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Apple released a new Apple Watch Ultra 2 for extreme athletes
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra offers more performance in a wearable that looks like the original. Here's how the upgraded wearable stands against its predecessor.
Apple unveiled the first Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, a rugged device for extreme activities in a different design than other Apple Watch models. The company announced the next generation in September 2022, calling it the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
It has an updated display, a new processor and other internal elements, and a new way for users to interact with it. The new device is also carbon neutral as Apple works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across materials, electricity, and transportation.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Specifications
Specifications
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Price (starting)
$799.00
$799.00
Sizes
49mm
49mm
Display
Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display
Up to 2,000 nits
Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display
Up to 3,000 nits
Case Materials
Titanium
Titanium
Processor
S8 SiP
S9 SiP
Health Sensors
Temperature
Blood oxygen
Electrical heart sensor
Third-generation optical heart sensor
Temperature
Blood oxygen
Electrical heart sensor
Third-generation optical heart sensor
Emergency SOS
Fall Detection
Crash Detection
Always-on altimeter
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Emergency SOS
Fall Detection
Crash Detection
Always-on altimeter
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Colors
Natural Titanium
Natural Titanium
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Case sizes, materials, and weight
The dimensions of both versions remain unchanged. Apple presents both iterations of the Apple Watch Ultra in a 49mm format, which is bigger than other models in the Apple Watch series.
They are constructed from titanium, ensuring durability and resistance to corrosion, which is par for the course for a rugged-inspired device.
Regarding the other physical attributes of the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, both devices share identical dimensions and weight. The watches measure 49mm by 44mm by 14.4mm, maintaining a substantial yet comfortable size that accommodates the unique feature set offered by the devices.
Since they can both be used while swimming, enhanced water resistance is rated to 100 meters under ISO 22810 for both devices. Apple also says they can be used for recreational scuba diving to 40 meters.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Display
While the Apple Watch Ultra has a brightness of up to 2,000 nits for the Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display, the Ultra 2 bumps up to 3,000 nits. Moreover, the display can lower its brightness to just one nit to avoid disturbing others in dark environments.
The Modular Ultra watch face is a notable addition, which leverages the large display to present real-time data at the outermost edge. It offers the highest number of complications of any Apple digital watch face to date.
Each Apple Watch Ultra variant boasts a sharp display resolution of 410 x 502 pixels, ensuring clear and vibrant visuals for a better user experience. The high resolution results in detailed and crisp rendering of texts, images, and other content on the watch's screen.
New Modular watch face on Apple Watch Ultra 2
The updated display structure enhances the flashlight function on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, allowing users to turn the Digital Crown to increase the brightness twofold for improved illumination momentarily.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Processor
After using the S8 on the first Apple Watch Ultra, Apple upgraded the processor or System in Package (SiP) on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the S9 chip. The S9 enables an on-device Siri capable of confidential and secure health data retrieval and recording.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a revamped 4-core Neural Engine, which handles machine learning operations up to two times faster than its predecessor.
Furthermore, the dictation feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has seen up to a 25% increase in accuracy thanks to the S9 chip. The enhancement guarantees more exact voice-to-text translations, improving the user experience to ensure quick responses.
The processor's Ultra Wideband chip has been upgraded to a second-generation version in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, enhancing the precision of locating a nearby iPhone.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Health and fitness
The two Apple Watch Ultra models have health and fitness features for athletes or other people. The orange-colored Action button on the side of each model can instantly start workouts.
For events such as triathlons and duathlons, or any activity involving a combination of swimming, biking, or running, the Multisport workout feature in watchOS 9 later includes automatic detection to transition between different workouts seamlessly. The Apple Watch Ultra models have sufficient battery longevity to support most users through a lengthy triathlon.
A new modular watch face [left] and the interface used when diving [right]
The Action button can start workouts and facilitate the transition to a Custom Workout's next phase or the Multisport exercise's next stage. Additionally, it can be used to mark segments for optimal pacing and distance projections for track runners.
The Oceanic+ app on both models enables recreational scuba diving and freediving, providing users with critical data such as depth and elapsed time during a freedive, along with target depth alerts.
Thanks to watchOS and physical sensors, both Apple Watch Ultra models can log mental health with the Mindfulness app, track temperature so women can understand their menstrual cycle with the Cycle Tracking app, measure blood oxygen levels, take an ECG from the wrist, and monitor sleep stages.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Battery and storage
The battery on the Apple Watch Ultra can last up to 36 hours on Wi-Fi or 18 hours with cellular connectivity. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the same 36-hour battery life in "normal" usage but can increase that to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
The claim of all-day battery longevity is based on the following usage pattern of 180 instances of checking the time, receiving 180 notifications, utilizing apps for 90 minutes, and engaging in a 60-minute workout while playing music through the Apple Watch using Bluetooth, all within 36 hours.
Battery life was verified through tests performed by Apple with pre-release versions of the Apple Watch Ultra models equipped with GPS and Cellular and paired with an iPhone.
Additionally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a storage capacity of 64GB, which is double that of the Apple Watch Ultra at 32GB. The increased storage allows more apps, music, and other media to be stored directly on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Other features
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduces a new way for users to interact and control their wearable without touching the display. When users press their thumb and index finger together twice, they can open the Smart Stack from a watch face, answer calls, scroll through widgets, and enable other features.
Powered by the enhanced Neural Engine in the S9 chip, the feature uses a new machine-learning algorithm to analyze data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor. The algorithm identifies the patterns of minor wrist motions and blood flow alterations that take place when a double tap gesture is performed with the thumb and index finger.
The S9 chip also introduces a Siri assistant with offline capabilities. As long as a user's request doesn't require information from the internet, Siri can offer fast and reliable responses, such as accessing health data, setting timers, and starting workouts.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - Price
The original Apple Watch Ultra was priced at $799. Fortunately, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 keeps the same price of $799 despite the device's new features and upgraded components.
However, similar to other older products, Apple doesn't directly sell the original Apple Watch Ultra anymore. It doesn't even list any in the refurbished section of the online store, at least not at the time of writing, but that may change.
Despite Apple shifting only to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at retail and online, there will still be supplies of the first-generation model at third-party retailers for a while.
Every Apple Watch variant ships exclusively in a natural titanium color. There are no alternatives for either color or material of the Apple Watch itself.
There are a selection of bands available, including the Alpine Loop "for outdoor adventure," a Trail Loop for general workouts, and the Ocean Band intended for water sports and recreational diving. All are offered in a variety of colors.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra - What to buy
Despite some enhancements, the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 probably won't be necessary for every Apple Watch Ultra user. Some options to consider are the brighter display, greater storage, and Low Power Mode.
The Apple Watch Ultra is already a highly capable smartwatch with most of the same features as the second-generation model. Its display, health and fitness functionalities, and battery life are commendable, and for many, these features will still be more than sufficient for daily use.
The double-tap gesture used on the Apple Watch Ultra 2
Unless users have a unique need that can only be met by the Apple Watch Ultra 2, they are unlikely to miss out on most features if they stick to the first-generation model.
When considered as a first-time purchase or an upgrade from the standard Apple Watch line, there's very little reason to use the older model than the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra. It's a premium model so potential purchasers may not necessarily be swayed by any cost savings from tracking down the first-generation model.
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra is the best example of Apple's work in producing a wearable computer. It may fall into the trap of Apple's second-gen devices being iterations on the first without going all-out on new features, but for the audience it seeks, the latest edition doesn't need to do that.
Where to buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available to preorder from Apple, with availability from September 22.
After a stretch of better-than-expected economic data in August, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned that a resilient US consumer could promptthe central bank to raise interest rates again.
But less than a month later, the Fed may have a new engine to help slow consumer spending and the US economy in its fight against inflation: gasoline.
Gas prices rose steadily in August, pushing up costs for both consumers and producers of goods. This, economists say, could be good for the Fed even if it means an uptick in headline inflation in the immediate term.
"Oil prices have rallied, and for policymakers, this could be a blessing in disguise," Morgan Stanley's Ellen Zentner wrote in a note on Wednesday. "We find that an increase in energy prices from negative supply shocks has only a small pass-through to core CPI while weighing on spending."
The Fed is focused oncore inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy categories. In August, core consumer prices rose 4.3% over last year — a slowdown from the 4.7% annual increase seen in July.
While there are concerns that rising energy prices could spark price increases across a number of other goods and services, and therefore send core inflation higher, the risk may not be as significant as initially thought, according to Morgan Stanley.
The firm's economics team points out that production cuts in Saudi Arabia and Russia led WTI crude oil's price increase from $68 per barrel in June to $90 on Thursday. When the increase in oil prices comes from a supply shock, the impacton items included in core inflation calculations isn't nearly as severe, per Morgan Stanley. The firm sees a peak of a 0.05% impact on core CPI from rising energy costsbefore it falls in the next month.
"Higher energy prices must be sustained for some time to have a greater, more durable effect on core prices," Zentner and the Morgan Stanley economics team wrote. "The Fed will look through this shock."
Gas prices also drove higher-than-expected growth in August retail sales, which popped 0.6% from the month prior, above economists' expectations for 0.1%. Increases driven by gas usually lead to weaker goods spending in the long run if gas prices remain elevated, Goldman Sachs managing director Kate McShane told Yahoo Finance.
It will take several months before the impact on the consumer will be fully felt though, according to EY chief economist Greg Daco.
In a vacuum, Daco said the gas price increase isn't a "game changer" for the fight against inflation. But, he pointed out, it's another hit to the consumer as the case for a slowdown builds. The student loan moratorium ending on Oct.1 is expected to pressure the wallets of borrowers, while a looming United Auto Workers strike could halt vehicle production, hurting the labor market and sending car prices higher.
"Amid clearer signs that the labor market is losing momentum, rising gasoline prices putting pressure on real incomes again, and the additional drag from the resumption of student loan repayments, it is hard to see consumers spending as freely over the rest of the year," Oxford Economics lead US economist Michael Pearce wrote in a note on Thursday. "We expect a sharp slowdown in consumption growth, which will be the decisive factor tipping the economy into a mild recession over the coming quarters."
Gas prices on display at a petrol station in La Puente, California on September 7, 2023. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
The recovery in Bitcoin and altcoins is facing selling at higher levels, indicating that the overall sentiment remains negative.
Price Analysis
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Bitcoin (BTC) has been stuck inside a large range since April, indicating indecision about the next directional move. Efforts by the bears to sink the price below the support of the range were thwarted by the bulls on Sep. 11. However, Bitcoin is not out of the woods yet.
Jamie Coutts, a chartered market technician and crypto market analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, while speaking to Cointelegraph said that if the tightening cycle extends, followed by “an uptick in unemployment and more stress in the banking sector, then there could be a bit more pain for risk assets like Bitcoin.”
Cryptocurrency traders have also remained cautious. A Bitfinex report shows that the cryptocurrency industry witnessed capital outflows of $55 billion in August. The drop in liquidity has caused isolated events to “have a bigger impact on market movements,” the report added.
Will Bitcoin turn down and retest its pivotal support? Could Bitcoin’s weakness trigger further selling in altcoins? Let’s study the charts of the top-10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin price analysis
Bitcoin broke and closed above the 20-day exponential moving average ($26,228) on Sep. 14, indicating that the downside momentum is weakening.
The 20-day EMA is flattening out and the relative strength index (RSI) is near the midpoint, signaling that the BTC/USDT pair may stay range-bound between $24,800 and $28,143 for some more time.
If bears want to make a comeback, they will have to quickly pull the price back below the 20-day EMA. Such a move will suggest that higher levels are being sold into. That could result in a retest of the strong support at $24,800.
Ether price analysis
Ether (ETH) plunged below the $1,550 support on Sep. 11 but the bears could not build upon this strength. This suggests solid buying at lower levels.
The bulls thereafter started a recovery, which has reached the 20-day EMA ($1,638). This level is likely to witness a tough battle between the bulls and the bears. A break and close above the 20-day EMA could trap several aggressive bears, resulting in a short squeeze. That could propel the price to $1,745.
Instead, if the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, it will suggest that the bears remain in command. The sellers will then make another attempt to sink the ETH/USDT pair below $1,550 and resume the downtrend.
BNB price analysis
BNB (BNB) bounced off the psychological support near $200 on Sep. 12, indicating that the bulls are active at lower levels.
The recovery has reached the 20-day EMA ($215), which is an important level to watch out for. If the BNB/USDT pair turns lower from the current level, it will indicate that the sentiment remains negative and traders are selling on relief rallies. That will increase the risk of a breakdown below $200.
Contrarily, the RSI is forming a positive divergence, indicating that the selling pressure could be reducing. A rise above the 20-day EMA could open the doors for a retest of the 50-day SMA ($225).
XRP price analysis
XRP (XRP) has been trading between $0.41 and $0.56 for the past several days. The price has recovered to the 20-day EMA ($0.50), which is an important level to keep an eye on.
If buyers thrust the price above the 20-day EMA, it will indicate that the selling pressure is reducing. That could start a sustained recovery toward the overhead resistance at $0.56. This level may again act as a roadblock.
If the price turns down from $0.56, it will indicate that the range-bound action may continue for some more time. The next trending move is likely to begin after bulls push the price above $0.56 or bears sink the XRP/USDT pair below $0.41.
Cardano price analysis
The strong selling in Cardano (ADA) pulled the price to $0.24 on Sep. 11 but the bears could not break the crucial support.
The rebound off $0.24 on Sep. 12 reached the 20-day EMA ($0.26) on Sep. 15. This level is likely to witness a tussle between the buyers and sellers. If the ADA/USDT pair turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, it will indicate that every minor rise is being sold into. That could increase the risk of a drop to $0.22.
Contrarily, if buyers shove the price above the 20-day EMA, it will signal the start of a stronger recovery to $0.28.
Dogecoin price analysis
Dogecoin (DOGE) continues to trade between the 20-day EMA ($0.06) and the solid support at $0.06. This tight-range trading is unlikely to continue for long and a breakout may happen soon.
If buyers kick the price above the 20-day EMA, it will suggest that the sellers may be losing their grip. That could start a relief rally to the 50-day SMA ($0.07) where the bears are expected to intensify selling.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, it will enhance the prospects of a break below $0.06. If this support breaks down, the DOGE/USDT pair may plummet to $0.055.
Solana price analysis
Solana (SOL) has been swinging between $14 and $27.12 for the past several months. The price has reached the 20-day EMA ($19.51) where the bears are likely to pose a stiff challenge.
If buyers thrust the price above the 20-day EMA, the SOL/USDT pair could reach the overhead resistance at $22.30. This level may again act as a strong hurdle but if bulls overcome it, the pair could climb to $27.12.
On the contrary, if the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, it will signal that demand dries up at higher levels. The bears will then try to resume the downtrend and yank the price to the vital support at $14.
The price reached the first resistance at $1.98 on Sep. 13 where the bears are trying to halt the up-move. A minor advantage in favor of the bulls is that they have not ceded ground to the bears. This suggests that the bulls are in no hurry to book profits as they anticipate the up-move to continue.
If the $1.98 level is taken out, the TON/USDT pair could reach $2.07. This is an important level for the bears to defend because a break above it could propel the pair to $2.40. On the downside, a slide below the 20-day EMA could tilt the advantage in favor of the bears.
Polkadot price analysis
Polkadot (DOT) has been trading below the breakdown level of $4.22 for the past few days, which is a negative sign.
The bulls are trying to start a relief rally but that is likely to face strong selling at $4.22. If the price turns down from the overhead resistance, it will suggest that bears remain in control. The sellers will then try to sink the DOT/USDT pair below $3.90. If they succeed, the pair could collapse to $3.44.
If bulls want to prevent the decline, they will have to push and sustain the price above $4.22. If they do that, it will suggest that the markets have rejected the breakdown. The pair may then attempt a rally to the 50-day SMA ($4.61).
Polygon price analysis
Polygon (MATIC) slipped below the critical support at $0.51 on Sep. 11 but the bears could not maintain the selling pressure. That started a rebound, which is nearing the 20-day EMA ($0.54).
The bears will attempt to stall the recovery at the 20-day EMA and tug the price below $0.50. If they manage to do that, it will signal the resumption of the downtrend. The MATIC/USDT pair could then slump to $0.45.
Although the downsloping moving averages indicate advantage to bears, the positive divergence on the RSI suggests that the bearish momentum may be slowing down. If buyers clear the obstacle at the 20-day EMA, the pair may climb to $0.60.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Disney is raising the price of several of its streaming offerings, including ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu, in the US.
Beginning Oct. 12, the ad-free version of Disney Plus will cost $14 per month (currently $11 per month), and Hulu without ads will cost $18 per month (currently $15 per month), the company said last month. An annual Disney Plus without ads subscription will go from $110 per year to $140. Existing subscribers will be charged the new prices at their next billing cycle on or after Oct. 12, according to Disney.
The monthly price of Disney Plus and Hulu's ad-supported tiers won't change and neither will the annual price of ad-based Hulu. Disney is also currently offering a discount on its ad-based Disney Plus tier for new and returning subscribers. People who are eligible can get the service for $2 a month for three months until 11:59 p.m. PT on Sept. 20. When the deal runs through, the price becomes the regular $8 per month.
On Oct. 12, Disney is also raising the price of two of its existing bundles that combine subscriptions to Disney Plus, Hulu and the ad-supported streaming service ESPN Plus (what the company calls a "Trio" bundle). The existing Trio Basic (ad-supported versions of Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu) bundle will cost $15 per month, up from $13, and Trio Premium (which is the same services but without ads for Disney Plus or Hulu) will cost $25 per month, up from $20.
Standalone ESPN Plus is also getting a hike to its yearly and monthly price in October. It's currently $10 per month and will rise to $11 per month. Its yearly cost will increase from $100 to $110 annually.
In addition, Hulu Plus Live TV with ads, which currently costs $70 per month, will cost $77 come October, and the version that includes Hulu without ads, which costs $83 per month, will jump to $90 per month.
Disney introduced a new bundle -- Duo Premium -- on Sept. 6. The bundle includes ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu and costs $20 per month, a $12 monthly savings if you were paying for the ad-free versions of both services separately.
Sure, the new iPhones have improved designs and cameras, but Apple’s switch from the Lightning to new USB-C port is the biggest iPhone news to affect consumers in years. WSJ’s Joanna Stern breaks down everything you need to know. Photo Illustration: Warren Heller
Apple unveiled a new iPhone lineup aimed at wringing more money out of its top model
![A new modular watch face [left] and the interface used when diving [right]](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/56370-114507-facesawultra2-xl.jpg)
