Apple Watch Ultra Series 2

When I reviewed the original Apple Watch Ultra, I tried to approach the task in a slightly different way, instead seeing it as a kind of Apple Watch Pro, a luxury product that undoubtedly offered very special, and very specific features, but at the same time was an Apple Watch where every key aspect, from brightness to battery size, was just a little bit better.

Since then, I've learnt a bit more and experienced first-hand what it's like to feel encouraged to use a smartwatch in multiple ways because you trust the water resistance, the measurements it can give you and the battery life all at the same time. Below you can see me using my Apple Watch Ultra on Preikestolen in Norway and on a skiing holiday where I fell in love with an app called Slopes.

A new Apple Watch Ultra (Series 2) is now on the market, and even though I haven't yet had the opportunity to test it in the same cross-country terrain as the previous generation, it's once again worth stating that Apple has managed to repeat the success and created the best Apple Watch Pro ever.

But it's hard to spot at first glance, no doubt about it. The case itself is untouched, except that Apple now offers it in a different, alternative colour, but which I immediately think will be left behind in favour of the good old Titanium variant.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it", as the saying goes, and that applies here too, but this is probably the only time that Apple can reuse the same frame without slimming down the watch case without compromising on battery size, for example. Inside we find the new S9 SiP, a chipset that enables the new "double tap" feature that has been released via WatchOS 10.1, where pressing your thumb and index finger together twice can activate a number of system functions. Let me be as clear as I can - it works brilliantly, and hints at the same functionality in the upcoming Vision Pro headset.

The new chip also makes it possible to enable Precision Finding, as you might recognise it from an AirTag. Instead of "just" pinging your phone with a sound, the watch can intelligently guide you with direction and metres to your phone. In addition, there's a new, brighter display that can hit 3000 NITS, the same 36-hour battery life (a number of days with Battery Saver on), new features for cyclists and a better GPS.

But as with regular Apple Watch upgrades every year, it's sparse, there's no way around it. That's not to say they're not significant upgrades in that way - a brighter display, Double Tap and a number of extensions to the watch's training and diving functionality are meaningful additions to a watch that got off to a pretty good start last year. But in case it wasn't clear before, I'll emphasise it here; if you already have a Watch Ultra from last year, you don't need this.

But if you've been waiting patiently to jump on the bandwagon, this is an opportune moment. The Apple Watch Ultra represents Apple building the best smartwatch they can, and when you press the action button (which also has Shortcuts functionality), use the watch in Night Mode or track fairly precise workouts or outdoor trips, it's something special. It's still expensive, but I've never been as satisfied with the overall smartwatch experience as I have here.