Apple Watch Ultra vs. Series 7: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Ultra is a beast for adventurers and athletes, boasting incredible durability and extended battery life. The Series 7 remains a fantastic all-around smartwatch with a beautiful display and faster charging. For most users, the Series 7 offers the best value, while the Ultra caters to a niche of serious outdoor enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple Watch Ultra | Apple Watch Series 7 |
| 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 |
| 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, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 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, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 07 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 23 | Available. Released 2021, October 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, titanium frame | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 49 x 44 x 14.4 mm (1.93 x 1.73 x 0.57 in) | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 61.3 g (2.15 oz) | 42.3 g (41mm), 51.5 g (45mm) (1.48 oz) |
| 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) | IP6X certified 50m water resistant ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 502 x 410 pixels (~338 ppi density) | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.92 inches | 1.9 inches |
| Type | Retina LTPO OLED, 2000 nits (peak) | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Apple S8 | Apple S7 |
| GPU | PowerVR | PowerVR |
| OS | watchOS 9.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 | watchOS 8.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 32GB | 32GB 1GB RAM |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers (86-decibel) | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, 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), temperature (water) | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max |
| Temperature sensing (0.01˚ accuracy) Depth gauge (±1m accuracy) Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wireless, 0-80% in 60 min | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 542 mAh | Li-Ion 309 mAh (1.19 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium | Graphite, Gold, Silver |
| Models | A2684, A2622, A2859, watch6,18 | A2475, A2476, A2477, A2478, watch6,8, watch6,9 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.10 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) 0.60 W/kg (body) | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | No | |
Apple Watch Ultra
- Exceptional durability (titanium case, sapphire crystal)
- Extended battery life
- Advanced GPS and navigation features
- Depth gauge and water resistance to 100m
- Larger, brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Higher price point
- Larger and heavier design
- Less refined overall design compared to Series 7
Apple Watch Series 7
- Beautiful, vibrant display
- Faster charging (0-80% in 45 min)
- Sleek and stylish design
- Excellent health and fitness tracking
- More affordable
- Shorter battery life
- Less durable than Ultra
- Limited outdoor features
Display Comparison
The Series 7 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with thinner bezels, making it easier to read notifications and view content. The Ultra's display is still excellent, but prioritizes readability in bright sunlight over overall visual appeal. The Ultra's flat display is more durable.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch has a dedicated camera. Both rely on the iPhone for photography.
Performance
Both watches are powered by dual-core processors, but the S8 in the Ultra offers marginal improvements in efficiency and responsiveness. Day-to-day performance is snappy on both devices. The Ultra's larger size allows for better heat dissipation during intense workouts.
Battery Life
This is where the Ultra truly shines. It offers significantly longer battery life – up to 36 hours with normal use and up to 60 hours in Low Power Mode – compared to the Series 7's 18 hours. The Ultra also charges slightly slower, but the extended battery life more than compensates.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch Ultra is ideal for hikers, divers, runners, and anyone who needs a rugged, long-lasting smartwatch. If you're looking for a stylish, everyday smartwatch with a vibrant display and excellent health tracking, the Series 7 is the better choice. Consider your lifestyle and budget carefully.