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Ultra 2 now?

Wando64

Wando64

macrumors 68030
Original poster
The Ultra 2 is going quite cheaply on Costco UK at the moment (£450).
I am very tempted, but does it still make sense to buy what is in effect quite an old model?
 
While it’s an almost 3 year old model, the processor I believe is pretty much the same SOC as the Ultra 3 and Series 11, so should perform at the same level with new WatchOS releases (and probably get the same level of support).
 
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Wando64 said:
The Ultra 2 is going quite cheaply on Costco UK at the moment (£450).
I am very tempted, but does it still make sense to buy what is in effect quite an old model?
Click to expand...
i haven’t seen any rumors of significant changes in the Watch line in a while.
 
Very subtle changes. There's second minute refresh on the 3 vs none on the two. External speaker for music and podcast on the 3 and not on the 2 (its not loud though). And satellite SOS on the 3.

How do I know? because I returned a 3 and kept my ultra one, not enough changes to justify the upgrade (when am I going to go hiking w/o my phone-never). I guess if I get tackled by a mountain lion and fall down a cliff and my phone get knocked out of my pocket and I can use my ultra 3 to make an SOS call.
 
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I just bought a refurbished AWU2 from Bestbuy yesterday. Got it for half the price of a new AWU3, and the battery health is 100% and the device looks brand new. I could just not justify paying event $699 for the AWU3 even on sale. No regrets at all.
 
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Wando64 said:
The Ultra 2 is going quite cheaply on Costco UK at the moment (£450).
I am very tempted, but does it still make sense to buy what is in effect quite an old model?
Click to expand...
I don't know what the regular price is for an Ultra 3 in the UK, but to me it feels like 450 is not the best deal, given that the U2 was released in 2023 ... me personally, I'd pass
 
jz0309 said:
I don't know what the regular price is for an Ultra 3 in the UK, but to me it feels like 450 is not the best deal, given that the U2 was released in 2023 ... me personally, I'd pass
Click to expand...

For context, an Apple official refurbished Ultra 2 is sold for £550 in the UK on the Apple Refurb store, therefore a brand new unit for £450 is definitely a great price.
The Ultra 3 is sold for £750, so considerably more expensive.
 
Wando64 said:
For context, an Apple official refurbished Ultra 2 is sold for £550 in the UK on the Apple Refurb store, therefore a brand new unit for £450 is definitely a great price.
The Ultra 3 is sold for £750, so considerably more expensive.
Click to expand...
ok, thanks for the pricing, and I do know that here in the US I could get a new U3 for $100 off at amazon a lot of times but I also understand from those threads that these kind of deals are not available in other countries.
There's nothing wrong with a U2, I got mine when it launched in 23 and got it replaced with a refurb under AC+ last November, just the "geek" part of me wouldn't spend that much on almost 3 year old tech.
Would this be replacing another AW and if so, which model? Unless I needed to get a new one now (eg watch breaks, need replacement, battery dying and such) I'd wait til September and see what Apple has to offer then.
Again, that's just me
 
I’m still using an Ultra 2 and I barely notice the difference between it and the Ultra 3, judging by eBay prices that’s not a bad deal price wise at all.
 
jz0309 said:
ok, thanks for the pricing, and I do know that here in the US I could get a new U3 for $100 off at amazon a lot of times but I also understand from those threads that these kind of deals are not available in other countries.
There's nothing wrong with a U2, I got mine when it launched in 23 and got it replaced with a refurb under AC+ last November, just the "geek" part of me wouldn't spend that much on almost 3 year old tech.
Would this be replacing another AW and if so, which model? Unless I needed to get a new one now (eg watch breaks, need replacement, battery dying and such) I'd wait til September and see what Apple has to offer then.
Again, that's just me
Click to expand...
It would be replacing a S8. I am after better battery and extra ruggedness.
 
Wando64 said:
The Ultra 2 is going quite cheaply on Costco UK at the moment (£450).
I am very tempted, but does it still make sense to buy what is in effect quite an old model?
Click to expand...
Go for it. The Ultra 2 will be a great watch for a while yet.
 
Honestly not much difference between the 2/3 or the 1 for that matter. I still have a ultra 1 from the original launch timeframe and haven't found a reason to upgrade it. The ultra 4 might get me if only to get back to multiple day battery life as the one thing that I've started noticing is the degradation of the battery has brought me closer to 24 hours of charge vs 36+ when it was new.
 
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Phogro said:
Honestly not much difference between the 2/3 or the 1 for that matter. I still have a ultra 1 from the original launch timeframe and haven't found a reason to upgrade it. The ultra 4 might get me if only to get back to multiple day battery life as the one thing that I've started noticing is the degradation of the battery has brought me closer to 24 hours of charge vs 36+ when it was new.
Click to expand...
I notice that as well. My ultra one battery after 4 years is not great. Maybe I'll get another battery swap since it fits my needs but a sleep tracking, plus gym, plus 2hr hike and a battery charge is necessary and can't last 24 hrs. It actually died a week ago on a hike and that's the first time I have experienced that. My battery health is 82%.
 
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gusping said:
Did you go for it, OP? The deals are still live and I am rather tempted to upgrade from my S8.
Click to expand...

I haven’t… yet.
I am planning to pop into an Apple Store during the weekend to try one on first.
Basically I am now wondering whether it is too bulky.
 
Best feature of Ultra 2 is possibility to run watchOS 11 - 3+ days of battery life of normal use which is night and day compared to 1,5 at max on my previous S8 45mm.

Disabled: AOD, Hand Washing, some background updates.
 
addamas said:
Best feature of Ultra 2 is possibility to run watchOS 11 - 3+ days of battery life of normal use which is night and day compared to 1,5 at max on my previous S8 45mm.

Disabled: AOD, Hand Washing, some background updates.
Click to expand...
If I buy a new Ultra 2 today, is it possible to downgrade to watchOS 11? I assume all new watches now come with OS 26.
 
gusping said:
If I buy a new Ultra 2 today, is it possible to downgrade to watchOS 11? I assume all new watches now come with OS 26.
Click to expand...
Sadly I have no clue if they updated wirelessly. Sadly you might need to “bet” and return if that’s not this OS.

About downgrade - no one can do that so nobody with sanity uses betas on Apple Watches as when bricked only Apple can save them.
 
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gusping said:
Did you go for it, OP? The deals are still live and I am rather tempted to upgrade from my S8.
Click to expand...

Finally I made my mind up to get one.
I was planing to get it in black, but then found out that they had run out, so I settled for a natural titanium.
I tried them both at the store and I thought they were equally nice, but in the end Costco made up my mind for me.
I suspect they are running out of stock.
 
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Wando64 said:
Finally I made my mind up to get one.
I was planing to get it in black, but then found out that they had run out, so I settled for a natural titanium.
I tried them both at the store and I thought they were equally nice, but in the end Costco made up my mind for me.
I suspect they are running out of stock.
Click to expand...
Enjoy! I've gone the opposite route and am holding off for now. My series 8 is fine for my needs.
 
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I got my AWU3 from CEX. (UK buy/sell/exchange store not entirely unlike GameStop in the US). It was A grade so absolutely mint.

Traded my series 7 and added cash from the sale on eBay of 64GB DDR5 that I wasn't using.
 
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