A few years ago, I had a Xiaomi Mi Band, the 4 if I'm not mistaken. It cost as much as a round of coffees with friends. 25-30€.
I stopped using it for some reason because I got bored and wanted to enjoy a new mechanical watch I had bought.
Years later, I developed the desire to get a smartwatch to be an extension of my phone when I work, when I walk, when I drive. Not for sports and activities. Those that may be a key selection factor for some, I won't comment on.
I have an iPhone Pro Max, MacBook Pro, AirPods Pro 2, so I thought I would get an Apple Watch for good compatibility with the ecosystem.
The best option was the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
I ordered it.
I thought that after so many years of technological advancement since the humble and cheap Chinese Band I had, I would now see a technological marvel on my wrist.
Not at all...
The battery life is from the morning of one day to the evening of the next. Personally, it doesn't bother me, but if I compare it to that band which lasted a week, it doesn't have the same autonomy.
That band couldn't reply to messages. The Apple Watch can, but only on iMessage from what I've seen.
Viber, Instagram only show notifications, and you can't even see the full message. With the band, you could at least see the entire Viber message.
In terms of sleep, the analysis it did in the phone app was far more detailed regarding your sleep quality, sleep interruptions, it analyzed each phase and provided very targeted advice. The "Health" app on the iPhone doesn't even come close in this aspect. Even the alarm clock on the band had a function to recognize your sleep stage. It knows when you're in light sleep so it doesn't wake you during deep sleep. I haven't found such a function on the Ultra 2, unless you perhaps buy it.
Ultimately, when it comes to sleep, the best you can do is just let it charge, eliminating sleep analysis.
It also had a pulse oximeter and heart rate monitor.
The Ultra does an ECG, which is good to have, but it doesn't interest me.
There are many more watch faces on the band than on the Apple, and you had access to new ones quite often.
In other aspects, I think the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is better.
Design, material quality, screen, speaker that supports calls, text dictation, standalone GPS but maps only on Apple Maps, action button that you CANNOT set to shortcuts except for a few apps and options,
Where I want to get to:
How great of an achievement is it for a smartwatch costing 1000€ that has come out nearly a decade after the Chinese band costing 25€, to be better in some aspects and worse in several others? If we compared it to today's Chinese options, not the 30€ ones but the 150€ ones, what hopes would it have, I wonder?
I reserve my judgment on my review because I've only had it for 15 days and perhaps I haven't yet discovered its virtues. I declare, however, that I am NOT enthusiastic about the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
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