Apple Watch Series 7 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Ultra is built for extreme adventurers and those needing rugged durability and advanced features like depth tracking. The Series 7 remains a fantastic choice for everyday users prioritizing a sleek design and familiar Apple Watch experience, offering excellent value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Series 7 | 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 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International, China, HK |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | 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, 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 | 2021, September 14 | 2022, September 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 15 | Available. Released 2022, September 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, titanium frame |
| Dimensions | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 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 | 42.3 g (41mm), 51.5 g (45mm) (1.48 oz) | 61.3 g (2.15 oz) |
| IP6X certified 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | 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 | Sapphire crystal glass | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 502 x 410 pixels (~338 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.9 inches | 1.92 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S7 | Apple S8 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 8.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 | 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 | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers (86-decibel) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body), temperature (water) |
| Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) Depth gauge (±1m accuracy) Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min | Wireless, 0-80% in 60 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 309 mAh (1.19 Wh) | Li-Ion 542 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Graphite, Gold, Silver | Titanium |
| Models | A2475, A2476, A2477, A2478, watch6,8, watch6,9 | A2684, A2622, A2859, watch6,18 |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 1.10 W/kg (head) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.60 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Series 7
- Sleek and stylish design
- Larger, brighter display
- Faster charging
- More affordable
- Shorter battery life
- Less durable than Ultra
- Lacks specialized adventure features
Apple Watch Ultra
- Extremely durable design (titanium case, sapphire crystal)
- Significantly longer battery life
- Advanced features for divers and adventurers (depth gauge, compass waypoint marking)
- Larger, brighter always-on display
- Higher price
- Bulkier design
- Slightly slower charging
Display Comparison
The Series 7 boasts a larger, brighter, and more vibrant display with smaller bezels, making it easier to read notifications and interact with apps. The Ultra features a significantly larger, always-on display with a flat sapphire crystal, offering superior scratch resistance and readability in bright sunlight. The Ultra's display is designed for outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a camera. This remains a consistent feature across the Apple Watch line.
Performance
Both watches are snappy and responsive thanks to Apple's silicon. The Ultra's S8 chip offers incremental performance improvements over the S7, but the difference is minimal in everyday use. Both handle apps and workouts seamlessly.
Battery Life
The Ultra significantly outpaces the Series 7 in battery life. While the Series 7 typically lasts around 18 hours, the Ultra can achieve up to 36 hours with regular use and up to 60 hours in Low Power Mode. The Ultra's charging time is slightly slower (60 min 0-80%) compared to the Series 7 (45 min 0-80%).
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Series 7 is ideal for everyday users, fitness enthusiasts who don't require extreme durability, and those seeking a stylish and feature-rich smartwatch at a more accessible price point. The Apple Watch Ultra is perfect for divers, hikers, climbers, and anyone needing a robust, adventure-ready smartwatch with extended battery life and specialized sensors.