Forget Black Friday, Here’s Why the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Worth Picking Up Today for $649

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a tough smartwatch for iOS / Mac users who always find themselves in demanding environments. Its titanium case, long battery life and fitness tracking make it perfect for outdoor as well as fitness enthusiasts who want a reliable, feature-rich wearable.

The Ultra 2’s 49mm titanium case is built to withstand harsh conditions, from rocky trails to deep dives. Certified to MIL-STD 810H and IPX6 for dust resistance, it can take shocks, extreme temperatures / submersion up to 100m, and is a precise dive computer. The sapphire crystal display is scratch resistant, so hikers, runners or divers can wear the Ultra 2 without hesitation.

Battery life sets the Ultra 2 apart, with up to 36 hours of charge, extendable to 3 days in low power mode. That’s more than most smartwatches, so you can go on multi-day adventures without recharging, unlike the Garmin Fenix 7 ($649.99) or Coros Vertix 2S ($699), but it trails them in endurance. For $649, it’s a practical choice for most outdoor activities.


The 1.9-inch OLED display with 3,000 nits of brightness is readable in bright sunlight, perfect for glaciers or beaches. The always-on feature shows heart rate and elevation on the Modular Ultra watch face. For $649, this bright and uncluttered display is great for runners, cyclists and anyone tracking performance in tough conditions.


Fitness tracking is versatile and covers many activities. Dual-band GPS ensures accurate location tracking in dense or urban environments, better than single-band systems. WatchOS 11 introduces training load insights and sleep apnea detection, plus heart rate monitoring, automatic stroke detection for swimmers and power output for cyclists with compatible devices.


Powered by the S9 chip, the Ultra 2 is fast for apps and on-device Siri. The Double Tap gesture is touch-free control, perfect for gloved or sweaty conditions, and the customizable Action button launches workouts or an 86db siren for emergencies. Standard 4G connectivity means you can use it without your iPhone with a compatible plan, and ecosystem integration syncs notifications and maps.


Compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra ($649.99) which doesn’t support iPhone or the Apple Watch Series 10 ($399) with 18 hour battery and 20m depth rating, the Ultra 2 is designed more for active users. Garmin and Coros have longer battery life but their interfaces and app ecosystems are not as polished. That said, for $649.99, it’s a good investment if you need a tough, versatile smartwatch for an adventurous lifestyle.