The Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 are now on sale in more than 30 markets globally. The Ultra is the largest Apple Watch yet, while the new AirPods offer better sound and stronger noise cancellation than the originals.
Apple announced these products at its Far Out event on September 7, and started accepting preorders for the second-gen AirPods Pro immediately afterward. The Apple Watch Ultra went up for preorder alongside the new iPhones later that week. Now customers are receiving them, and the products are in stores.
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Apple Watch Ultra is for hardcore fitness lovers
The Apple Watch Ultra shares the same internals as the Apple Watch Series 8. So, you get an S8 SiP, but Apple cranked up every other aspect of the smartwatch to the extreme. The smartwatch has a chunky and rugged design with an aerospace gray titanium chassis, allowing it to survive rough terrains easily.
The watch has a big display with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits. It is protected by a sapphire crystal glass layer on top, which sits completely flat. An elevated lip runs around the display for added protection.
Photo: Apple
Apple also added a bright orange Action button on the Ultra watch. The customizable button allows you to trigger an action quickly. It can perform different functions in different apps. In the Workout app, you can use it to start workouts or mark segments. In the Compass app, you can mark waypoints.
Apple made good use of the additional space in the larger casing by outfitting Ultra with a bigger battery. The company says Apple Watch Ultra can last 36 hours in everyday use and up to 60 hours in low power mode.
At $799, the Apple Watch Ultra is an expensive offering. But for hardcore fitness lovers who are used to Garmin and Fitbits with multiday battery life, it is an ideal choice.
Early Apple Watch Ultra reviews praise its big display, excellent battery life, and the Action button. But some users may find it too big for their wrists.
AirPods Pro 2 is an ideal successor to the original model
Barring the design, the AirPods Pro 2 is improved over its predecessor in almost every way. The new wireless earbuds feature better sound quality, stronger ANC and longer battery life. The charging case is better than before as well. It gained native Find My integration, thanks to a built-in speaker and pinpoint location tracking.
Despite these improvements, AirPods Pro 2 cost the same as the original model: $249.
Die neuen #AirPodsPro 2. Gen wären dann schon mal da. Fehlt nur noch die #AppleWatchUltra https://t.co/4qU8160FNc pic.twitter.com/y9I1YyPQxk
— Manfred ☠️ (@breznsoiza) September 23, 2022
Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 preorders arrive today
If you managed to place your Apple Watch Ultra or AirPods Pro 2 preorder on a timely basis, you should get your hands on them today. Some lucky customers had their orders delivered to them a day early. This typically does not happen with Apple product launches.
You also can check your nearest Apple Store today to put your hands (or ears) on the new Apple Watch Ultra or AirPods Pro 2.
