If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your Apple Watch to help track fitness goals, March has been unusually generous. I track tech deals for a living, and on top of consistent deals on the newer Watch Series 11 this year, Apple’s top-of-the-line Watch Ultra 2 just landed under $500 for the first time ever.
It may be a generation older than the Series 11, but it’s the more premium pick, with longer battery life than both the Series and SE models. (Heads up: Amazon is listing the MSRP at $549, but the Watch Ultra 2 originally retailed for $799, so it’s indeed 38% off.)
At $499, the Watch Ultra 2 offers battery life your older Apple Watch struggles to match. You’re getting up to 36 hours on a single charge—or up to 72 hours (three days) with Low Power Mode. So if you’ve been dreaming of not being shackled to your Watch charger every night, the Watch Ultra 2 is the way to go.
You may be thinking, “Should I get the newer Watch Ultra 3?” If you want to spend an extra $280? Go for it. But while the Ultra 3 offers a slight jump in battery runtime (42 hours vs. 36 hours), it’s not much. Plus, new features Apple announced last year alongside the Ultra 3 (like blood pressure notifications and sleep score) are also available on Ultra 2.
On top of hypertension notifications and sleep tracking, the Ultra 2 is also designed to monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG, wrist temperature, and even potential sleep apnea signs. Plus, it tracks workouts, cardio fitness, calories burned, and daily activity.
For our fearless adventurers, the Ultra 2 goes further with features the Series and SE don’t have, including a built-in depth gauge and water temperature sensor for diving, a louder siren for emergencies, and dual-frequency GPS (a fancy term for more precise tracking in unforgiving environments).
Compared to the Series and SE models, you’re also getting a brighter display, making it easier to see your Apple Watch screen while you’re jogging in harsh sunlight, for example.
Slashing $300 off its original price for the first time ever, you can get the Ultra Watch 2 for less than $500. I’d grab it ASAP if I were you.
Shop the Apple Watch Ultra 2
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