Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple released two of the best smartwatches of the year, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both share several communication, fitness tracking and convenience features, but there are also ways in which the watches are different. From price and battery life to sports and design, here’s what you need to know about the Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2 to help you decide which one is right for you based on our testing.
Transcript
00:00 Two new Apple Watches hit shelves for 2023,
00:03 the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
00:06 If you're an iOS user and looking to either buy a smartwatch for the first time
00:10 or upgrade from an older Apple Watch model,
00:13 you might be wondering which one is best suited for you
00:16 or if you should buy a new one at all.
00:18 The real question is, are you just looking for a helpful,
00:21 everyday accessory and extension of your iPhone
00:24 or are you looking for a big screen, adventure-ready companion?
00:28 Let's jump into it.
00:29 [MUSIC]
00:30 When you think of what an Apple Watch looks like, the Apple Watch Series 9 is it.
00:35 Starting at $399 for the 41mm size and $429 for the 45mm size,
00:42 it's a very standard, modern-looking smartwatch.
00:45 It's available in both aluminum and stainless steel
00:48 and there are a number of color options available to suit your own style.
00:51 I personally love the subtle new pink finish that's exclusive to Apple Watch Series 9.
00:57 Then there's the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2, which comes in just one size and one style.
01:03 The device has a more sporty design featuring a flat display,
01:07 protruding right side button array, and orange action button on the left side.
01:12 The screen is also 49mm, the biggest you'll find for an Apple Watch
01:17 and one of the biggest you'll find for smartwatches in general.
01:20 That display is also brighter than it was before, hitting 3,000 nits,
01:23 while the Apple Watch Series 9 is rated for 2,000 nits peak brightness.
01:28 Now you might not be able to tell the difference here in the studio,
01:31 but outside it's very, very noticeable.
01:34 If you're spending a lot of time in direct sunlight for sports and outdoor recreation,
01:38 that's something to take into consideration.
01:40 This family of Apple Watch devices is leading Apple's mission
01:44 to make all of its devices carbon neutral by 2030.
01:47 Both the Series 9 and Ultra 2, when paired with certain watch bands,
01:51 are the company's first carbon neutral certified devices,
01:55 featuring more recycled materials than previously used.
01:58 That is a big win for the planet and its consumers, if you ask me.
02:02 The most standout changes to this year's models are relative to performance with the new processor,
02:10 which is basically the brains behind the smartwatches.
02:14 Apple calls it the S9 chip and it promises up to 25% improvement in efficiency.
02:19 Think faster performance, smoother animations, better battery life management.
02:24 For reference, if you have an older Apple Watch model,
02:26 Apple hasn't made any substantial changes like this to the Apple Watch processor
02:31 since the Apple Watch Series 6.
02:34 This processor is also a big deal because it powers some handy new features
02:37 that have been introduced to the 2023 smartwatches.
02:40 Powered by a proprietary algorithm in the smartwatch processor,
02:45 Double Tap lets you carry out certain Apple Watch functions
02:48 by tapping together the index finger and thumb of your watch hand twice.
02:52 Double Tap can be used to answer phone calls, dismiss timers,
02:56 respond to texts, pause music, control the camera remote app, and more.
03:00 It's seriously my new favorite Apple Watch feature in years
03:04 and could be reason alone to upgrade.
03:06 And if that doesn't do it for you, there's an improved Siri experience.
03:11 Siri responds faster than before with complete on-device computing,
03:14 so nothing is being sent up to the cloud.
03:17 This means that Siri can execute certain commands
03:19 even when the Apple Watch Series 9 is disconnected from Wi-Fi or your smartphone.
03:25 I used to not even be able to set timers using Siri
03:27 when I was in my laundry room down the hall away from my smartphone,
03:31 and it was quite annoying, so this is a great upgrade as well.
03:35 A new ultra-wideband chip makes it a bit easier to find your iPhone
03:38 if you've misplaced it, which I do pretty much every single day.
03:42 Using the ping feature, you can track down your phone with directions now.
03:46 However, this feature does require an iPhone 15,
03:49 so keep that in mind when you're weighing which of these features matters most to you.
03:54 There are some features exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
03:57 that set it apart from the Apple Watch Series 9 as a rugged adventure watch.
04:02 The titanium frame and brighter screen mean it's well-suited
04:05 to surviving the knocks and dings of outdoor pursuits.
04:07 It's also better equipped to help you navigate the outdoors with a dual-frequency GPS.
04:13 In open water, it can go twice as deep as the Apple Watch Series 9,
04:17 and it could even be used as a dive computer with the built-in Depth app and the Oceanic Plus app.
04:23 The added action button on the side can help you with quick access to some of these sports features.
04:28 In terms of safety during all of these adventures,
04:31 the Apple Watch Ultra 2's built-in siren is a game-changer for emergencies.
04:36 Both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9
04:39 have other safety features like emergency SOS and fall detection.
04:43 Both also have a full suite of health sensors,
04:45 which can be used not just to monitor your activity for workouts,
04:48 but also provide some essential health information.
04:52 The skin temperature reader can provide cycle insights,
04:54 while the ECG sensor can detect signs of AFib.
04:57 The blood oxygen sensor is useful for sleep tracking as well.
05:01 To personalize your watch experience further,
05:03 you'll make use of WatchOS 10, the software version that ships on both watches.
05:08 This gives you a huge selection of watch faces to choose from,
05:12 some with many complications.
05:14 There are two exclusive watch faces for Apple Watch Ultra that make use of the big screen,
05:18 but that all comes down to preference.
05:20 When you hit the side button, you get your Smart Stack,
05:22 which you don't get as much control over,
05:25 but it does adapt the information you see on your wrist
05:27 based on what your watch expects you want to see.
05:30 I think the way for you to make the most of your Apple Watch experience,
05:33 no matter which watch you're wearing,
05:35 is to download third-party apps.
05:37 For Apple Watch Ultra 2 users,
05:39 you could download some excellent sports apps like SwingVision for tennis
05:42 and GolfShop for golf.
05:44 Runners get apps like Strava and Nike Run Club,
05:47 and I get to sync mine to my Peloton machine.
05:49 There are apps for smart home devices, airline tickets, news, and even games.
05:53 If battery life is your priority,
05:56 I'm going to go ahead and say you might want to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
06:00 Even with its brighter display,
06:01 the Apple Watch Ultra 2 gets 36 hours of battery life with normal use.
06:06 The Apple Watch Series 9 battery life is the same as the previous-gen Apple Watch Series 8,
06:11 and all the Apple Watch models before it, pretty much.
06:14 It lasts 18 hours with normal use.
06:16 That is a big, big difference,
06:18 especially if you're constantly on the go
06:20 and don't always have direct access to a power source.
06:23 That said, both watches support the Apple Watch Low Power Mode that debuted last year.
06:28 It extends the Series 9 battery life to 36 hours
06:31 and the Ultra 2 battery life to 72 hours.
06:34 Low Power Mode is available for all Apple Watch models running WatchOS 10.
06:38 So, which watch is going to be best suited for you?
06:45 With everything we talked about in mind,
06:46 I understand price is going to be one of the biggest deciding factors.
06:50 The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a high $799 price tag.
06:54 You can get the Apple Watch Series 9 for half the price.
06:57 Though if you want LTE support, that will bump the Series 9 starting price
07:01 from $399 to $499,
07:04 kind of narrowing the gap when you consider that LTE comes standard on the Ultra 2.
07:10 Still, the Series 9 is going to be the best smartwatch for most people
07:14 in the market for an everyday Apple Watch.
07:17 It's a great introduction to Apple Watch if you've never had one before.
07:20 And with that processor I rave so much about,
07:23 you know it's going to last you many years to come.
07:26 But if you can afford the premium and could use assistance far above
07:30 and below sea level, the Apple Watch Ultra may just be the right watch for you.
07:34 On the opposite end, if you just want the bare minimum,
07:38 there's always the $249 Apple Watch SE
07:41 that you can read my review of on Tom's Guide.com for more details.
07:45 So, what do you think?
07:46 Still not sure which Apple Watch is right for you?
07:48 Let me know in the comments below.
07:50 And if you're subscribed, I'll be sure to answer all of your questions.
07:54 You can also hit us up on social, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @tomsguide.
07:59 And as always, I'm @kaycoseach.
08:01 Thanks for watching.
08:02 I'll catch you next time.