The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is on sale for $739 (save $70) at Greatest Purchase forward of Memorial Day, a $60 low cost.
The multitude of upgrades, from its powerful exterior to a big selection of options, enable the Apple Watch Extremely 2 to ship the definitive smartwatch expertise.
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Round this time final 12 months, it had simply been a day since I obtained my new Apple Watch Extremely, and it was already strapped onto my wrist, able to deal with a 15K Robust Mudder impediment course occasion. 12 months of dwelling with the Watch Extremely later, it has confirmed to be the most full smartwatch Apple has ever made, and the most effective smartwatches on the whole for me.
Over the previous week, I have been exercising, touring, and sleeping with the brand new Apple Watch Extremely 2 to search out out precisely the place the corporate has pushed the envelope this time round.
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I will minimize proper to the chase: For those who already personal an Apple Watch Extremely, there isn’t a compelling motive to improve to the Extremely 2. However in the event you’re one of many many who’re planning to purchase an Extremely wearable for the primary time, that is nearly as good because it will get. Here is why.
Given at this time’s financial surroundings with rising client costs, I’m a bit stunned that Apple was capable of maintain the value of the brand new Watch Extremely 2 on the similar degree as final 12 months. When you think about the titanium building, built-in LTE radio, and sapphire glass show, $799 could be very cheap for a high-performance sports activities watch. That is extra true whenever you evaluate the Apple Watch Extremely 2 to different flagship GPS sports activities watches.
So far as what’s new with the mannequin, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 incorporates a sooner S9 processor, a brighter show, twice the interior storage, and a collection of recycled supplies that one way or the other do not make the wearable really feel horrible.
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WatchOS 10 was launched when the Watch Extremely 2 was introduced, and it is made the Apple Watch expertise an absolute pleasure to make use of. It has new features for the facet button and digital crown (Sensible Stack), together with spacious and info-rich watch faces which can be optimized for the Watch Extremely fashions. Since then, WatchOS 11 has been launched with enhancements to train and health modes and modes.
Naturally, I positioned the Watch Extremely 2 subsequent to my first-gen Watch Extremely, they usually had been nearly indistinguishable from one another. After cranking up the brightness of each, I may barely inform the distinction in normal lighting circumstances because of Apple’s implementation of the identical ambient mild sensor. However within the outside, which is the place you may be leveraging the Watch Extremely’s applied sciences probably the most, it was obvious that the Extremely 2 was considerably brighter (3,000 nits in comparison with 2,000 nits).
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Previous to the Watch Extremely 2 launch, I listed three options that I needed to see with a view to warrant an improve, and whereas Apple didn’t present them, it did deal with one in every of my needs in a novel method. The LED flashlight on Garmin watches is a instrument that I exploit day by day. On the Watch Extremely 2, when you activate the flashlight, spinning the digital crown now ups the utmost brightness, making use of the additional nits.
It nonetheless would not beat out the Garmin LED, however it’s way more sensible than final 12 months’s for locating issues within the storage or underneath the mattress, illuminating rooms at evening, and discovering your manner at nighttime outdoors.
Mapping, sadly, continues to be restricted on the Apple Watch Extremely 2, with probably the most notable change being offline maps help, offered you will have an iPhone on iOS 17. Nonetheless, the Compass app has additionally obtained a delicate but vital improve because of watchOS 10. On the Watch Extremely 2, it now reveals a waypoint for the last-detected mobile and emergency SOS areas, so you already know precisely the place to return to if you end up in a lifeless zone. The Compass app additionally permits you to mark your tenting spot, parking spot, and different helpful waypoints.
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Alongside Watch Extremely 2, Apple launched new carbon-neutral watch bands, with three colours being provided throughout the Alpine Loop and Path Loop bands. I had an opportunity to check the grey/inexperienced Path Loop with the Watch Extremely 2, and all I can say is that it is extraordinarily snug. I purchased my Watch Extremely with an Ocean band final 12 months however will seemingly decide up the Path Loop this time round because of its straightforward Velcro safe help. For extra informal outings, it is the best watch band.
Lastly, as a lot as I benefit from the Apple Watch Extremely 2 for its lengthy battery life, brighter show, expanded connectivity, and new watch bands, I’ve additionally been having fun with the improved psychological well being performance by way of the Mindfulness app. It has now earned a outstanding spot in my app checklist, and I have been getting into my mind-set each day.
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I now ceaselessly use the Replicate and Breathe utilities, which have slowly however absolutely decreased my stress, proving to be a welcome addition to my Apple Watch use. (In fact, you solely want an Apple Watch operating on WatchOS 10 to make use of the Mindfulness app. I similar to utilizing it on the bigger show of the Extremely!)
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
With my main SIM now dwelling as an eSIM within the iPhone 16 Professional Max, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 might be staying on my wrist for an prolonged time period — seemingly till the subsequent Extremely model comes out. Apple’s enhancements this 12 months do not push the envelope in any explicit manner, however they’re well-rounded sufficient to make the Watch Extremely nonetheless the most effective flagship sports activities watch that lovers can buy.
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If you do not have an Apple Watch Extremely however are desirous about shopping for one, the Extremely 2 is the best choice. For those who can dwell with a dimmer show and technically slower efficiency, choosing up final 12 months’s Watch Extremely at a reduction just isn’t the worst thought both.
For me, the Enhance Flashlight is a welcome addition, in addition to the sooner processor supporting Siri on board. Apple’s transfer to carbon-free merchandise can be a pleasant transfer for the surroundings and is one thing we will all help.
This text was initially revealed on September 29, 2023, and up to date on Might 24, 2025.
