Apple will release no less than three new Apple Watches this fall. In addition to an affordable Watch SE and the mainstream Watch Series 8, there is for the first time a completely new model: the Apple Watch Ultra. The latter looks very different, is considerably more expensive than other Watches and, according to Apple, is aimed at adventurers and ultra athletes. Over the past month, I’ve tested both Watch Series 8 and Ultra extensively and searched for the answer to the question of which Apple Watch is actually the best choice.
As expected, Apple introduced the Watch Series 8 in September, which succeeds last year’s Series 7 and is available for purchase starting at $ 499. The 8 series is aesthetically identical to its predecessor, with exactly the same screen and the same battery life. The 8 Series features a new S8-soc, which, while no faster than the S7-soc, has a number of new and improved sensors built in. This allowed Apple to add crash detection and body temperature measurement to the Watch Series 8.
In addition to the Series 8, there is also a new Watch SE, which succeeds the previous budget model from 2020. The Watch SE Gen 2 is on sale in the Netherlands starting at 299 euros, which makes it 200 euros cheaper than to Series 8. The Watch SE uses the same processor as the more expensive Apple Watch, but has a smaller screen that doesn’t always turn on with thicker bezels than the Series 8. Also, the Watch SE does not have the Series 8 fast charging feature and the ability to take measurements of ECG and blood oxygen saturation.
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Really new is the Apple Watch Ultra, a watch with a different design, aimed at adventurers: people who hike several days through the woods or mountains, long-distance runners, triathletes and avid divers. The design has been adapted for that audience, so that the watch is not only suitable for diving, but above all it can hold up better. The Watch Ultra is also considerably larger than all watches to date. Fortunately, it’s not just a show, because Apple has equipped the watch with a larger battery, with which the Ultra lasts much longer than its younger brothers. For the latter reason alone, the target audience is likely significantly wider than the adventurers and athletes Apple has in mind. Small sore point: the Watch Ultra costs no less than 999 euros.
Before sharing my findings with you after more than a month of testing, sadly I have to disappoint Android users immediately. Like previous models, all new Apple Watches still work exclusively with an iPhone.
