The Apple Watch Series 10 unexpectedly can have the largest screen of any Apple Watch model. Here’s how it and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 compares, for when you decide to upgrade.
The Apple Watch Series 10 unexpectedly can have the largest screen of any Apple Watch model. Here’s how it and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 compares, for when you decide to upgrade.
The Apple Watch Series 10 got a much-needed update on September 9. Not only did its internals get upgraded, but its external design got a facelift too.
With a much larger display and presence, some may consider the Apple Watch Series 10 as being much closer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 than ever before.
However, potential Ultra buyers shouldn’t immediately change their minds and get the cheaper Apple Watch Series 10 straight away.
There’s more of a difference between the two models than just size.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 – SpecificationsApple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 – Case sizes, materials, and weight
The most obvious differences between the models are physical. They may both be high-end wearables in Apple’s ecosystem, but they are certainly built differently.
The 2024 update to the Apple Watch Series 10 is considerable, starting with the physical size. The new models are classed as being 42mm and 46mm in size.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is only offered in one size class: 49mm. This doesn’t tell the entire story though.
Looking at the physical dimensions, the Apple Watch Series 10 measures 46mm in height and 39mm in width for the 46mm model. The 42mm version is 42mm in height, 36mm in width.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains the chunkiest, at 49mm in height and 44mm in width.
This also goes for thicknesses, with the Series 10 slimmed down to 9.7mm against 14.4mm for the Ultra 2.
When it comes to weight, the Apple Watch Series 10’s 46mm model is 36.4 grams for the aluminum GPS version, 35.3 grams with cellular, and 41.7 grams for the new titanium model.
The 42mm is much lighter, at 30 grams for the aluminum GPS, 29.3 grams with cellular, and 34.4 grams for the titanium.
Made from Grade 5 titanium, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is considerably heavier, at 61.4 grams for the Natural colorway, 61.8 grams for the Black option.
The thickness, size, and weight of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can be argued as being necessary. As a device designed to be used outdoors, it’s made to be able to withstand the rigors of a highly active and outgoing lifestyle.
The Apple Watch Series 10 continues the use of a side button and a Digital Crown, along with the touchscreen and Siri to control the device. The Apple Watch Ultra adds in a second side button, referred to as the Action Button, on the opposite side.
How the side button and Digital Crown are implemented also differs on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with Apple using an extended section that raises the side button up from the surface. This also has the effect of protecting the Digital Crown if it ever is caught in an impact.
The entire front screen of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also flat, versus the more curved display of the Apple Watch Series 10. This gives it a much more utilitarian appearance.
Sure, you could wear the Apple Watch Series 10 to climb a rock face. However, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has been built more to deal with such activities.
You could dive with the Apple Watch Series 10, with it rated to be water resistant to a depth of 50 meters (164 feet), which Apple deems “Swimproof.” Apple even includes a depth gauge feature in the Series 10 that mimics the version in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, down to 6 meters (20 feet).
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 goes further, with its 100m (328 feet) water resistance rating being double of its non-Ultra counterpart. Diving is also allowed to a much deeper depth, down to 40 meters (130 feet).
Apple Watch Ultra 2Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 – Display
The Apple Watch Series 10 was upgraded to an always-on Retina LTPO3 OLED display, a panel that offered very wide angles of viewing compared to previous models. It could also offer up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness and a minimum of 1 nit.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 uses an LTPO2 always-on Retina display, which doesn’t have the wide-angle capability. It does, however, offer a much higher level of brightness at up to 3,000 nits.
