20 September 2023 , 13:01
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I've had the original Apple Watch Ultra strapped to my wrist since it launched late last year and it's an unbeatable wearable. In fact, I'd say I'm totally addicted to the daily dose of data it gives me along with those all-important nudges to get up and moving after too long staring at my computer screen.
As long as you don't mind its chunky industrial-style appearance it's a hard device to fault thanks to its array of features and a design that can take some serious punishment without it breaking - despite 12 months attached to my arm it still looks as good as new.
New Apple Watch Ultra 2Now there's a new Ultra 2 which is bringing some nice extra touches to this ultimate device but is worth upgrading or should stick with what you've got?
I've been testing out this upgraded 2nd generation wearable and whilst there are no radical design changes this year there is plenty to talk about.
Right out of the box, the first thing you'll notice when checking the time or starting a workout is how much brighter the display is. Apple has boosted things on the Watch Ultra 2 to an eye-popping 3000 nits with the US firm boasting that this is the brightest display they have ever created. Yes, this watch is more punchy than any iPhone, MacBook Pro or iPad.
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It basically means that no matter where you are or how sunny it is you can always see what's being shown on the Always-On OLED Retina display.
Placing old and new side-by-side really shows off the difference (it's 50% brighter than before) and owners certainly won't have issues checking they are not running late in the midday sunshine.
New Apple Watch Ultra 2 gets a brighter screen (APPLE)The next big change isn't so easy to spot until you begin using the device. Apple has added some extra grunt thanks to a new S9 SiP processor tucked under the toughened recycled titanium casing. It's much faster than before and you really notice the difference when whizzing through menus, launching apps and starting your workouts.
Everything feels silky smooth and totally stutter-free - not that the original Watch Ultra was any sort of slouch but the S9 makes things even better. This chip is also more efficient so despite the brighter screen you still get decent battery life.
We've easily been able to get through a day and night and still have around 40% left in the tank. Switch on power saving mode and you should be able to go away for a whole weekend without your charger. Of course, the more use it the less time you'll get between refills but this is, without doubt, the best Apple Watch for battery life.
New Apple Watch Ultra 2 (APPLE)Another bonus of this S9 processor is that it brings a new double-tap gesture to the device. This basically allows you to tap your thumb and index finger together to interact with the screen without physically touching it.
So, you can now answer calls, stop timers, play music, change the Flashlight brightness and launch the Smart Stack function without needing your other hand - that's pretty useful when walking the dog or if you've just stepped out of Starbucks and have a coffee in your hand.
This function won't officially arrive until next month but Apple has let us use it ahead of launch and it works really well. In fact, it's pretty scary how accurate and intuitive it is and how few times it doesn't respond.
Next, there's a nice update to Siri with the Watch Ultra able to respond without needing a connection to an iPhone. Thanks to a more powerful Neural Engine, Siri requests are now processed right on the watch itself. This makes starting timers or asking for information about workouts and heart rate much faster and more fluid.
If you like dictating messages rather than bashing things out on the mini keyboard this is also now more accurate so you'll get fewer typos when responding to friends and family.
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New Apple Watch Ultra 2 (APPLE)One feature Apple Watch users will have accessed many times is the Find My iPhone function. Until now a simple swipe on the Watch instantly sets off a loud alarm on the phone to help track it down.
Those with the Ultra 2 now get the bonus of Precision Finding which actually points you in the right direction of your smartphone via arrows - a distance is also shown on the screen so you know exactly how far away you are from it. The alarm was already very good but mislaying your iPhone should now be pretty much impossible.
Anyone with a HomePod will also see music suggestions pop up on the Watch when they get close to their smart speakers which helps get to their favourite playlists playing faster.
There are plenty of new additions to the Watch Ultar 2 and these are all mixed in with what was already a feature-packed device.
This wearable includes an exclusive Action Button for easy access to favourite features such as workouts, there's an in-built SOS alarm for attracting attention and it can survive extreme temperatures, violent shocks and being submerged in water up to 100 meters.
There's also an exclusive Modular Ultra watch face which offers more data than before. In fact, you can now display 7 complications and still have room left for the time plus the built-in ambient light sensor will switch it to the red Night Mode automatically for better visibility
Other reasons we love the Ultra include its bigger display, clever Compass app and Backtrack function which helps you find your way home if you head off the beaten track.
Clearly, at £799 this is a very expensive wearable and it's a shame Apple hasn't introduced a couple of new colours this year to make the 2023 model look a little different to last year's Ultra.
The large, rugged design also won't suit dainty wrists and there are rival devices on the market that do last longer between refills.
That said, this is still our favourite Apple Watch. It looks superb, has a design that's made of very tough stuff and offers an abundance of health and fitness features that have genuinely helped me go from couch potato to running 5K in under 30 minutes.
If you can find an original Watch Ultra at a cheaper price then you won't be disappointed as that's still a fabulous device. This new update simply makes things even better.