The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now available, but it honestly doesn’t give much more than the original Apple Watch Ultra. And if you buy the first-gen model you’ll save quite a bit of money, too. So really, is paying more for a newer model worth it?
Prime Day has just come to an end but deals are still buzzing, especially on Woot. Right now, Woot is offering a refurbished first gen Apple Watch Ultra for just $450. Although the model is refurbished, it is tested to be in full working condition. The batteries are tested to function at minimum 80% capacity. Just remember that Woot’s sales are often limited in quantity, which means you risk missing out if you delay that order too long.
This isn’t quite the lowest price that we’ve seen the Apple Watch Ultra hit — it fell to $629 at Best Buy in one style before selling out, and is still available with the green Alpine Loop for $800 at Target — but the Woot sale allows you to pick up up the Ocean Band-equipped Apple Watch Ultra, which is not currently discounted elsewhere, plus some other styles. Since Apple Watch Ultra bands cost the best part of $100 on their own, it’s cheaper to go the Woot route if it has the style you’re after. Apple has discontinued the original Ultra, so it’s unlikely that retailers will be able to get more units once they sell out, so you don’t have long to make the most of these deals.
And that’s a shame, because the Apple Watch Ultra is still a great watch. It comes with a large, 49mm case, a tough titanium construction, an Action button for quickly launching apps and workouts, and a dual-frequency GPS that offers improved tracking accuracy. Voice calls get a boost with this watch as well, as there are extra microphones included in the build. And unlike other models, this Apple Watch includes LTE connectivity by default.
As well as a bigger screen, the always-on OLED display is twice as bright as the one found in the Apple Watch Series 8. It also has an extra-long 36-hour battery life (or even longer in low power mode).
While this watch is designed with athletes in mind, coming with a ton of sensors and safety features, there are plenty of upgrades that make this watch a compelling choice for the average person, too.
If you’re looking for more discounted Apple products, check out our roundup on the best Prime Day Apple deals that are still going strong.
Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: A Rugged Watch Comparison
