Sometimes the most expensive option is not the best, and smartwatches are no exception. In the last two weeks I have replaced my typical Apple Watch SE for Apple Watch Ultra 2and I mostly prefer the $249 pick to the $799 one.

From the always-on display to the action buttons, there’s a lot to love about the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But it’s a highly specialized device with a lot of included features that most people won’t need. Even if price wasn’t a factor, I bet a good portion of people would still prefer either the Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 9.

Let’s break down the pros and cons of the most expensive and cheapest Apple watches to help you find the right one for you.

Why get a smart watch?

I only started wearing a smart watch right after the pandemic, when I started traveling to work more often. I’m not much of an athlete and I thought the whole thing was kind of silly, like wearing a “please turn me” sign. I guess people used to say the same thing about flip phones.

The Apple Watch SE is for someone like me. It’s small, light and does enough to win me over. I like to think of it as an updated iPod Nano. It’s a tiny box that I can use to control my media, use touch payments, and occasionally track my walking. It’s all I need, but it was convenient enough that I loved the thing and how it allows me to keep my phone in my bag while on the train.

Others, however, bought smartwatches right from the start. They love the detailed sensors that top-of-the-line models come with, the luxurious look available with an upgrade, and the feel of their hefty cases on their wrists. For those people, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a great choice.

What comes with each Apple Watch model?

Apple currently sells three Apple Watch models, and I’ve tested two. Neither is a bad choice, but each serves a different audience, so there’s a lot to consider even if money isn’t an issue.

The cheapest Apple Watch is the Apple Watch SE, which comes with the smallest size option and minimal specifications. For $249, its aluminum case has a 1,000-nit display, a battery that’s advertised as lasting up to 18 hours on a charge, an S8 chip (it powers features like Siri and Find my iPhone), and an optical heart-rate monitor. You’ll get water resistance up to 164 feet, and for an additional $50 you can add the ability to connect a cellular plan.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is one step up and starts at $399 (cellular adds $100 to the price, and you can pay more for a stainless steel case). For that extra cash, you’ll get a 2,000-nit always-on display, an S9 chip (unlocking the double-tap feature and upgrading Siri, as well as Find my iPhone), a new EKG, temperature sensor, fast charging, and a low power mode for your battery that supposedly lasts up to 36 hours.

After all, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799 and comes in just one model, with additional prices reserved for accessories. All Ultra 2 models feature a titanium body, 3,000-nit always-on display, S9 chip, 328-foot water resistance, upgraded GPS, mobile compatibility, and a claimed battery life of up to 36 hours in normal use and 72 hours in low-power mode. There’s also an orange action button on the side and additional sensors including a gyroscope and a depth gauge.

All Apple Watch models come with OLED screens, a digital crown, speakers (though they’re upgraded on the Ultra) and a menu button, but if we were to discuss everything that’s different about them, we’d be here all day. For more details, check out Apple’s sitebut even with all that I have already set forth, I have yet to touch upon the most important difference.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is too big and heavy for my wrist

Remember how I called the Apple Watch SE an updated iPod Nano? That wouldn’t work with the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The SE comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes (I have a 40), and weighs a maximum of 33g even on the larger model with cellular enabled. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 only comes in 49mm and weighs 61.4g.

This thing is clunky, especially on a smaller wrist like mine, and it’s less like carrying a control center for your iPhone—or maybe a separate iPhone entirely. It’s great for showing off, but less so for the kind of everyday use that sold me on smartwatches.

Outside of special use cases, the always-on display is the only upgrade I’ve actually enjoyed most of the time I’ve been using it. Everything else was just a burden.

If you’re like me, the Ultra 2 is just a bad choice, even if you can afford it and usually opt for high-end options like M3 Max MacBook Pro. You’ll end up with a lot of stuff you don’t use and a worse experience with what you do, so do yourself a favor and go cheap.

When does the Apple Watch Ultra 2 pay for itself?

But that doesn’t mean the Ultra 2’s extras are just ready-made selling points that Apple uses to raise the price. They are truly useful for people who need it, i.e. people who stay outdoors.

The only reason I started this comparison was to test the updated version Golfshot app, the golf course assistant for Android, iOS and Apple Watch. Earlier this month, he got update for Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 it was a real game changer and I could totally pay for the upgrade if I was a big golfer.

On top of adding driving ranges to the app’s track offerings, the update uses additional sensors from the Apple Watch Ultra line to track your swing in detail every time. SwingID allows the app to track factors like pace, cadence, backswing and the like, and while it’s available on the Apple Watch Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra can track your swing at 800Hz, allowing it to accurately detect when you hit the ball.

In just a few short hours of play, I was able to use this data to see what was causing my shots to veer to the right so often and ended the session correcting them.

In cases like these, the Apple Watch shines. For example, additional waterproofing and The depth of the app makes it a diving companion while being detailed watch face optionsextra large battery, loud speakers and mobile connectivity make it useful for information and safety of mountaineers.

I probably won’t be using these features any time soon, but given that competitive activity is seen as Garmin’s Mk3 dive computer can reach thousands of dollars, the Apple Watch Ultra could be a fair replacement for more specialized equipment.

The large size also puts the Apple Watch Ultra in more competition with luxury watches. I don’t choose my outfit for bragging rights, but there’s no doubt that the Ultra doesn’t look polished, especially if you add one of the Apple’s official Hermès bands.

Do I need an Apple Watch Ultra if I’m just going to the gym?

I like to see the Apple Watch Ultra mostly as a companion for specialized activities, and while I tried wearing it to the gym, I didn’t get much out of it. My typical day at the gym involves about half an hour on the elliptical and ten minutes of lifting weights, and for that the Ultra really only gave me one advantage: the Action button.

On the side of both Apple Watch Ultras is an orange action button that can be set to activate anything from a stopwatch to a flashlight (which turns the watch’s screen white and sets it to maximum brightness). Most of the available action button functions are also available as a feature on the Apple Watch SE and Series 9, but they require digging through menus, so being able to turn them on with the press of a button is handy. It’s a similar experience to the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

I set up an action button to start the workout and I could press it again to pause the workouts. I didn’t notice too much variation in the recorded data on either watch, but since I usually just wait for my SE to detect when I’m exercising before I start tracking, I was able to time my exercise tracking more accurately on the Ultra 2. The SE, for all its lightweight convenience, can be a little slow to notice when I’m at the gym.

If you’re exercising outside, there’s also a larger battery to consider. I usually have to charge my SE every night, but I managed to get away with charging every other night on the Ultra 2. And either way, you’ll be good for hours, but you’re less likely to accidentally wear a dead watch with a more expensive model.

In addition to exercise tracking, there’s something to be said for ECG and cycle tracking apps. While these are also available on the more modestly priced 9 Series, the closest thing the SE offers is the ability to record cycles manually.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Which Apple Watch should I get?

The best Apple Watch for you may not be the one with the most bells and whistles. I prefer a small, lightweight device with a minimal interface that I can mostly use as a companion while commuting, so for me the SE isn’t just a budget compromise: it’s my preferred option.

Meanwhile, the Ultra 2 is great for people who regularly scuba dive, play golf, hike, or engage in some other more intense outdoor hobby. Its additional sensors and more robust design allow it to keep up with more expensive specialty equipment, and despite its bulk, it’s still capable of everyday uses like touch payments.

Series 9 is an excellent compromise. Its smallest option is only a tad larger than the SE, comes in more colors and has a few extra sensors, but doesn’t get as big as the Ultra 2. It’s a good splurge, but be sure to look into whether you’ll actually be using its extra sensors by paying for that’s an additional $150.