The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2 is official and has the brightest screen of any Apple Watch. Announced alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, the Ultra 2 is Apple’s high-end outdoor watch. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be available on September 22.
This pushes the maximum screen brightness up to 3,000 nits, a significant increase from the original Ultra which featured a 2,000-nit display. It should be easier to see in bright, outdoor situations such as snow or sunlight.
The Ultra 2 also has an exclusive new watch face called Modular Ultra, which uses the edge of the display to show more details such as altitude, depth or seconds. The night mode also activates automatically when the light is low by using the ambient light sensor. Apple has expanded the watch’s altitude range and added a second-generation ultrawideband chip that supports precision tracking.
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Shared with the Series 9 is Double Tap, which builds on the work Apple has done with AssistiveTouch. You can control the watch with gestures, so you can tap your thumb and finger to answer a call, for example. The Ultra 2 also has the same S9 chip as the Series 9. It brings features like faster processing to power on-device Siri, more accurate dictation and more workout metrics.
The new Modular Ultra watch face.
The first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, also $799, is Apple’s take on an adventure watch to compete with the likes of Garmin. It is aimed at a wide range of sports enthusiasts, with special features for scuba divers and hikers, to name a couple. But the Ultra also appeals to anyone who wants an Apple Watch with the biggest screen and longest battery life.
Shipping the new WatchOS 10 software, the Ultra 2 will also offer more tools for cyclists, including pairing with Bluetooth devices such as power meter pedals. You can also see your cycling metrics on the iPhone screen thanks to Live Activities.
Apple has also increased the amount of recycled materials in the case, from all-virgin titanium in the first-generation Ultra to 95% recycled titanium in the Ultra 2. Battery life remains the same as the original Ultra, being- rate for 36 hours of regular use. and up to 72 hours in low-power mode.
Apple currently has three watches in its line:
This story is developing.
