5 Reasons I Like My Apple Watch Ultra More Than the Series 10

I skipped buying the Apple Watch Ultra 2 because of its cost and went with the Series 10 instead. However, when an irresistible offer came, I bit the bullet, and now I don’t want to return it.

1The Brighter Display

The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s display uses older technology than the Apple Watch Series 10—LTPO2 vs. LTPO3—and misses out on better viewing angles unlocked by the wide-angle OLED we covered in our Series 10 review. However, in the sunny weather of the Indian subcontinent, there isn’t anything more useful than a brighter display.

The Ultra 2’s 3,000 nits OLED face makes all the difference when I’m out and about walking or completing chores. Yes, my Series 10 hits a reasonable 2,000 nits, but most watch faces heavily use black backgrounds and some colorful text and graphics. As such, the 1,000 nits difference has a huge impact on visibility.

2Dedicated Night Mode on Watch Faces

Then there’s the dedicated night mode available on the Wayfinder and Modular Ultra watch faces. This feature turns the entire display red to protect your night vision. Yes, it’s limited to the two Apple Watch Ultra-specific watch faces, but it is useful if you often work in dark rooms or at night. Plus, it does look really cool.

It’s possible to create a version of this night mode for other Apple Watch models with the iPhone Shortcuts app, but having it built-in and automatically activated is a great value-add.

3Dedicated Button for Quick Actions

Complications on the Apple Watch help you quickly access features and get things done, be it starting a workout, managing a timer, controlling music, or something else; the list can get long. But you can only have a limited number of complications on a watch face.

This is where the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 makes a huge difference. But don’t confuse it with the Action Button on an iPhone. I no longer need to have a complication to start a workout. I simply press the Action Button, and I’m ready to get going.

The Action Button’s Quick Switch feature also adds a lot of value. I can swap the Action Button to a different function—like accessing the Translate app with a single press—without needing my phone or having to hop into the Settings application on my Apple Watch.

4Longer Gaps Between Charges

It was clear that swapping to an Apple Watch Ultra would unlock longer battery life. Apple states you’ll get 36 hours of continuous use—twice that of the Apple Watch Series 10 (18 hours). Yes, it does take longer to charge, but it also lasts proportionately longer.

In my day-to-day use, which includes tracking a strength training workout, an hour-long walk, and having its Always-on display active, I’ve seen the Ultra 2 endure for 48 hours before needing a charge—my Series 10 did 24 hours. Two days before needing a charge is a good advantage for Ultra. I went on a weekend trip—from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon—without my Apple Watch charger and returned home with 5% left.

5Better Haptics

Haptic feedback is a big part of the smartwatch experience. The little ping on your hand whenever a new notification comes in is just a lot more satisfying on the Ultra 2. It has a satisfying thunk, thanks to which I don’t miss notifications on the larger watch. This is something I think the Series 10 fails to supply.

Apple didn’t bring a hardware upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra lineup in 2024; instead, it only added a new color. However, even without new hardware, there are enough hardware differences here that allow for a different experience.