The Verdict

The premium Apple Watch for serious athletes and adventurers. If you need extreme durability, extended battery, and are deep in the Apple ecosystem, it's the best Apple has. For HRV-only use, regular Apple Watch is better value.

Pros

Exceptional build quality and durability
Extended battery life vs standard Apple Watch
Advanced sensors with temperature tracking
Huge app ecosystem

Cons

Very expensive
iPhone required
HRV only during sleep or manual readings
Overkill for non-adventurers

HRV Capabilities

The Ultra 2 measures HRV during sleep using Apple's HealthKit integration. Overnight readings are calculated from continuous heart rate monitoring. Third-party apps like Athlytic can provide morning readiness scores based on this data.

Built for Extremes

With a titanium case, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance, the Ultra 2 handles extreme sports, diving, and harsh conditions that would damage other smartwatches. The action button provides quick access to workouts and custom actions.

Battery Life Advantage

At 36 hours normal use (72 in low power mode), you can track multiple nights of sleep without charging—a significant advantage for HRV tracking compared to the daily-charge standard Apple Watch.