Choosing between the Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 comes down to size and price. But the Ultra 2 does have some hidden extra features that runners especially will want to know about.
The Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 are two of the best smartwatches money can buy. But is the Ultra 2 worth nearly double the money of a standard Series 10?
If you’re wondering which of these two smartwatches to choose – it’s a fairly easy decision. If you can pay the extra for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, then it’s a no-brainer, just down to the battery life alone. Having the extra comfort of nearly three days of battery life is worth the extra alone, as long as it fits on your wrist.
Read more: Apple Watch Series 10 vs SE 2
But there are also some key features on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, including superior GPS, features for runners and swimmers that make it the right choice for many people. Here’s what you need to know:
Read our Apple Watch Series 10 review | Apple Watch Ultra 2 review
Apple Watch Series 10 vs Ultra 2 key specs compared
| Feature | Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 49mm Always-On Retina LTPO OLED, 3000 nits | 42mm or 46mm Always-On Retina LTPO OLED, 2000 nits |
| Material | Titanium with flat sapphire front crystal | Aluminum or stainless steel |
| Battery Life | Up to 36 hours (72 hours in Low Power Mode) | Up to 18 hours (36 hours in Low Power Mode) |
| Processor | S9 SiP 64-bit dual-core | S9 SiP 64-bit dual-core |
| Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
| Durability | WR100, tested to MIL-STD 810H, depth gauge (40m free diving) | WR50 (swim proof) |
| Sensors | Blood Oxygen (turned off the in the US), ECG, dual-frequency GPS, depth gauge, precision finding for AirTags | Blood Oxygen (turned off in the US), ECG, temperature sensor, precision finding |
| Connectivity | Cellular as standard, Bluetooth 5.3, UWB | GPS + Cellular (optional), Bluetooth 5.3, UWB |
| Special Features | Action button, siren (86dB), night mode | |
| Durability | MIL-STD 810H certification for rugged environments | No MIL-STD certification |
| Price Range | $799/£799 | From $399/£399 for 42mm |
Price comparison
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799/£799. It comes in just one size, and all models feature LTE connectivity.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is more nuanced. The 42mm version starts at $379/£379, and you’ll need to pay $429/£429 for a 46mm watch. If you want to get a shiny titanium finish, you’ll need to pay more, too. And there’s a premium for LTE on top of those, too. So if you’re looking at a titanium LTE Apple Watch – the Ultra 2 is probably the same price as the Series 10 with added features.
But for most people, there’s a significant price jump for the Ultra 2.
Design and comfort
Design is a key difference between these two models. But thanks to the increase in case size of the Series 10, these two devices are more similar than previous generations.
The Ultra 2,= comes in a 49mm case – which is thick and rugged. It’s designed to appeal to sporty, adventurous types, and has 10ATM (100m) water resistance – and it’s EN 13311 rated for free diving to 40m.
It’s designed for the crowd that might previously have gone for a Garmin Fenix or even G-SHOCK watch – and it’s designed to be big and showy.
It houses an extra button on the left-hand side, which can be mapped to different functions. I have it as a quick start for activities and workouts.
The button on the right has a guard to stop accidental presses during activities or workouts.
The Apple Watch Series 10 has grown in size – and now comes in 42/46mm case options
The 46mm version is slightly smaller on the wrist than the Ultra 2 – but not much. In fact, the screen is 3% bigger than the Ultra 2’s shows that it’s fairly close in size.
But there’s no doubt the Series 10 is much sleeker than the Ultra, and the case is thinner – in fact, it’s the thinnest ever Apple Watch. At sub-10mm (9.7mm to be exact) it’s one of the thinnest smartwatches out there full stop. It’s also half the weight of the Ultra 2. This makes it more comfortable and light to wear – but still looks large on the wrist, with its bright, vibrant OLED shining out.
The OLED display isn’t quite as bright as an Ultra 2, at 2,000 nits compared to 3,000. But it has new wide-angle viewability, so it appears brighter when looking from the side.
When I talk to people about the Apple Watch Ultra, I always remind them that the allure of the Ultra is largely that it looks different from the standard Apple Watch Series. The curiosity of the Apple Watch’s success, to me, is that millions of people are willing to wear the same watch – young and old, men and women alike.
The Ultra 2 offers something for the (typically male) user who wants something different. To have an Apple Watch that’s just that bit better than everyone else’s. And that’s just fine.
Health, fitness, and smartwatch features
In terms of features, the Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra are nearly identical. The Series 10 even packs in the depth sensor and water temperature feature. However, the Series 10 will only measure depth to 6m while the Ultra 2 will go down to 40m.
That’s because the Apple Watch Ultra 2 features 10ATM water resistance – so it’s good for high-speed water sports – and is certified for diving, while the Series 10 just features 5ATM water resistance which means it’s good for swimming.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has some neat tricks for running and fitness. First up, it has multiband GPS, which uses L1 and L5 frequencies for better accuracy in built-up areas. We’ve tested it, and the accuracy is as good as on any GPS watch. It also features tracking for runs on tracks, and you can use precision start to ensure you have a GPS and HR lock before you start your run – which is better for those who do races.
The only other feature exclusive to the Ultra 2 is a siren, which will mostly interest those trekking or hiking.
The rest of the features are identical. That spans sleep, wellness features and health metrics – and the Ultra 2 gets the new sleep apnea detection that was introduced with the Series 10.
It also gets all the features that came as part of watchOS 11, including the new watch faces.
Battery life
If there’s one standout reason to buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (other than its badass design) it’s battery life.
With a massive 2-3 days of battery life (yes, slight sarcasm there) it does end the battery anxiety of the standard Series 10.
In my own testing of the Series 10, it reliably exceeds the 18-hour estimate by Apple, usually achieving around 28 hours with tracked sleep and a workout. If you sleep with the watch, you will need to charge it in the morning or have it die by lunchtime.
The Series 10 boasts improved fast charging, so a 30-minute burst in the morning will give you 80% battery life. But the constant need to pop the watch on charge does feel like a mental effort.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 just makes that so much more manageable, and I rarely have to worry about when to top it up.
But the Ultra 2 is conversely less comfortable to sleep with. I don’t find it problematic, but I’d rather not use it for sleep tracking. The Series 10 is more comfortable in that regard.
Verdict
The decision on Series 10 vs Ultra 2 comes down to price and design. Can you stomach the bigger price tag and the larger size? If so you’ll be rewarded with some welcome extra battery life and a design that’s much more unique than the Apple Watches of your peers.
But that doesn’t mean the Ultra 2 is right for everyone. The 49mm case is big and heavy, so the Series 10 (especially at 42mm) is still the right fit for most people. You can all the same health features – but the need to charge every day is still the only buzzkill.
Buy the Apple Watch Series 10 if: The 49mm Ultra 2 is simply too big and heavy, or you just can’t get to the steep $799/£799 price tag.
Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 if: If your wrist can handle the super-sized case then you will enjoy the extra battery life the Ultra 2 has to offer. It’s best suited to those who live an active lifestyle – with the extra water resistance for diving and water sports, plus the multiband GPS is some of the most accurate out there.
