Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2: is the price difference worth it?

The price difference between the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is large, but what features do you get in return? We put the differences together.

Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2?

In 2023, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The two watches differ greatly in price. You currently pay €399.95 for the Apple Watch Series 9, while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs a whopping €814.95. A big difference, but what functions does the Apple Watch Ultra 2 have? And do you really miss that if you choose the Series 9? These are our experiences.

Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2: design

One of the biggest differences between the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the design. The Ultra 2 has a 49mm screen (502 x 410 pixels), while the Series 9 comes in two sizes. The small version has a 41mm case (430 x 352 pixels) and the larger variant is 45mm (484 x 396 pixels). The difference in screen seems big, but in practice we notice that 45 mm is soon enough.

The Ultra’s screen also provides a larger housing, of course. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is made of titanium, a robust and heavy material. The smartwatch is therefore relatively heavy: 61.3 grams. Depending on the size and material choice (aluminum or stainless steel), the Series 9 weighs between 32 and 51.5 grams. Are you switching from the Series 9 to the Ultra 2? Then that heavier weight is definitely noticeable, which you will have to get used to.

Action button of the Apple Watch Ultra

The action button is immediately noticeable on the casing of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. You can decide for yourself which function you link to this new button. This makes it possible to activate a workout, turn on the flashlight or operate the stopwatch with the action button. This action is then carried out with one press of the orange button. You will find the button on the left side of the Apple Watch Ultra (1 and 2), on the Apple Watch Series 9 there are no buttons on this side.

The action button is a very useful addition to the Apple Watch Ultra. Especially when you just get on your bike or start your training at the gym, it is extremely easy to quickly press the action button. You will miss this function with the Apple Watch Series 9, which means you have to perform a few more actions with the cheaper watch. The action button is not indispensable, but it does make use a lot easier.

Additional features: deep sea diving and mountain climbing

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 differs from the Apple Watch Series 9 with a number of health and sports features. With the Ultra you have special functions that are intended for diving and water sports. With the Depth app on your Watch you can dive up to forty meters, the smartwatch then keeps track of the depth and water temperature. With the Apple Watch Series 9, you can only select ‘normal’ swimming for workouts.

In addition, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an altimeter, which is especially suitable for mountain climbers. The Apple Watch Series 9 has a range of up to 3000 meters, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a maximum range of 9000 meters. Very useful, provided you ever use the function. This applies to most of the additional sports functions of the Apple Watch Ultra. They are very useful and advanced, but the average user is not likely to use them. We therefore noticed that the special functions are not enough to switch to the Ultra.

Battery much better with Apple Watch Ultra

An important difference between the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9 is the battery life. The Ultra’s battery lasts no less than 36 hours, while the Series 9’s battery lasts 18 hours. Do you turn on energy saving? Then you can use the Ultra for 72 hours and with the Series 9 a maximum of 36 hours. The battery of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 lasts twice as long, which is a huge difference between the smartwatches.

Our experience is that the battery life is a major advantage of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. After two days of use, the smartwatch was still not completely empty, while the Apple Watch Series 9 really needs to be charged every night. Do not you want that? Then the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the smartwatch you should choose. You are almost never left with an empty Apple Watch and you can briefly charge the device once in a while. The smartwatch is charged to eighty percent within an hour.

Other differences between the smartwatches

Furthermore, the differences are small between the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both smartwatches run on the S9 chip, so under the hood the watches are virtually the same. As a user you will not notice any difference. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 does have a better GPS signal, but that is not actually necessary in the Netherlands. This is especially useful in (foreign) areas with poor coverage.

Other features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 include a brighter screen and a siren. You can activate the latter to call for help even though you have no range. There is little chance that you will really need it, in any case we have never used the function. You will mainly notice the brighter screen when you activate the flashlight. Both smartwatches are easy to read in the bright sun.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2: conclusion

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a beautiful smartwatch, but its features are not intended for the average user. It is not without reason that it is a smartwatch for avid athletes. Most users will be satisfied with the (sports) functions of the Apple Watch Series 9. Underneath the engine, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 hardly differ.

The biggest advantage of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the battery life, which is twice as long as the Apple Watch Series 9. The larger screen and the action button are also an advantage of the Ultra. Whether these features are worth the price difference of more than 400 euros is everyone’s personal choice. The Apple Watch Series 9 is more than enough for most users, but if you are looking for a little more (and have money to spend), the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the right choice.

Buy a new Apple Watch?

Are you a fanatical athlete? Or do you just want to buy the best Apple Watch of the moment? Then it is best to choose the Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you don’t want to pay the top price, the first generation of the Apple Watch Ultra is also a good option. The screen of the Apple Watch Ultra is slightly less bright than the second generation, but other than that the differences are negligible. Here you can get the Apple Watch Ultra (first generation) for €678.95.

If you will hardly use the special sports functions, it is advisable to go for the Apple Watch Series 9. The watch has an extremely fast and powerful processor, an always-on screen and has the most important sports and health functions. View the current lowest prices of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 here: