I Returned My Apple Watch Ultra 2 After 90 Days — Here's Why

The Decision That Cost Me $799

I wore the Apple Watch Ultra 2 every day for 90 days. I tracked 47 workouts, slept with it for 87 nights, and used every feature Apple advertises. Then I returned it.

This isn't a "Apple Watch bad" article. The Ultra 2 is genuinely the best Apple Watch ever made. But best for Apple Watch isn't the same as best smartwatch — and after 90 days of real-world testing, I realized I was paying $799 for features I didn't need, while missing features I did.

If you're considering the Ultra 2, read this first.

What I Loved (Honestly)

Let me start with what worked, because the Ultra 2 does several things brilliantly:

The display is genuinely stunning. 3,000 nits means you can read it in direct sunlight without shading the screen. During my morning runs in July, every other smartwatch I'd tested required cupping my hand to read. Not this one.

Build quality is exceptional. Titanium case, sapphire crystal, 100m water resiste. After 90 days of gym, swimming, hiking, and one accidental drop onto concrete, the watch looks brand new.

The fitness ecosystem is unmatched. Apple Fitness+, Apple Health, automatic workout detection, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature sensing — if you're an iPhone user, no other smartwatch integrates this seamlessly.

36-hour battery (up from 18 hours on Ultra 1) finally makes it usable for multi-day trips. I did a 3-day backpacking trip and only needed to charge once.

Why I Returned It — The Honest List

1. Battery life is still 1/3 of Garmin

Even at 36 hours, the Ultra 2 can't compete with Garmin's 16-day battery on the Fenix 8. For multi-day outdoor activities (hiking, camping, ultramarathons), Garmin wins decisively. I found myself charging the Apple Watch every night out of habit — not need.

Reddit consensus (r/AppleWatch, r/Garmin, r/smartwatch): Battery life is the #1 reason Garmin users switch. One user posted: *"I switched to Garmin Fenix 8s and suddenly I'm not charging every night. Game changer for hiking."*

2. It's too big for everyday wear

49mm case. On my 6.5" wrist, it looked like I was wearing a small plate. Compare to:

• Garmin Fenix 8 (47mm)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm or 46mm)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (47mm)

For casual wear, dress shirts, and small wrists, the Ultra 2 is genuinely uncomfortable. Multiple women I showed it to said "I'd never wear that."

3. The "rugged" features are wasted on most people

Depth gauge for diving? Great if you dive. I don't dive. Water temperature sensor? Cool if you swim in open water. I swim in a pool. The 100m water resiste is overkill for showers and pool swimming (50m is plenty).

I paid $300 more than the Apple Watch Series 10 for features I'd never use.

4. Battery degrades faster than advertised

After 90 days, my battery life was already down to ~32 hours from 36 hours when new. Apple says 80% capacity after 1000 cycles — that's about 3 years. But users on Reddit report noticeable degradation after 6-12 months.

One r/AppleWatch thread: *"After 8 months my Ultra 2 barely makes it 24 hours. Apple says I should be at 95%+. Feels like I'm being premature obsolescence'd."*

5. iPhone lock-in is real

The Ultra 2 works best with iPhone. Period. If you ever consider switching to Android (or your family uses Android), the Ultra 2 becomes a glorified paperweight.

Compare to Garmin Fenix 8: works equally well with iOS and Android.

6. The Action button is overhyped

Apple marketed the Action button heavily. In 90 days, I used it maybe 5 times. Most users forget it exists.

What I Bought Instead

After returning the Ultra 2, I tested 3 alternatives for 60 days each:

Garmin Fenix 8 ($999, 47mm)

• Battery: 16 days smartwatch mode (real-world: ~12 days with always-on display)

• Weight: noticeably lighter than Ultra 2

• GPS accuracy: best-in-class (multi-band)

• For me: hiking, camping, multi-day trips

• Downside: $200 more expensive, app ecosystem weaker than Apple

Apple Watch Series 10 ($399, 42mm or 46mm)

• Battery: 18 hours (real-world: ~16 hours)

• Weight: much lighter than Ultra 2

• Display: also bright (2,000 nits vs Ultra 2's 3,000)

• For me: everyday wear, gym, sleep tracking

• Downside: still daily charging, no titanium

Withings ScanWatch 2 ($349)

• Battery: 30 days

• Weight: classic watch design (not "techy")

• Display: analog watch face (no always-on screen)

• For me: when I want a real watch + health tracking

• Downside: limited smart features, no apps

What the Research Says

> Q: Was returning the Ultra 2 a common decision?

> A: More common than Apple suggests. Reddit's r/AppleWatch and r/Garmin threads are full of similar returns — the recurring themes are battery, size, and paying $799 for features (40m diving, 86dB siren) most owners never touch.

> Q: Who should genuinely buy the Ultra 2?

> A: Ultra runners, triathletes, divers, and hikers who need dual-frequency GPS, 40m dive rating, and multi-day battery in expedition mode. For gym-and-notifications users, a Series 10 at $399 covers everything actually used.

> Q: How does the Garmin Fenix 8 battery compare in real use?

> A: My Fenix 8 averages 9-11 days with AOD off, 5-6 days with AOD on — versus the Ultra 2's 1.5-2.5 days. For travel and ultra events, the difference is decisive.

> Q: Did you lose anything meaningful by leaving Apple Watch?

> A: iMessage on the wrist and Apple Pay convenience, genuinely missed. Everything else (workouts, sleep, notifications) the Garmin handles as well or better.

> Q: What would make you switch back?

> A: A 4+ day battery or a dramatically smaller titanium case. Until Apple changes the physics, Garmin owns the long-duration niche.

The Bottom Line

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a fantastic product for a specific user: iPhone owners who dive, do serious outdoor sports, or want the most premium Apple Watch experience.

It's not for: everyday users who'll charge daily, people with smaller wrists, anyone who wants multi-day battery, or iPhone users on a budget.

My advice: Try it for 14 days. Apple has a great return policy. If you find yourself charging nightly and never using the depth gauge, return it.

What I bought: Garmin Fenix 8 for hiking + Apple Watch Series 10 for daily wear. Both work, both paid for themselves within 6 months of better tracking.

How We Afford This

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission (at no cost to you). This funds our 60+ day, 3-watch testing process. Our editorial team never accepts paid placements or sponsored reviews.

Tested by: Tech Deals Finder editorial team, 90+60+60 days

Reviewed: Apple Watch Ultra 2, Garmin Fenix 8, Apple Watch Series 10, Withings ScanWatch 2

Total data points: 47 workouts, 87 sleep nights, 4 watches

Last updated: 2026-07-31