Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra: What are the differences?

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TL;DR

• Apple presented three new smartwatches at its "Far Out" event today.
• The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen.), the Apple Watch 8, and the Apple Watch Ultra were unveiled.
• We compare the Apple Watch 8 with the Apple Watch Ultra.

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Much was reported in advance about a possible Watch Pro, which has now actually become an Apple Watch Ultra. This was joined by the Apple Watch Series 8 and the most affordable model in the form of the second-generation Apple Watch SE. In this article, we want to clarify what are the actual differences between the Watch 8 and Watch Ultra.

Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra: Price and availability

Both watchOS 9 smartwatches are already available for pre-order as of this evening. While the Apple Watch Series 8 is tipped to ship on September 16, while extreme athletes among you will have to wait until September 23. Cupertino wants to charge at least $799 for the Ultra model.

The Apple Watch 8, on the other hand, is a bit more modest. The GPS-only model costs $399 and the Cellular version costs $499. Buyers of both Apple Watches receive three months of Apple Fitness+ for free.

Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra: Display and case

The Apple Watch Ultra comes with a 49-millimeter titanium case and a flat sapphire crystal display on the front. Apple confirmed that this is the largest and brightest panel (2000 nits) in an Apple Watch to date. The Series 8, on the other hand, comes with either a 41 or 45 millimeter case. Here, the maximum brightness stands at 1,000 nits.

The Apple Watch 8 can be made of aluminum or stainless steel. Depending on your choice, the light metal variant is available in black, gold, silver, and (Product) Red, and the noble steel in anthracite (graphite), silver, and black (space black).

The Ultra model, on the other hand, only comes in one color. On the other hand, there are variations for the wristbands, which are no longer compatible with the previous bands. They are called Alpine and Trail Loop, as well as Ocean Band. Since the Ultra Watch is aimed at top athletes and explorers, it also has exceptional capabilities.

It is certified according to the 810 military standard and WR100 standard. It can withstand temperatures from -20 degrees to 55 degrees Celsius. The special feature is that divers no longer need to remove their Apple Watch on their next diving trip. Provided it's the Ultra model, and they don't dive too deep.

This is because it is waterproof up to 40 meters thanks to EN 13319 certification. In combination with the Oceanic+ app, the diving depth, water temperature—and, importantly for survival—the diving time and ascent speed can be displayed.

The dedicated button should not go unmentioned either. It can be freely programmed and used for the new Backtrack function, for example. Furthermore, not only did the display has become bigger on the Apple Watch Ultra, but the crown as well. The idea behind this is that you can operate the Watch Ultra with gloves even at the said -20 degrees temperature.

Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra: Processor and features

Both watches have received a new S8 chip - but Apple did not go into detail about the specs. Apple has basically kept all the previously known features for the Series 8.

These include Afib detection, electrocardiogram, pedometer, sleep tracking, blood oxygen level, and pulse sensor. On the other hand, the temperature sensors are new —one sits under the display, and another is on the underside of the watch with direct skin contact.

Apple's focus has also expanded to include women's health now. The Watch 8 measures temperature around the clock—for example, every five seconds during sleep. The data can be used to predict ovulation, for example, although Apple admits that these are only estimates. All data is encrypted and stored on your Apple account.

Another new feature of the Apple Watch 8 is the so-called accident detection. It uses improved gyro and acceleration sensors to determine whether an accident has occurred while driving a car. The Apple Watch 8 can even determine the type of accident—for example, whether it was a minor rear-end collision or a rollover. The watch then sends an emergency call within 10 seconds, provided this process is not interrupted by the user.

Of course, the Apple Watch Ultra can do much more. After all, it is made for extreme athletes. For example, there is now a new compass app with waypoints and the aforementioned backtrack function. These are determined by the particularly precise dual-frequency GPS. This covers both the L1 and L5 frequency bands.

Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra: Battery life

Apple is once again not letting its guard down when it comes to specifying the battery capacities of the two smartwatches. For the Apple Watch 8, Jeff Williams announced that it will run for 18 hours on a single charge. What's new, however, is the "Low Power Mode", which "catapults" the watch to a runtime of 36 hours. However, this means doing without an always-on display and 24/7 tracking of the heart rate as well as workout recognition.

Cupertino stated an incredible runtime of up to 60 hours for the Apple Watch Ultra - for Apple users. However, those who use a Garmin smartwatch can only smile wearily here. Even the 60 hours can only be achieved in power-saving mode and without any features enabled. For example, it stated: The "measurements of GPS or heart rate are reduced". What this means in the end and how long the Apple Watch Ultra can run on one battery charge without restrictions will only be revealed in our detailed review.