apple Watch line, then the Watch Series 9 will be more than enough. It’s also much cheaper.

And given that neither model has seen major design changes or new smartwatch features, you may not have much reason to upgrade at all. Hopefully next year’s release of the Apple Watch Series 10 (or whatever Apple decides to call it) will include more radical changes for the wearable’s tenth anniversary. However, the Apple Watch is still a great wearable device with a lot of great features.