Best Smartwatch of 2025? Ultra 2 Full Review

I’ve been using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for some time now. This is Apple’s toughest and most feature-packed watch. It’s large, built for outdoor use, and has both GPS and Cellular. This review will cover how it feels to use daily, how it performs in workouts, battery life, display, features, and some things I didn’t like. I’ll try to explain everything clearly, without using technical or fancy words.

First Impressions

When I opened the box, the watch looked big. The 49mm size is larger than most watches. It feels solid and heavy, but not too heavy. The band felt strong. The buttons were easy to press. It gave the impression of being built for rough use, like hiking or running in the mountains.

Setting it up was simple. It connected to my iPhone in a few minutes. The screen was bright even inside the house. The first thing I noticed was how smooth it felt to swipe and tap through menus. It felt like using a tiny version of an iPhone.

Build Quality and Design

The watch is made of titanium. It’s light for its size but still tough. The screen is flat and protected by a raised edge around it. That helps prevent scratches when bumping into things. I’ve worn it while working in the garden and while carrying boxes — no damage so far.

On one side, it has the usual crown (the round button), which now has more grip. It’s easier to use with gloves. Below the crown is the side button. On the other side is the new “Action Button.” You can set it to start a workout, turn on a flashlight, start a stopwatch, or other things.

It’s water-resistant up to 100 meters. I didn’t go diving with it, but I used it while swimming and in the shower — no problems.

Display

The display is bright — very bright. It’s easy to read outside in sunlight. Indoors, it dims nicely. The always-on display means you don’t need to raise your wrist to see the time or your stats.

Text is sharp. Colors are rich but not too flashy. The screen also adjusts brightness automatically. That helps save battery and makes it more comfortable on the eyes.

The new Modular Ultra face shows a lot of info: time, altitude, battery, weather, and more. You can customize it with different widgets. I like having my heart rate and compass visible at all times.

Performance

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is fast. Opening apps is quick. Switching between screens is smooth. Notifications come in right away.

It runs watchOS 10. The new software makes better use of the big screen. Apps like weather, workout, and compass show more data at once. There are new widgets too — you scroll through them using the crown. It feels more organized than older versions.

Using Siri also feels faster now. It processes your voice directly on the watch, so it doesn’t always need to talk to your iPhone. Asking simple questions like “What’s the weather?” or “Start a timer” works even without a good signal.

Battery Life

Apple says it lasts 36 hours with normal use. In my experience, that’s mostly true. I usually charge it every other night. On busy days with workouts and navigation, I still end the day with around 40% left.

There’s also a low power mode. That helps it last longer by turning off features like the always-on display and background sensors. I once got about 60 hours using that mode during a weekend hike.

Charging is fast. It takes a little over an hour to fully charge from 0%.

Fitness and Workouts

This is where the Ultra 2 really stands out. It tracks all the usual things — running, walking, cycling, swimming, strength training. But it also adds special features for hiking, diving, and endurance sports.

Running

I used it for daily runs. The GPS is accurate. It locks on fast, even in wooded areas. It shows pace, distance, elevation, and heart rate clearly. You can set goals or use custom workouts.

There’s also a feature that shows your running form — like stride length and vertical bounce. I didn’t always understand the numbers, but it was fun to see.

Hiking

The compass app is very detailed. It shows waypoints (places you marked), elevation, and even a 3D view of your path. It works offline, which is great if there’s no signal.

There’s also a “Backtrack” feature. It retraces your path in case you get lost. I tested it in a forest trail — it worked well and gave peace of mind.

Cycling

The watch connects to Bluetooth bike sensors. You can see cadence, speed, and power. When paired with an iPhone, the cycling workout shows live data on the phone screen. This helped when I mounted the phone on my handlebars.

Swimming

The watch is water-resistant and has a depth sensor. It can track pool or open water swims. I tested it in a lake — it recorded distance and strokes without issue. It even shows water temperature.

Health Tracking

It has many health sensors. It tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, and more. You can also take an ECG. These features are useful if you care about long-term health trends.

Sleep

Sleep tracking shows how long you slept and how much was deep, REM, or light sleep. It feels accurate, though sometimes it misses naps.

Heart Health

It alerts you if your heart rate is too high or low when you’re not active. That could be helpful for people with heart conditions. It also checks for irregular rhythm (AFib).

Stress and Mindfulness

There’s a mindfulness app, but I didn’t use it much. It guides you through breathing exercises. It also records “Time in Daylight” using the light sensor — to help you get enough sun.

Navigation and Maps

This watch is built for people who hike, climb, or explore. The dual-frequency GPS means it works better in tricky places — like cities with tall buildings or narrow canyons.

The compass app lets you add waypoints with color and names. It shows direction, bearing, elevation, and even the slope of a hill.

In the maps app, you can zoom and scroll more easily thanks to the large screen. It’s handy for walking directions in cities. For trails, you’ll need third-party apps like Komoot or Gaia, which also work on the watch.

Cellular and Phone Features

This version has cellular built-in. That means you can make calls, send texts, and use apps without your iPhone nearby — if you have a plan set up with your carrier.

I used it to take a call during a run. The speaker was loud enough. People said my voice sounded clear. I also tried sending messages using voice dictation — it worked well, even with wind noise.

Music streaming works too. You can listen to Apple Music or Spotify with Bluetooth headphones. You can also store songs offline.

Safety Features

There are several safety tools built in:

• Fall Detection: If you fall and stay still, it can call emergency services.
• Crash Detection: It can detect car crashes and call for help.
• Siren: The Action Button can activate a loud siren (86dB). It’s useful if you’re lost or in danger outdoors.
• Emergency SOS: You can quickly call emergency services by holding a button.

These features gave me more confidence when hiking alone.

Apps and Customization

The App Store on the watch has many options. I installed apps for weather, maps, notes, and workouts. Most work fine. Some still feel slow or limited, but that’s common for smartwatches.

You can also change watch faces and add “complications” — little info panels like battery level, sunrise time, or timers.

The watch lets you switch between Focus modes like “Work” or “Sleep” — matching your iPhone. It’s helpful if you want fewer distractions during certain times.

What I Liked

• Long battery life compared to regular Apple Watches
• Big, bright screen that’s easy to read
• Very strong and well-built
• Accurate GPS and fitness tracking
• Customizable Action Button
• Works well without an iPhone nearby
• Helpful safety features
• Smooth and fast performance

What I Didn’t Like

• It’s big and may not fit smaller wrists well
• Price is high — not for casual users
• Many features feel useful only for outdoor or extreme activities
• Watch bands made for this size can be expensive
• Sleep tracking could be more detailed
• Some apps still feel basic

Who It’s For

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is not for everyone. It’s best for people who:

• Spend time hiking, cycling, running, or exploring
• Want a tough watch that can take some damage
• Care about fitness and health tracking
• Need long battery life
• Don’t want to carry their phone all the time

If you just want a simple watch for notifications and casual fitness, the regular Apple Watch SE or Series 9 might be enough.

Final Thoughts

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a strong, reliable, and powerful smartwatch. It works well in everyday use but shines during outdoor activities. It’s fast, has good battery life, and gives peace of mind with safety tools. But it’s large and costly. It’s not for people who only want basic features.

I enjoyed using it, especially for hiking and workouts. I didn’t expect to use the compass or GPS features as much, but I ended up relying on them often. Still, I don’t think I’d recommend it to everyone. For most people, it may feel like too much watch.

If you need the features it offers, and if you’re okay with the size and price, then it does the job well. Otherwise, there are simpler and cheaper options that may suit you better.