The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an almost perfect smartwatch and it is now $ 70 discount

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is for sale for $ 739 (save $ 70) at Best Buy first Memorial Day, A discount of $ 60.

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The multitude of upgrades, from the difficult exterior to a wide range of functions, allows the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to deliver the final smartwatch experience.

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Around this time last year it was just a day since I received my new Apple Watch Ultra, and it was already tied to my wrist, ready to tackle one 15k Tough Mudder Obstacle course event. 12 months of life with the ultra watch later, it has proven the The most complete smartwatch Apple has ever madeAnd one of the best smartwatches in general for me.

In the past week I played, traveled and slept with the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 To find out where the company pushed the envelope this time.

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I will immediately cut to the chase: if you already have one Apple Watch UltraThere is no compelling reason to upgrade to the Ultra 2. But if you are one of the many who are planning to buy an Ultrarragable for the first time, this is as good as it will be. This is why.

Given the current economic environment with rising consumer prices, I am a bit surprised that Apple was able to keep the price of the new Watch Ultra 2 at the same level as last year. When you are considering the Titanium Construction, Integrated LTE-Radio and Sapphire Glass Display, $ 799 is very reasonable for a powerful sports watch. That is more true if you compare the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with other flagship GPS Sports Watches.

As for what is new with the model, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 contains a faster S9 processor, a brighter display, twice the internal storage and a series of recycled materials that in one way or another do not feel the portable.

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Watchos 10 was released when the Watch Ultra 2 was announced, and it made the Apple Watch experience an absolute pleasure to use. It has new functions for the side button and digital crown (Smart Stack), together with spacious and info-rich watches that are optimized for the Watch Ultra models. Since Watchos 11 has been released With improvements to practice and fitness modes and modes.

Of course I have the View Ultra 2 next to my first-gen watch UltraAnd they were almost indistinguishable from each other. After I had set up the brightness of both, I could hardly see the difference in standard lighting conditions as a result of the implementation of Apple of the same ambient light sensor. But in the outdoors, where you use the technologies of the watch Ultra most, it was clear that the Ultra 2 was considerably clearer (3,000 Nits compared to 2,000 Nits).

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Prior to the launch of the Watch Ultra 2, I mentioned Three functions I wanted to see To justify an upgrade, and although Apple did not provide them, it went in a unique way to one of my desires. The LED pocket lamp on Garmin looks at is a tool that I use every day. On the Ultra 2 watch, as soon as you have switched on the flashlight, turning the digital crown now makes the maximum brightness and uses the extra nits.

It still doesn’t beat the Garmin LED, but it is much more practical than last year to find things in the garage or under the bed, illuminating rooms at night and finding your way in the dark outside.

Mapping is unfortunately still limited on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with the most striking change that is offline card support, provided that you have a iPhone on iOS 17. However, the Compass app has also received a subtle but important upgrade thanks to Watchos 10. On the Watch Ultra 2 it now shows a WayPoint for the last detected mobile and emergency SOS locations, so that you know exactly where you should return if you are in a dead zone. With the Compass app you can also mark your camping spot, parking space and other useful waypoints.

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In addition to Watch Ultra 2, Apple has released new carbon -neutral watch bands, with three colors that are offered over the Alpine Loop and Trail Loop bands. I had the chance to test the gray/green traillus with the Watch Ultra 2, and I can only say that it is extremely comfortable. Last year I bought my watch -Uultra with an ocean band, but this time I will probably pick up the Traillus because of the easy Velcro Safe Support. For more informal trips it is the ideal watch strap.

Finally, as much as I enjoy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 because of its long battery life, clearer display, extensive connectivity and new watch bands, I also enjoyed the improved functionality of mental health care via the Mindfulness app. It has now earned a prominent place in my app list and I received my state of mind every day.

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I now often use the reflect and breathable utility programs, which have slowly reduced my stress, which turns out to be a welcome addition to my Apple Watch use. (Of course you only have one Apple Watch Run on Watchos 10 to use the Mindfulness app. I just like to use it on the larger representation of the Ultra!)

ZDnet’s buying advice

With my primary Sim who now lives like an Esim in the iPhone 16 Pro Maxthe Apple Watch Ultra 2 Will stay on my wrist for a longer period – probably until the next Ultra version comes out. Apple’s improvements this year do not push the envelope in a certain way, but they are well rounded enough to make the ultra watch the best flagship that enthusiasts have to buy.

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If you don’t have Apple Watch Ultra, but are interested in buying one, the Ultra 2 is the best option. If you can live with a dimmer display and technically slower performance, pick up from last year View Ultra with a discount Isn’t the worst idea either.

For me, the Boost pocket lamp is a welcome addition, as well as the faster processor that Siri supports on board. The switch from Apple to carbon -free products is also a nice step for the environment and is something that we can all support.

This article was originally published on September 29, 2023 and updated on 24 May 2025.