[Opinion] Average user: Apple Watch Ultra

 Apple addressed some major issues with the all-new Apple Watch Ultra; it has great battery life, the screen is brighter, and it has FAR better GPS tracking. But with that hefty price tag, is it worth it? Of course, I'm no ultra-marathon runner or deep diver, so don't feel swayed by me. If some of these features are necessary, go for it!

 First things, first; the display. It has a 2000-nit display, which is twice the amount of brightness of the regular Series 8. If you don't know, nits are the measurement of the brightness emitted by one candle. Therefore, this 49mm display has the same amount of brightness as 2000 candles burning. This should be plenty for most users, like playing a sport in direct sunlight and extreme uses like running a marathon in the desert. As someone with an Apple Watch Series 7, 1000 nits is more than plenty for running on a hot day or just relaxing at home. However, it could be better. Sometimes I found myself squinting to see the finer details of that text while I'm running. My final verdict about the Ultra's display is that it's mostly overkill, but could be necessary for some.

 Next is the big selling point for average users; the battery life. The battery life would be the one reason this watch would appeal to me because it has the best battery life of an Apple Watch. The Verge got to test the battery life and recorded 69% (nice) battery remaining after two days and an hour of GPS usage. This is nice if you can't use a charger during long events during campouts and running full ultramarathons. But for when adventure calls for more time, there's low power mode. With low power mode, Apple advertises up to 60 hours of battery life, which is great for multi-day adventures in the wilderness. However, it still falls short compared to competitors. For example, the Garmin Epix 2 has seven day battery life, but comes at the price of $900.

 And last but not least, the GPS tracking. The new Apple Watch has dual band GPS; one being the standard L1 which is already on the Apple Watch. It also has an L5 GPS, which is more accurate. It will draw from both sources to plot anything on a map, which allows for better results in places where it might be hard to get a signal like the metro. For most runners in the suburbs like me, you should be fine. But if you live in congested cities like New York, London, or Dubai, it may be really helpful.

 So what do I think? Honestly, I think for the average user, the Series 8 should be great. It's got the essential tracking features that we know and love, the battery life should suffice for most users, and the display is pretty good. Also, the Series 8 almost looks like jewelry with a nice band, and the Ultra looks a little clunky.