Tech Takedown is back, and in this episode, it's the Apple Watch 9 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2 in a battle to decide which of Apple's smartwatches have the best value based on our team's reviews. Kate and John square off in an epic showdown, where the flagship Apple Watch Series 9 is challenged by the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2, comparing the standout features and answering questions about which might be the best Apple Watch for you.
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00Welcome to the next episode of Tech Takedown, and today we're going to talk about Apple Watches.
00:05Which one's going to offer the better value? Is it going to be the Apple Watch Series 9?
00:09Or the Apple Watch Ultra 2?
00:11Hey, you've got one minute, starting now.
00:13First reason someone should buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 over the Apple Watch Series 9
00:18is because of the premium materials you get with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
00:23Now, I'm not really a Series 9 hater, even though I have to be on this episode,
00:27Apple Watch Ultra 2 just takes things to the next level with ultra-sporty materials.
00:32You're looking at airspace-grade titanium on this watch.
00:35I mean, I want my watch to have the same materials that go to space, I don't know about you.
00:40But it also has that flat sapphire crystal display,
00:43and the case just goes ever so slightly over the display to give it that extra bit of protection.
00:49I play sports like softball and biking, and anything that's just kind of rugged,
00:53you want your watch to be protected.
00:55I've seen way too many Apple Watches that don't have the cases on them,
00:58just shatter and crack, and you don't want that.
01:01It's annoying to repair.
01:02This watch is far less prone to any type of damage related to sports, specifically.
01:08Now you get 30 seconds to tell Kate why she's wrong.
01:11Well, I'm not sure where you're going with your Apple Watch Ultra 2,
01:14but I know that I don't know anyone who's ever broken their Apple Watch.
01:17And when you talk about the design, yes, I'll give you credit that the sapphire display is nice and it's durable.
01:23But I have an Apple Watch, and I use a lot of different cases for it.
01:26I might not have it right now, but you could change it up.
01:29There are accessories that give it that premium look and feel.
01:31So if I want to get that same caliber of premium construction and stylish looks as the Apple Watch Ultra 2,
01:38I could still get it with my Apple Watch Series 9.
01:41So what you're saying is you want to buy more accessories to make your Apple Watch Series 9 be more like an Apple Watch Ultra 2.
01:47But anyway, time for your point.
01:49So my first point here is that the Apple Watch Series 9 is cheaper.
01:52I'm not spending a whole lot of money. I'm all about savings.
01:55And at the same time, though, even if you're spending less with the Series 9,
01:59you're also getting pretty much the same amount of features as the Ultra 2.
02:03You're talking about features that people use every day for fitness tracking,
02:06how many steps you're taking, your heart rate.
02:09You could even do the ECG if you wanted to.
02:11So all those same features that you have in the Apple Watch Ultra 2
02:15are found with my Apple Watch Series 9 for a lot less.
02:19You're also looking at saving a lot more money.
02:21In fact, you could get up to around $250 savings with the Series 9,
02:26and you also will find a lot more sales happening for it
02:30because the Apple Watch Ultra 2 you rarely see ever go on sale.
02:34And those are all the reasons why I think the Apple Watch Series 9 has better value.
02:38John, you just love making price one of your argument points in these tech takedowns.
02:42But if we're going to talk about price and value,
02:44something that's priceless to me and is a feature that the Ultra 2 has that the Series 9 doesn't,
02:48it's the safety siren feature.
02:50That means I have some peace of mind when I'm out by myself at night.
02:53I know that just by pressing my action button on my wrist,
02:57I can have a loud siren. I think it's up to 86 decibels go off
03:01and just give me, again, that sort of peace of mind.
03:03And in terms of value, you're not replacing your Apple Watch every year.
03:06My Apple Watch Ultra 2 is something that I might have for, you know, four or five years.
03:10Might.
03:11And that brings us to the end of round one.
03:13Let us know who's winning in the comments below.
03:15Don't forget to watch some of our other videos like our Apple Watch Tips video.
03:18And the time where I replaced my iPhone with the Apple Watch Ultra for 24 hours.
03:22But I think it's time to get back into it.
03:24John, are you ready for round two?
03:26Let's get it on.
03:27Let's talk about the design.
03:29Look at the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It just looks clunky.
03:32I don't know what Apple did, but they just over-engineered the design.
03:36It looks like a military watch on your hand versus what they've been traditionally doing
03:40for years now with all the other Apple watches.
03:42It's sleek, refined, and it looks a lot better.
03:46The other thing I want to mention here is that you have more choice as to what it looks like
03:51because you're not just held to just one size and one color.
03:54With the Series 9, you have different sizes, you have different colors.
03:58So whatever you want to choose, there's the option for you there.
04:01Kate, you know there's this debate about where you can wear the Apple Watch.
04:05And with something like that, it's not really practical for like a wedding.
04:09Versus the Series 9, you can wear it pretty much on any occasion.
04:12Any occasion, business casual, to a wedding, to a birthday party.
04:16It just always matches whatever you're doing.
04:18Well, that one looks like you're going to be in a spy movie or something.
04:20Yes, John, I am well aware of the debate of where it's actually appropriate to wear your Apple Watch and not.
04:26I'm generally of the belief that you should be taking your Apple Watch off
04:29anytime you're going for some, you know, nice photos, but to each their own.
04:33And no matter what, you can elevate the look of your watch with a watch band as I've done here.
04:38I know that this pairing of the stainless steel loop with the Apple Watch Ultra
04:42might not be one that people think about, but I've been seeing it out on people's wrists all the time,
04:47businessmen, and I love the way it looks.
04:49I think this looks like a piece of jewelry.
04:51And if I did want to be in a spy movie, I could.
04:57I still think you need a stylus.
04:58Okay, well, shots fired. I'll waste no time then.
05:02The big reason to get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 over the Apple Watch Series 9 is the battery life.
05:08The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has double the battery life of the Series 9.
05:13It's the one thing that would prevent me from, I think, ever being able to go back from the Ultra to a regular Series watch.
05:21And not only that, with low power mode with the Apple Watch, it's available on both watches, yes.
05:26But for the Apple Watch Ultra specifically, it's been tailored so that the watch can last up to 72 hours.
05:33That's meant on multiple times.
05:35Now, I've been able to go away for the weekend without having to worry about charging my watch.
05:39I can do it overnight somewhere, and I never have to think, oh, will my watch not make it?
05:43More often than not, it's going to last the night, few nights,
05:47and that's just something that I wouldn't be able to, you know, enjoy again if I were to go back to a Series watch.
05:52I'd always be worried about charging my watch every night.
05:54I already charge enough freaking devices every night.
05:57I don't want to have to do that for my watch, too.
06:01Well, I'll give it credit that it has better battery life than my watch.
06:04But as someone who uses it every day, I'm always charging it, so that's not really a big problem for me.
06:10Since it's charging every night, it's always going to be plenty of battery in the morning.
06:13And if I do have to go on long trips, like you say you do, for two days, a week, whatever,
06:18I always have some sort of charger with me, whether it's a 3-in-1 MagSafe charger,
06:22where I can do all three at once, and there's no worry with that.
06:25That sounds exactly like something someone with way too many 3-in-1 chargers would say.
06:30Well, you don't have to bring up my collection of 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers, Kate.
06:34Anyways, let us know who you guys think won in this tech takedown video in the comments below.
06:38Don't forget to read our full reviews on both the Apple Watch Series 9 and also the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on our website.
06:45And don't forget to tell us on social which gadgets we should check out in our next tech takedown video.
06:50And we'll see you back at the table soon.