The Sole Reason I Chose the Apple Watch Ultra 2
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When it comes to Apple devices, I usually find a few things to commend, except for the Apple Watch. My late embrace of this top-selling smartwatch has been well documented, and although I’ve cherished my Series 7 for two years, there was one persistent issue I hoped Apple would address: battery life. To a degree, I believe they have done so with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The Series 7 is a fantastic companion on my wrist. My favorite feature—Apple Pay—made me tolerate its 2 to 2.5-day battery life. Once you experience the convenience of using your watch for payments, it’s hard to switch to any other method. It’s reliable and convenient, but recharging every two days was a hassle.
I’m the type who never removes their watch unless absolutely necessary. I wear it to sleep, in the shower, and even during intimate moments. To me, being naked still means wearing my watch and necklace. This could be why you’re reading my thoughts. In any case, taking my watch off feels unnatural, and the Series 7 made me feel odd for about 90 minutes every couple of days.
I’m excited to share that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has resolved my battery-life concerns, granting me the device I always secretly desired.
Sure, that might be a slight exaggeration; what I truly want is a watch that never needs charging, but let’s be realistic.
Initially, I was not impressed by the Apple Watch Ultra when it launched in 2022. It appeared bulky and somewhat retro-futuristic. The protruding crown and button on the right side (I wear my watch on the left wrist) didn’t align with what I expect from Apple design. It doesn’t look like a watch; it resembles a gadget from "Back to the Future." For a company known for lifestyle and design, the look of both iterations of the Apple Watch Ultra feels off. Where's Jony Ive when you need him?
Consequently, I skipped the first Ultra entirely. My best friend Andrew was happy with his, except he couldn’t wear it at night due to its sharp screen edge. Still, I wasn’t convinced and didn’t want to spend nearly a thousand dollars on a watch I couldn’t wear while sleeping. So, I waited—eventually for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
I was aware that the Apple Watch Ultra boasted longer battery life, but I needed to experience just how much.
I typically enjoy longer battery life with all my Apple devices. I’m not sure how I manage it, but my Series 7 lasts 2 to 2.5 days, and my iPhone 13 Pro still provides two full days after two years on a single charge. Given this, it was reasonable to expect that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 would surpass the advertised 36 hours in normal mode or 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
A Surprisingly Robust Battery
Upon unboxing the watch and setting it up like my Series 7, I charged it to full capacity. I wore it as I normally would—doing grocery shopping, visiting the LEGO store, taking the train to see Andrew in Northern Ireland, working, and sleeping. Ultimately, my habits didn’t change. I wore the Ultra 2 continuously, just as I did with the Series 7. Days passed, and after three days, the battery was still looking good. By the end of 72 hours, I still had 10% left. When I finally needed to charge it again, I had just shy of 80 hours!
Using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in normal mode gave me nearly 3.5 days of usage on one charge.
That’s impressive, at least a day longer than the Series 7. Regarding the Series 7, I had tried Low Power Mode as soon as it became available, but the results were underwhelming. I thought attempting the same on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might yield better outcomes.
After fully charging the watch again, I switched it to Low Power Mode and resumed my daily activities. It’s worth mentioning my primary uses for the Apple Watch include:
- Apple Pay
- Notifications
- Shazam
- Occasional heart-rate monitoring
- Checking the weather
- Text messaging
- Unlocking my Mac(s)
I’ll admit I barely utilize half the functions of any Apple Watch, but these features are sufficient for me. I suspect many Apple Watch users share a similar experience. My friend Andi doesn’t even use Apple Pay on her watch—she doesn’t know what she’s missing! Shazam may not be a common feature for many users.
Days went by, and after four days of continuous use, I still had 10% battery life remaining. When it finally dropped to 1%, I declared the experiment a success and set it down to charge. At that point, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 had lasted for 105 hours on a single charge—approximately 4.5 days!
The Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 significantly enhances battery life, even for casual users.
Let’s revisit those figures and compare Apple’s claims with the battery life I achieved using the watch in my typical manner:
- Normal mode: Apple claims 36 hours; I got 80 hours.
- Low Power Mode: Apple claims 72 hours; I got 105 hours.
This raises the question of how I achieved these significantly higher numbers. Well, I have a few tricks:
- The always-on display is turned OFF. I don’t see the point of having the screen on when I’m not looking at it.
- I use the Modular watch face set to black-and-white. Since it’s an OLED screen, black consumes less power. It also has high contrast, showcasing useful complications like Shazam, Weather, Heart-rate, Apple Music, and battery life—all easily visible at a glance.
- I don’t engage in workouts outside of the ones the Watch automatically tracks.
- My iPhone is always nearby—either on my desk, in my pocket, or next to me on the couch. Even Apple states that having the phone close enhances Low Power Mode.
- I don’t connect the watch to a mobile 4G or 5G network.
Some may argue that I’m not utilizing the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to its full potential, and I agree. This Apple Watch offers far more features than I take advantage of, but I prefer having 4.5 days of battery life over using features I don’t need.
Other Nice-to-Haves
While battery life is a significant factor in my decision to keep this watch, there are a few aspects I either appreciate or find less favorable than I anticipated about the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
First, it’s much lighter than I expected. Despite its chunky appearance, it doesn’t feel heavy on my wrist at all. With a suitable wristband, it’s the perfect size and weight for me.
Speaking of bands, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is compatible with all Apple Watch straps. I wasn’t aware of this until my friend Andrew mentioned it. I’m glad he did, as the Alpine Loop I initially bought is secure and comfortable but a hassle to remove. I ended up purchasing a dark-grey Nike strap, which complements the watch nicely.
The larger screen is certainly a plus, and the titanium frame is less sharp than I expected, providing better protection for the glass compared to the standard Apple Watch. Thankfully, I also purchased AppleCare+ for this watch, which lessens my concern about accidental damage.
Verdict: I’m Keeping It!
After having the watch for over a week, I’m genuinely impressed and satisfied. I finally feel like I possess the Apple Watch I always desired—one where battery life is no longer a daily worry. I can nearly forget about charging until four days later when I receive a low battery alert, and even then, I have the option to charge it overnight or during my day.
For me, Low Power Mode has become the standard way I like to use my Apple Watch. I haven’t noticed any downsides to this mode. I perform all my usual activities while enjoying the benefit of 105 hours of battery life.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is undoubtedly the best Apple Watch available, even if it doesn’t look quite like one.
Attila Vago — Software Engineer striving to improve the world one line of code at a time. A lifelong tech enthusiast, I’m a writer of both code and blogs, an advocate for web accessibility, a LEGO aficionado, and a collector of vinyl records. Craft beer enthusiast! Read my Hello story here! Subscribe for more content on LEGO, tech, coding, and accessibility! For my less frequent readers, I also write about various topics and the art of writing.
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