Is Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth buying in India? Review in 5 points (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 6, 2023 15:54 IST

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is undoubtedly the best smartwatch one can buy right now. It is Apple's best, finest and most durable smartwatch. It has almost every fitness feature you expect on a watch, uses the most accurate sensors and supports cellular connectivity. However, it is also expensive. And, that's why the question I will try to answer in this 5-point review is: Whether the Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth buying in India or not?

The watch costs Rs 89,990. That is twice the price of an Apple Watch Series 9. For that, you get a big case, a brighter display and some additional fitness features. Now, I have already written a detailed review of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and in this follow-up story, will try to break the pros and cons into five simple points.

1. Surprisingly comfortable

In my head, the Apple Watch Ultra was huge. In fact, I spent some time with the 1st generation Watch Ultra last year at the Apple office and it only confirmed my doubts. That's why I opted for Watch Series 8 instead. Now, this year, when I finally started using the Apple Watch Ultra 2, I realised that while it may look big at first glance, it is surprisingly comfortable to wear.

It fits so comfortably on my wrist and even though it weighs about 62 grams, I don't really feel that weight. Even the strap is very comfortable to wear. But it's the durability part which I believe, should appeal to most Indian users. The case, glass and the rest of the body feel really solid. My unit has taken a few hits over the past 10 days but, I don't see a single scratch.

So, I think the Watch Ultra 2 perfectly combines aesthetics with durability and will be the perfect fit for most users.

2. Display for all seasons

The best part about the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is its super bright display. It ensures that you can use this watch anywhere, anytime without any trouble. Apple has increased the screen brightness to 3000 nits, surpassing the peak brightness of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which stands at 2000 nits.

As I also pointed out in my review, this may not sound like a huge upgrade, but it makes a lot of difference in the way you engage with the screen, especially when it's not too big. This makes the Watch Ultra 2 a practical choice for outdoor enthusiasts, whether they are hiking, swimming, or when they are simply travelling.

Otherwise also, the display is quite big, sharp and colourful.

3. Life-saving features

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, or Apple Watches in general, do come with some life-saving features which I think are particularly interesting for the Indian audiences. Now, as much as I love hiking in North India, the truth is that most places lack the basic infrastructure or support for such activities. So, on most days, you are on your own -- finding your way through some tricky terrain. Sometimes you end up hitting dead ends too.

This is where I find Watch Ultra 2's backtrack feature very helpful. It was integrated within the compass app last year and it marks the path of your trail, so you can follow it back to the starting point later. The same app also marks emergency points, including the last known cellular connection and the nearest emergency call point. This helps you find the last connectivity point and make an emergency call, if needed.

4. Quick to respond

Another great thing about the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is that it is fast. Apple has used the new S9 SiP chip which claims a 25% increase in efficiency and 30% faster GPU animations. Now, there is no way to test whether these claims are entirely true but, basis my experience, I can say that the watch is really quick to respond. The watch UI is smooth, apps load quickly, readings are taken instantly and all the data is collected within the fitness app.

The chip also adds the double-tap functionality to the new Apple watches, a feature that is yet to be rolled out but is generating considerable excitement on social media. It lets users to interact with the watch by pinching their fingers. Apple gave a demo of this in their presentation and users should get it this month as part of a new software update.

5. Good battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a rare premium smartwatch I have come across that lasts almost 2 days without charge. On paper, Apple claims 36 hours of battery life under normal conditions, and 72 hours in low power mode. I haven't registered my eSIM on the watch but have been using it for almost everything else. I use it to reply to texts, take my calls, do a bunch of other things, while keeping the Always on Display on and I have been getting close to 36 hours of battery life. So, this is a considerable advantage over other Apple Watches.

So, coming back to the question: Is Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth buying in India at Rs 89,900? If you have money, absolutely. It's the most premium watch experience you can get right now, regardless of what your priority is. The watch holds equally well at the office during a usual work day as it does during an intense hike. Its impressive display, efficient performance, and extended battery life are the reasons why you should consider it.