Apple Watch SE (2022) vs. Apple Watch Ultra: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Ultra is the clear winner for outdoor enthusiasts and those prioritizing durability and advanced features like depth gauge and emergency siren. However, the Apple Watch SE (2022) provides excellent value and core smartwatch functionality for everyday users, making it a more sensible choice for most.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch SE (2022) | Apple Watch Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International, China, HK | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International, China, HK |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International, China, HK | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International, China, HK |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 07 | 2022, September 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 16 | Available. Released 2022, September 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic/sapphire crystal back, aluminum frame | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, titanium frame |
| Dimensions | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.73 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) | 49 x 44 x 14.4 mm (1.93 x 1.73 x 0.57 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 33 g (1.16 oz) | 61.3 g (2.15 oz) |
| 50m water resistant | IP6X certified 100m water resistant (WR100) 40m swimproof/diving (EN13319) MIL-STD 810H certified ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ion-X strengthened glass | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 448 x 368 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 502 x 410 pixels (~338 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.78 inches | 1.92 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 2000 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S8 | Apple S8 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to 9.4 | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 32GB |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers (86-decibel) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate (2nd gen), barometer, always-on altimeter, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body), temperature (water) |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) | Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) Depth gauge (±1m accuracy) Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless, 0-80% in 60 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 296 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 542 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Silver | Titanium |
| Models | A2722, A2723, A2724, A2727, A2856, A2725, A2726, A2855, watch6,10, watch6,11, watch6,12, watch6,13 | A2684, A2622, A2859, watch6,18 |
| Price | € 289.00 | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.96 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.27 W/kg (head) 1.96 W/kg (body) | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.60 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch SE (2022)
- Affordable
- Compact and lightweight
- Core smartwatch features
- Good fitness tracking
- Family Setup support
- Less durable display
- Shorter battery life
- Fewer advanced features
- Smaller display
Apple Watch Ultra
- Extremely durable (titanium case, sapphire crystal)
- Larger, brighter display
- Longer battery life
- Advanced features (depth gauge, emergency siren, dual-frequency GPS)
- Improved water resistance
- Expensive
- Larger size may not suit all wrists
- Features may be overkill for casual users
Display Comparison
The Apple Watch Ultra boasts a significantly larger and brighter 49mm display with a flat sapphire crystal, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. The SE (2022) has a smaller 40mm or 44mm display with a rounded design and Ion-X glass, which is less durable and harder to see outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. This remains consistent across both models.
Performance
While both watches share the Apple S8 chip, the Ultra's larger size allows for better thermal management during intense workouts. Performance is generally smooth on both, but the Ultra's extra features might demand slightly more processing power in certain scenarios.
Battery Life
The Apple Watch Ultra offers significantly improved battery life, lasting up to 36 hours in normal use and up to 60 hours in Low Power Mode. The SE (2022) provides around 18 hours of battery life, requiring more frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple Watch SE (2022)? Casual users, first-time smartwatch buyers, those on a budget, and anyone primarily interested in fitness tracking and notifications. Who should buy the Apple Watch Ultra? Serious athletes, divers, hikers, climbers, and anyone needing a rugged, feature-rich smartwatch for extreme environments.