Nearly two years old, and my Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still going strong. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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I've worn my Ultra 2 almost continuously for two years.
It's been banged, smashed, soaked, baked, and frozen.
Apart from a few small superficial scratches, it's still going strong.
Today, my Apple Watch Ultra 2 is 702 days old. I've worn it nearly 24/7 since October 2023.
It only comes off my wrist to charge, and then it's back in the saddle.
A constant companion
It's been everywhere I've been. It's been on my wrist during adventures to a handful of countries in blazing heat and freezing cold; it's been submerged in fresh water, salt water, a few bogs, saunas, and hot tubs; it's been banged about on rocks, in engine bays, and by kettlebells.
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I've used it to log many hundreds of miles of walks, hikes, and bike rides (last year alone, I logged well over a thousand miles), and it's quietly kept an eye on my vitals throughout every day and night. And there was that one time when it turned out to be my only source of light when I was hammock camping in a deep, dark woodland after my headlamp died.
Over the close to two years, it's become a constant companion. I use it countless times a day to check the weather, set alarms and timers, pay for things, store my plane and train tickets, keep an eye on the tides, and illuminate dark spaces.
It's also made cameo appearances in countless photos here on ZDNET. And yes, I do wear it in the orientation upside down compared with how most people wear it. I find this suits me better and prevents me from accidentally summoning the emergency services (as has happened a couple of times).
Physically, it's holding up well
The titanium is a little scratched around the display, but other than these superficial scratches, it's as close to perfect as it could be. The display is totally scratch-free, and all the buttons and the crown work like new.
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All that's to show for a lot of abuse are some superficial scratches. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Well, the strap did break when the stitching came apart, and I replaced it with a super-light, super-tough titanium Milanese loop band that has worked out really well and has been a lot more comfortable than I expected.
The band that shipped with my Ultra 2 disintegrated after a little more than 18 months. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Internally, it's good too
Everything works great. Battery life has been great; despite currently sitting at 91%, I don't notice any real degradation.
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It's been one of my hardest-working, least problematic Apple products ever. It just works.
The Ultra 2 has become a vital part of my EDC. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
My Ultra 2 has become an invaluable part of my everyday carry. It helps me stay on track with my health and fitness goals; it is a source of a lot of information at a glance, from notifications to weather, tides, and astronomical data; and it is a handy insurance policy in case I fall or get involved in a car accident.
One thing that I've not used much is the cellular feature. I suppose I always have my iPhone close to hand. I'm still paying for the service because it's only a few bucks per month extra on top of my already expensive all-you-can-eat plan that works pretty much worldwide.
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And yes, it's a lot of money to spend on a watch with a finite lifespan, but then show me a Rolex, Omega, Breitling, or even a Casio or Seiko that'll do as much as the Ultra 2, and I might consider switching.
How long my Ultra might last
A question I've often been asked is how long I think an Ultra might last. I'm heading toward the two-year mark, and I think this device has at least another year in it, if not two, before the battery starts to become problematic. Also, the Ultra 2 is still being sold and will be supported for years to come -- the upcoming WatchOS 26 supports everything back to the Apple Watch Series 6, a device that was released in September 2020.
That's a pretty good run for a bit of tech.
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Sure, it's a lot of money, and a standard Series Apple Watch does most of what the Ultra does, but the extra screen real estate and overall tough construction make this a must-have wearable for me.
Do I plan to upgrade soon?
So, am I planning to upgrade this cycle, given that I think my Ultra 2 has plenty of life left in it?
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I probably will, but not because there's anything wrong with my Ultra 2. This upgrade will be purely because I'm curious to see what two years of innovation will bring to the platform. I upgraded from the Ultra to the Ultra 2, and that was a decent jump in terms of performance and features, so I'm hoping the new version will bring some new features to play with.