Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs. Ultra 2: We'll make this simple
The bottom line is that Apple Watch Ultra 1 is a very capable device, with Apple hitting all the right spots from the get go: It's rugged, durable, has great battery life, and is great for serious sporting activities, be it diving, snorkeling, hiking, or running.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is, in many ways, identical to the original. It looks exactly the same, has a very similar (albeit brighter) display, very similar battery life, and pretty much the same set of features when it comes to durability, health, or fitness tracking. Instead of listing the similarities, we'll focus on the differences, and see why you should choose one over the other.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price
We said this wouldn't be complicated, but this part kind of is. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799, and the Apple Watch Ultra isn't really for sale new anymore. You can, however, get it on Amazon, Best Buy, eBay; we've seen refurbished units go for less than $500. If you can get one, that's a pretty sweet deal.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design
There's nothing to say here except this: The two devices look exactly the same. Even the display resolution is identical at 410x502 pixels. The Ultra 2 is significantly brighter though, at 3,000 nits vs. the Ultra 1's 2,000 nits maximum. This is important for outdoorsy types (which is sort of who this device is aimed at), as higher brightness makes it easier to use the watch in direct sunlight.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specs
The Apple Watch Ultra has an Apple S8, dual-core processor, the first generation of Apple's ultra-wideband chip, with 32GB of storage; the Ultra 2 has the S9, dual-core processor, the second generation ultra-wideband chip, and 64GB of storage. It is a significant upgrade, but we bet a lot of users won't notice the difference. Personally, I jumped from a Series 6 to a Series 9 Apple Watch, which is a far bigger leap in specs, and I did notice it was a little snappier, but it still wasn't a massive upgrade.
Other specs, such as dust and water resistance, the customizable action button on the side, and a multitude of sensors that track temperature, heart-rate and other metrics, have remained unchanged on the Ultra 2.
Bottom line: Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is fast, but the old model should also be plenty fast for most users.
One more thing: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports Apple's Double Tap gesture. It can be a nice addition if you get used to it; personally, I never managed to do so, and I stopped using it after initial testing.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Health and fitness tracking
The story here is again simple: The Ultra and the Ultra 2 have essentially the same health and fitness features. They both track your heart rate and sleep, as well as water depth, and temperature, among other metrics. Also, they both have crash and fall detection.
Curiously, the old Apple Watch Ultra wins on one count: It has a Blood Oxygen app, which is not present on newer Ultra 2 models in the U.S. due to Apple's legal issues with medical tech company Masimo.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Battery Life
The Ultra has a standard battery life of 36 hours, and extended battery life of 60 hours in Low Power mode. The Ultra 2 improves on this slightly; it has the same standard battery life of 36 hours, but the extended battery life in Low Power mode is 72 hours. It's not much, but it is something to consider if you often take the watch for multi-day hikes or very long races.
Apple Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Should you upgrade?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799, and it's a good price, considering that sports watches from the likes of Garmin and Suunto often cost north of $1,000 (although these typically feature much higher battery life). Technically, the Apple Watch Ultra isn't for sale new anymore, but we still think it's worth trying to find a refurbished or a pre-owned unit, since the original Ultra is pretty darn similar to the Ultra 2. Finally, if you're looking to upgrade from the Ultra 1 to Ultra 2, we think it's worth waiting for the fall, when Apple might introduce a new version of the Ultra.