At its September 2024 iPhone event, Apple did not announce a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra, as it has done in the past two years. Instead, it updated the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with new colors and bands, as well as a number of improvements via watchOS 11.
The Ultra 2 now comes in a satin black finish, which Apple claims is achieved through a “custom blasting process” and “diamond-like carbon physical vapor deposition,” giving the rugged smartwatch a refined and durable look. One notable addition is a new band – a titanium Milanese loop, inspired by the nets historically used by divers. The band is designed for both style and performance, with corrosion-resistant titanium making it suitable for scuba diving and other water activities. Apple also revealed that the Ultra 2 is made from 95% recycled grade 5 titanium as part of its efforts to be “carbon neutral.”
The Ultra 2 will also get new software enhancements via watchOS 11, which introduces several new features like sleep apnea notifications, an improved Vitals app, and the Tides app, which provides tidal forecasts and conditions for various water activities. Another practical upgrade is the ability to play audio directly through the watch’s built-in speakers, allowing users to listen to music, podcasts, and more without connecting to headphones or another device. (These features are also coming to the new Apple Watch Series 10, which was announced today alongside the iPhone 16 and AirPods 4.)
Pre-orders for the black titanium version, along with the new titanium Milanese Loop and other updated bands, are available now, with shipping starting September 20. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, though you can find the previous band and color combo for $110 off on Amazon right now.
Like its siblings, the S25 Ultra is powered by a customized version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which lets the trio of phones process many of their AI experiences on-device. Of course, that’s better for privacy.
While the tradition of including an S Pen in the phone continues (it’s now essentially the long-retired Galaxy Note), Air Commands — which bridged the gap between the two — has bitten the dust. Samsung told Engadget in a briefing that less than one percent of S Pen-toting customers used the feature. And those who did, mostly used it as a camera shutter, which can be easily replicated in other ways. Samsung says removing it reduced its weight some and increased the S Pen’s durability.
Engadget’s Sam Rutherford gained early experience with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and said it “feels like a good phone” and described Samsung’s AI suite as “much more consistent and easier to use”, but also felt the company “could have done more for its most expensive non-folding phone.”