Apple Watch Series 8 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 extended battery life. The Series 8 remains the ideal choice for everyday users prioritizing a sleek design, comprehensive health tracking, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, offering excellent value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Series 8 | 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 | 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 S8 | Apple S8 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB RAM | 32GB |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | 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, 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, temperature (body) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body), temperature (water) |
| Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) 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 308 mAh | Li-Ion 542 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Gold | Titanium |
| Models | A2773, A2775, A2772, A2774, A2857, A2858, watch6,16, watch6,17 | A2684, A2622, A2859, watch6,18 |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.31 W/kg (head) 0.55 W/kg (body) | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.60 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Series 8
- Sleek and refined design
- Excellent health tracking features
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- More affordable
- Shorter battery life compared to Ultra
- Less durable than Ultra
- Smaller display
Apple Watch Ultra
- Exceptional durability and ruggedness
- Extended battery life
- Larger, brighter display
- Action button for quick access
- Advanced dive computer features
- Higher price point
- Larger and bulkier design
- May be overkill for everyday use
Display Comparison
The Series 8 boasts a vibrant, always-on Retina display, perfect for everyday use. The Ultra features a larger, brighter, and more durable display with a flat sapphire crystal, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight and enhanced protection against impacts. The Ultra's Action button provides quick access to key features.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a camera. This remains a consistent design choice for Apple Watches.
Performance
Both watches share the Apple S8 chip, delivering snappy performance for apps and navigation. However, the Ultra's larger size allows for better heat dissipation during intense workouts, potentially maintaining peak performance for longer periods. Real-world usage feels virtually identical.
Battery Life
The Series 8 offers all-day battery life, typically lasting around 18 hours. The Ultra significantly improves upon this, providing up to 36 hours of battery life in normal mode and up to 60 hours in low-power mode, making it ideal for multi-day adventures.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Series 8 is perfect for everyday users, fitness enthusiasts tracking standard metrics, and those who appreciate a refined design. The Apple Watch Ultra is for serious outdoor adventurers, divers, and anyone needing a robust, long-lasting smartwatch capable of withstanding harsh conditions.