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Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) ($102) vs Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) ($209) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right smartwatch.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) | Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $102 | $209 |
| Weight | 38.8g | 61.3g |
| Chip | S8 SiP | — |
| Case | 45mm aluminium, GPS | 49mm Titanium |
| Display | 1000 nit always-on Retina | 2000-nit, brightest Apple Watch at launch |
| Water | 50m, WR50 | 100m WR, EN13319 dive rated |
| Sensors | Temperature, ECG, blood oxygen | — |
| Weight | 38.8g (Apple published) | 61.3g (Apple published) |
| GPS | — | Dual-frequency L1/L5 |
| Battery | — | Up to 36h normal use |
Pros & Cons
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm)
- Full sensor suite including ECG and temperature
- Crash Detection
- Cheap for a watch with this much hardware
- 1000 nits looks dim next to a Series 9
- Same 18 hour battery
- Design is three generations old
Apple Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation)
- Titanium case and sapphire crystal, the most durable Apple Watch build
- Dual-frequency GPS for genuinely more accurate outdoor tracking
- 100m water resistance with an official dive rating
- Brightest display of any Watch at the time, still class-competitive
- 61.3g is heavy on the wrist next to any Series or SE model here
- Orange Action Button placement takes adjustment
- Battery life trails Ultra 2's efficiency gains
- Case size doesn't suit smaller wrists
Apple Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) is the better value at $102. Both are part of our curated smartwatch index — tap through to check current pricing.
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