When I reviewed the original Apple Watch Ultra, I tried to approach the task in a slightly different way, seeing it instead as a kind of Apple Watch Pro, a luxury product that undoubtedly had very special and specific functions, but was also an Apple Watch where every important aspect, from brightness to battery size, was just a little better.
Since then, I’ve learned a bit more and experienced what it’s like to feel encouraged to use a smartwatch in more ways than one because you trust the water resistance, the measurements it can give you, and the battery life all at the same time. Below you can see me using the Apple Watch Ultra on the Preikestolen in Norway and on a skiing holiday where I fell in love with an app called Slopes.
A new Apple Watch Ultra (Series 2) is now on the market, and although I have not yet had the opportunity to test it in the same cross-country terrain as the previous generation, it is once again worth noting that Apple has managed to repeat the success and created the best Apple Watch Pro ever.
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But it’s hard to spot at first glance, no doubt about it. The case itself is untouched, except that Apple now offers it in another, alternative color, but which I immediately think will be abandoned in favor of the good old Titanium variant.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, as the saying goes, and it also applies here, but this is probably the only time Apple can reuse the same frame without slimming down the watch case without it being at the expense of, for example the battery size. Inside we find the new S9 SiP, a chipset that enables the new “double tap” function launched via WatchOS 10.1, where you can activate a number of system functions by pressing your thumb and index finger together twice. Let me make it as clear as I can – it works brilliantly, and hints at the same functionality in the upcoming Vision Pro headset.
The new chip also makes it possible to activate Precision Finding, which you may recognize from an AirTag. Instead of “just” pinging the phone with a sound, the watch can intelligently guide you with directions and meters to the phone. In addition, there is a new, brighter screen that can reach 3000 NITS, the same battery life of 36 hours (several days with Battery Saver on), new functions for cyclists and a better GPS.
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But as with the usual upgrades to the Apple Watch every year, news is sparse. That doesn’t mean there aren’t significant upgrades that way – a brighter screen, Double Tap and a number of expansions to the watch’s fitness and diving functionality are meaningful additions to a watch that got off to a pretty good start last year. But in case it wasn’t clear before, I want to emphasize it here; if you already have a Watch Ultra from last year, you don’t need this one.
But if you’ve been waiting patiently to jump on the bandwagon, now is an auspicious time. With the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple has built the best smartwatch they can, and when you press the action button (which also has shortcut functionality), use the watch in night mode or track fairly precise workouts or outdoor walks, it’s something really special. It’s still expensive, but I’ve never been more satisfied with the overall smartwatch experience than I am here.
2023-11-02 09:04:27
#Apple #Watch #Ultra #Series
