Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared

At its "Wonderlust" event in 2023, alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch Ultra is a relatively new kind of smartwatch from Apple with a focus on withstanding extreme environments, a high level of durability, extended battery life, and additional features to aid activities like diving and exploration.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Ultra 2 Buyers Guide
Both the Apple Watch Series 9 and the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ feature the S9 chip, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, an Always-On Retina display, IP6X dust resistance, and more, but there are significant differences between the two devices.

With as little as $50 between the 45mm stainless steel Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra, some prospective customers will be weighing up whether it is worth spending a little extra to get the 49mm Ultra model. While there is a $400 difference between the 41mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the high-end model offers a set of features to address specific challenges, so it may even be worth it for some of these buyers.

Apple Watch Series 9 Apple Watch Ultra (second-generation)
Aluminum casing Aerospace-grade titanium casing
Front crystal curves at edges onto shaped aluminum casing Lighter, corrosion resistant case with raised edges to protect the flat sapphire front crystal
Digital Crown with haptic feedback and side button Digital Crown with haptic feedback, side button, and customizable Action button
45mm or 41 mm case size (vertical) 49mm casing size (vertical)
10.7mm thickness 14.4mm thickness
Weighs 31.9 grams to 51.5 grams Weighs 61.4 grams
Ion-X front glass (aluminum) or sapphire crystal (stainless steel) Sapphire crystal front glass
Curved display with refractive edge Flat display
904 sq mm (41mm) or 1,143 sq mm (45mm) display area 1164 sq mm display area
352 by 430 pixels (41mm) or 396 by 484 pixels (45mm) 410 by 502 pixels
Up to 2,000 nits brightness Up to 3,000 nits brightness
Exclusive Wayfinder and Modular Ultra faces
Night Mode for low-visibility conditions
Single speaker Dual speakers
Single microphone Triple-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
GPS (L1) Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
86-decibel Siren to attract attention
Water resistant to 50m Water resistant to 100m
Swimproof Swimproof and recreational dive to 40m
Tested to MIL-STD 810H
EN13319 certification
Water temperature sensor, depth gauge, and dive computer app
Up to 18-hour battery life, up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode Up to 36-hour battery life, up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode
Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink, and PRODUCT(RED) (aluminum) or Silver, Graphite, or Gold (stainless steel) Natural titanium finish only
Starts at $399 (aluminum) and $699 (stainless steel) Priced at $799

The Apple Watch Ultra offers specific capabilities to address the requirements of those who need their Apple Watch to provide assistance in challenging environments. If you need a more durable Apple Watch with features like a brighter display, louder speakers, a more reliable GPS, better water resistance, and more, the Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the best choice.

The Apple Watch Ultra is also the largest and most feature-rich Apple Watch option available, not to mention that it offers the first true redesign of the device since its introduction in 2015. For technology enthusiasts, Apple Watch Ultra represents a way to get a new Apple Watch experience with the top specifications. Features like longer battery life and a larger, brighter display are also highly accessible, and will be beneficial to all users. As such, some customers may still be inclined to choose the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ over the Apple Watch Series 9, even if they do not need it for use in challenging environments.

As the largest Apple Watch model to date, the size of the Apple Watch Ultra will not be for everyone. If you already prefer the 41mm Apple Watch casing size, the Apple Watch Ultra may be far too large for you. If in doubt, it may be worth heading to an Apple Store and trying on the Apple Watch Ultra in person to get to grips with the size and determine if it is too big and bulky for you.

Similarly, the Apple Watch Ultra's look may not appeal to some buyers. If you prefer the stainless steel Apple Watch and are looking for a more fashion-focused smartwatch that pairs well with premium bands, the more aggressive, rugged design of the Apple Watch Ultra may not be for you.

If the Apple Watch Ultra is out of your price range but you still want to use your Apple Watch in challenging environments, it is worth bearing in mind that the Series 9 still offers a durable design with a strong front crystal, water resistance, and many of the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌'s software features like waypoint marking.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ has a lot to offer, especially for the subset of users who can take advantage of all of its capabilities, so it is certainly worth considering when purchasing a new model, but the Apple Watch Series 9 is still a compelling all-around option that comes in at a lower price point with a subtler design.

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Here's When to Expect the iOS 26 Public Beta

Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:07 am PDT by
Apple previously announced that a public beta of iOS 26 would be available in July, and now a more specific timeframe has surfaced. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that Apple's public betas should be released on or around Wednesday, July 23. In other words, expect the public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and more to be available at some point next week. Apple will be releasing...
iPhone 17 Colors

All 15 New iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Colors Revealed in Latest Leak

Wednesday July 16, 2025 6:50 am PDT by
We may finally have a definitive list of all color options for the iPhone 17 series, ahead of the devices launching in September. MacRumors concept In a report for Macworld today, Filipe Espósito said he obtained an "internal document" that allegedly reveals all of the color options for the upcoming iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. The report includes ...
ios 19 messages app

Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks

Thursday July 17, 2025 8:40 pm PDT by
Earlier this year, YouTuber Jon Prosser shared multiple videos showing off what he claimed to be re-created renderings of what was then presumed to be called iOS 19 and which was eventually unveiled by Apple as iOS 26 at WWDC in June. In his first video back in January, Prosser showed off a Camera app redesign with a simpler set of buttons for moving between photo and video modes, and he...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

Ranked: The Best Features Rumored for the iPhone 17 Lineup

Wednesday July 16, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
We have just under two months to go until the debut of Apple's iPhone 17 models, and rumors have been ramping up in recent weeks. We went through everything we know so far, pulling out the most exciting rumors and highlighting some other changes that aren't going to be so great. Top Tier Ultra Thin iPhone 17 Air - The iPhone 17 Air is 2025's most exciting iPhone rumor, because it's the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone's Thickness and Price Range Detailed in New Reports

Wednesday July 16, 2025 11:31 am PDT by
Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone will likely have a starting price between $1,800 and $2,000 in the U.S., analysts at investment banking firm UBS said this week. If so, the foldable iPhone would cost more than a MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599. With a starting price of at least $1,800, the foldable iPhone would be the most expensive iPhone model ever released, topping the Pro Max at...
Apple Hornsby

Apple Store Near Sydney Permanently Closing Later This Year

Monday July 14, 2025 6:14 pm PDT by
Apple today said its store at the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall, in Hornsby, Australia, will be permanently closing in October. Apple Hornsby In a statement shared with Australian tech news website EFTM (via Reddit), Apple said that it has decided not to renew its lease at Westfield Hornsby. Apple said all affected retail employees will be given the opportunity to work at Apple's nearby...

Top Rated Comments

Costino1 Avatar
24 months ago
I'm not a pro user, I'm not a diver or mountain climber; but I did get the Ultra 1 last year. Why? I like the bigger screen. I love the battery life. I love the brighter screen. I see the "original" Apple Watches now and I can never go back. It's like going from a Ford to a Tesla back to a Ford. I highly recommend spending the extra $$$ on the Ultra if you wear your Apple Watch daily.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iRun26.2 Avatar
24 months ago
It’s just too big for me. Especially thickness. I think the standard size is already as thick as I could stand. I’m glad people with bigger wrists have the option of the Ultra, but for me it’s just to large.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ELman Avatar
24 months ago
I wanted an ultra but the black/space gray never appeared. Hopefully next year. A little thinner would also be nice. I ended up going with the series 9
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeforeTheMeds Avatar
24 months ago
I was never really interested in apple watch before, but am now for medical reasons. This may just replace my current “fall” button and the ekg and oxygen level a bonus.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattyeahoo Avatar
24 months ago
I have never come so close to buying something then deciding not to. I have a series 6 in blue and I’m going to wait another year for the series X. As much as I want it, the ultra is just too big for my 165mm wrist and I have no need for cellular(my carrier doesn’t even offer it). There’s not much in terms of upgrades that I’d use that either the 9 or Ultra offer over my 6 so I’m going to wait. It wasn’t easy and I truly hope next year will be an exciting year for the watch.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
24 months ago
Both Series 9 and Ultra 2 are good models. Waiting to see what Apple has in store for the 10th anniversary of the watch
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)