Technologies

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2: Don’t Get the Wrong One

After a month wearing both, this one is still on my wrist.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have more in common than you might realize, even though they’re very different watches on the outside. While the $799 Ultra 2 is a tougher, bigger and pricier watch than the $399 Series 9, internally they’re almost the same. They share the same S9 chip that supports features like Double Tap, on-device Siri and speedy performance.

So how do you separate the two? Price is likely your first consideration. The $799 Ultra 2 only comes in one 49mm size with a titanium case and LTE connectivity is included.

But the $399 Series 9 is more complicated. First, you need to choose between a 41mm or 45mm size. Then, pick an aluminum or stainless steel case and whether or not you want the LTE version. Indeed, the 45mm Series 9 in stainless steel costs $749, which puts it squarely in the ballpark of the Ultra 2.

The price factor might not be as clear-cut as you first thought. To help you make the right decision, I wore both watches for a month. Here’s what I found.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Screen: Bigger, brighter than Series 9

The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s 49mm case is bigger than the 45mm Series 9, but the screen itself is also slightly larger. That means you can fit slightly more on the Ultra 2’s screen, helpful if you are using an app like Maps for example.

The easiest way to spot the size difference is to boost the text size to the maximum on both watches. Part of the text gets cut off on the Series 9 compared to the Ultra 2, like in the image below.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2 screen size

But the biggest difference in day-to-day wear is screen brightness. The Ultra 2’s screen gets brighter than the Series 9 at 3,000 nits vs. 2,000. I’ve had zero issues seeing the Series 9 indoors or outdoors, but having a little extra brightness on the Ultra 2 is nice for readability, especially for workouts in bright sunlight.

It also gives the flashlight a boost. You can turn the digital crown on the Ultra 2 to force the screen to its brightest setting when using the flashlight, which is helpful in dark situations. I went spelunking with the first Apple Watch Ultra, which shares the same screen brightness as the Series 9, and the Ultra 2. The additional brightness on the Ultra 2 really did make a difference when illuminating the rock face.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2 brightness

Apple Watch Series 9 might be better for smaller wrists

There’s no ignoring that the Ultra 2 is a large watch. Coupled with the chunkier digital crown and flat display, it stands out a lot more than the Series 9. My wrist measures 152mm and even though the Ultra 2 looks hefty, it’s surprisingly comfortable on a small wrist and I wear it all the time.

But there’s no ignoring the fact that the Ultra 2 might be too large if you have an even smaller wrist than mine. That means you might gravitate toward the Series 9 just to have the option of a smaller case size. I also found the Series 9 is more comfortable to sleep with if I do want to track my time in bed.

The Ultra 2 is, however, designed to be a tougher watch than the Series 9. Its titanium case is slightly raised to give more edge protection to the sapphire crystal display. The Series 9 display has two different coverings: Ion-X glass if you get the aluminum case, or sapphire crystal on the stainless steel case

Both are IP6X dust-resistant and water-resistant, but the Ultra 2 can go down to a depth of 100m compared to 50m. It also has an exclusive Depth app and support for the Oceanic Plus app that turns the watch into a dive computer.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Action button speaks my love language

The Ultra 2 has another significant design feature that sets it apart from the Series 9. Just like the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, you can press it to quickly launch your favorite workout, the flashlight, the stopwatch and other preset tasks.

My favorite way to use the Action button is to trigger a Shortcut, which is a quick way of accessing a favorite feature or tasks in an app. You can program a Shortcut yourself using the app of the same name on the iPhone.

One of my top Shortcuts is to navigate home from my current location, but you could also use it to control connected home appliances, or toggle on a focus mode. The possibilities are almost endless. I even made a Shortcut to Rickroll myself (yes, seriously). You can see that in action on the video on this page.

All is not lost on the Series 9 if you like Shortcuts. You can still set a complication on the watch face to launch a Shortcut, it just requires an extra tap on the screen to confirm you want to run it.

Both Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 have Double Tap and Siri

You can use the Double Tap gesture to control both the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. It’s powered by the S9 chip and works exactly the same on both watches. When the screen is active, you can double tap your thumb and forefinger to complete a task, rather than touch the screen. For example, raise your wrist and double tap your thumb and forefinger to reply to a message with dictation, then double tap to send.

It’s helpful, accurate and works in many of Apple’s apps. You can answer a call, change tracks and start or stop timers. For third party apps, it will generally perform the default action when you double tap. I use it to quickly reply to Slack messages from colleagues when I’m unable to grab my phone or type a response out at my computer.

It works the same on both watches, because they run the same chip. On-device Siri is also the same, so the watches don’t have to ping the cloud when you ask Siri to do something that doesn’t require the internet. That includes tasks like starting a workout or setting a timer. They also both have 64GB of internal storage, great if you like to put music or have lots of apps on your watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has some special tricks

While you’ll get the same great WatchOS 10 experience and a wide selection of apps on both watches, the Ultra 2 has additional features that swing the pendulum in its favor.

First, watch faces. You might not think this is enough to make you choose the Ultra 2 over the Series 9 but the exclusive faces are nice: Modular Ultra and Wayfinder. They fit a lot of detail on the screen and have room for seven or eight complications, respectively. And they have a dark mode that turns either watch face red when the light sensor detects it’s dark outside.

The Ultra 2 also has a three-mic array to help cut out more wind noise when on calls, plus dual speakers which get louder than the Series 9. I took both watches outside and recorded the call audio so you can hear the difference on the video on this page.

Then there’s the matter of connectivity. The Ultra 2 has LTE as standard, whereas you need to buy the specific LTE (or cellular) version of the Series 9 if you want to use your watch without your phone nearby. Once you add a data plan from your existing wireless provider, you can leave the iPhone behind and still connect to your favorite apps, send messages or make calls from your wrist.

Both have the second-gen ultrawideband chip which means you can find your phone from the watch with precision finding, as long as you have an iPhone 15. If you have an older iPhone, ping your phone from your watch to make it ring.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 have very similar health tracking

Both share a temperature sensor, blood oxygen sensor, ECG or electrocardiogram app, as well as the option for high and low heart rate and irregular heart rhythm alerts. The heart rate sensor is also the same on both watches and accurate when compared to a chest strap.

Fitness tracking is identical and you keep track of your progress using the Apple Watch Activity app. You can also connect Bluetooth accessories like power meter pedals to both watches, create multisport workouts, and keep an eye on your heart rate zones.

A compass app, back track and waypoint functionality is standard on both watches, as well as car-crash detection, fall detection and emergency SOS.

The differences come down to the Ultra 2’s 86dB siren for safety and GPS. The Ultra 2 uses dual-band GPS, both L1 and L5 bands, while the Series 9 uses L1. That means the Ultra 2 is more accurate at tracking distance and route information in built-up areas specifically. But for regular outdoor use for runs in the park or tracking a bike ride on the trails, the Series 9 still does a great job.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the best battery life, period

The Ultra 2 knocks the Series 9 out of the park on battery life. It doesn’t matter how you use the watch, whether you’re running a marathon or just using it as a watch to tell the time and get notifications, it runs rings around the Series 9.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Ultra 2 battery life

Apple officially rates the Series 9 at 18 hours and the Ultra 2 at 36 hours or runtime. But this is conservative, because I’ve been able to stretch both a lot longer. With what I’d call regular use (phone notifications, the always-on display, a GPS workout and sleep tracking) you can get a day and a half from the Series 9 before charging. With the same use, I can get closer to three full days from the Ultra 2.

Both have a low power mode to extend the battery even further, but of course your mileage will vary depending on how you use the watch. Resource-intensive tasks like using LTE and listening to music over Bluetooth will deplete your battery sooner. We have more on specific battery life usage in our Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 reviews.

Both also support fast wireless charging, as long as you have an 18-watt or higher adapter. The Series 9 charges faster than the Ultra 2 from flat to full because it has a smaller capacity battery.

What’s the difference between Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2?

With a similar overall feature set, including Double Tap and on-device Siri, the main differences between the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 comes down to size, price and battery life. The Series 9 is less expensive, has a slimmer design and two size options compared to the Ultra 2. But you will need to charge it more often.

Both Apple Watches are a great pick if you want a versatile smartwatch that works with the iPhone. After wearing both for a month, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is my favorite for two main reasons, if price wasn’t my primary consideration. Its long battery life means I no longer have battery anxiety about needing to charge it every day. And the Action button is so helpful and customizable, it makes using the watch much more enjoyable and convenient.

Technologies

Meta Enters the AI Shopping Wars to Challenge ChatGPT and Gemini

Mark Zuckerberg’s company begins a partial rollout of its agentic AI shopping research tool.

It was only a matter of time before Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta jumped into the AI shopping race. According to a Bloomberg report, Meta is testing a new AI shopping assistant feature to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini in one of the fastest-growing areas of e-commerce.

A representative for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meta joins an AI shopping assistant market that is expected to boom. Research and consulting firm Grand View Research projects the market to grow from $3.36 billion in 2024 to $28.54 billion by 2033 — an annual rate of nearly 27%. North America currently controls 40% of the worldwide market.

Other AI shopping assistants aside from ChatGPT, Gemini and now Meta are also available. They include Amazon’s Rufus (ZDNet loves it), Amazon’s Interests, Klarna (by OpenAI), Shopify and even eBay.

Initially, only some US-based Meta AI users will see the new feature within the chatbot, according to Bloomberg.

Say you ask the chatbot about the most popular cat toys. The AI will return a horizontal carousel of products, along with price, brand information, and websites where you can buy them.

The AI tool will also offer a short explanation of why it is recommending each product. You won’t be able to directly purchase from the Meta AI site, however. You will need to visit the merchant’s external link.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT already has an AI shopping research feature. I tried it and asked, «Please show me the best cat toys to buy.» The AI responded with a curated list of highly rated cat toys. It offered a horizontal, scrollable carousel of products; each product displayed its price at different stores. As with Meta, you have to click on the store’s website link for each product to buy it.

With Google’s Gemini AI shopping assistant, I asked the same question: «Please show me the best cat toys to buy.» Gemini responded with products, images, prices, descriptions and links to stores — basically the same setup as Meta and ChatGPT.

Meta’s entrance into the AI shopping market reflects a broader shift in how consumers engage with products online, as AI reshapes e-commerce experiences and businesses seek deeper integration between social, search and purchase journeys.

Traditionally, online shopping began with keyword searches on e-commerce sites or search engines, but AI now enables more natural language, personalized discovery and tailored suggestions based on context, intent and user data.

Brad Jashinsky, director analyst at research firm Gartner, said customer trust is an issue with AI shopping assistants.

«Our recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of consumers think GenAI-powered shopping tools, whether provided by retailers or by GenAI platforms, will make biased shopping recommendations,» Jashinsky told CNET. «Customer behavior takes a long time to change. It wasn’t until 2023 that more e-commerce shopping was done on mobile devices versus desktop devices in the US. That was 16 years after the iPhone debuted.»

Jashinsky said companies have been slow to adopt agentic AI and GenAI for online shopping experiences.

«More than half of customer experience leaders fear that AI delivering inaccurate responses or content threatens the customer experience,» he said.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for March 4, #1719

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for March 4, No. 1,719.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a bit tricky, thanks to a repeated letter, but it’s a fairly common word. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with T.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with T.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to the action of stealing.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is THEFT.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, March 3, No. 1718, was LINEN.

Recent Wordle answers

Feb. 27, No. 1714: DIZZY

Feb. 28, No. 1715: HYDRA

March 1, No. 1716: FLUKE

March 2, No. 1717: SLIME

Technologies

Google’s March Pixel Drop Adds Live Location Sharing in Messages, AI Outfit Try-Ons

Google’s March Pixel Drop upgrades Circle to Search, expands Gemini features and introduces live location sharing across Android devices.

Google is rolling out a fresh batch of Android features alongside its latest Pixel Drop, bringing real-time location sharing to Google Messages, AI-powered shopping tools and new safety updates to Pixel phones and watches.

This update, like previous ones, continues Google’s steady push to bake Gemini deeper into Android, following recent additions like Circle to Search, Magic Compose in Messages and expanded AI-powered editing tools in Google Photos.

Now Google is combining its messaging, search, wearables and safety features into a broader ecosystem update that touches nearly every part of the Pixel lineup.

With Tuesday’s announcement, Google is introducing new Android-wide features — from app discovery in Google Play to kid-friendly games in cars — while also delivering a sizable March Pixel Drop with upgrades to Circle to Search, At a Glance and Pixel Watch safety tools.

Here’s everything that’s new.

Android updates: Live location sharing, lost luggage and more

Real-time location sharing in Google Messages

Google is adding live location sharing directly inside Google Messages, powered by its Find Hub network. Instead of switching between apps, you can now share your real-time location within a conversation and view each other on a live map, similar to features long available in other messaging platforms, but now fully integrated into Google’s default Android messaging app. Location sharing can run for a set duration or be stopped at any time, giving you control over when and how long they’re visible.

Lost luggage sharing with airlines

Google is also expanding Find Hub with a new «share item location» feature designed for lost luggage.

If you’ve attached a compatible tracker tag to your suitcase, you can now generate a secure, expiring link directly in the Find Hub app and share it with participating airlines, such as Lufthansa Group airlines, Turkish Airlines and Air India, with additional partners rolling out soon.

Google says location data is encrypted, sharing can be revoked at any time, and links automatically expire after seven days. The company has also integrated the feature into industry-standard baggage systems such as WorldTracer and NetTracer, which are used by hundreds of airlines worldwide, potentially giving the tool broader reach.

Google Play Shorts

Discovering apps on Google Play is getting a TikTok-style twist. Google Play Shorts introduces a vertical feed of short-form videos created by app developers. Instead of relying on screenshots and descriptions, you can now scroll through quick clips that show how an app works, without resorting to YouTube videos.

Calling Card in Phone by Google

The Phone by Google app is adding a customizable «Calling Card» feature. You can choose a photo, font and color theme that appears when you call friends, effectively personalizing their caller ID. Cards can be shared broadly or limited to saved contacts and edited or removed at any time.

Teacher-approved games on Android Auto

When parked, Android Auto will now offer a lineup of teacher-approved, kid-friendly games designed for ages 3 to 12. Titles range from educational writing apps to Disney and Marvel-themed games, giving families something to do while waiting in the car.

New Emoji Kitchen sticker combos

New Emoji Kitchen combinations are rolling out in Gboard, letting you mash up emoji into sticker-style graphics to share across apps.

March Pixel Drop: AI shopping, smarter widgets and deeper Gemini integration

Alongside the broader Android updates, Google’s March Pixel Drop brings a wave of new features to Pixel phones, many of them centered on AI-powered search, personalization and productivity.

Circle to Search gets fashion-focused upgrades

Google is expanding Circle to Search with two new tools aimed at shopping and visual discovery.

Find the Look can now break down an entire outfit in an image, identifying individual clothing items so you can search for each piece separately. Meanwhile, Try It On lets you preview how clothing might look on you after circling an item in a photo, video or even an image received in Messages.

The features are rolling out to the Pixel 10 lineup, including the Pixel 10 Pro models and Pixel 10a.

Gemini gets more proactive

Google is also deepening Gemini’s role across Pixel devices.

With Magic Cue, Gemini can proactively suggest restaurant searches when it detects relevant context in a conversation, making tailored recommendations without forcing you to leave the chat. On newer Pixel 10 devices, you can also offload certain tasks to Gemini, like booking services or placing routine orders, across supported apps.

Call Notes is expanding to India, using on-device Gemini Nano to transcribe calls, summarize conversations and suggest follow-up actions. Notification summaries are also expanding to Japanese on supported devices.

At a Glance becomes more dynamic

The At a Glance widget is getting several practical upgrades:

My Commute adds real-time transit departures, delays and alternate routes directly to the home and lock screen.
Sports scores now show live updates for the teams you follow.
Finance updates provide end-of-day summaries from top movers in a Google Finance watchlist.

Personalization and accessibility updates

Pixel users are also getting new customization tools, including AI-generated custom app icons that apply a consistent visual style across the home screen.

Other additions include:

Expanded Scam Detection in Phone by Google to additional countries, using on-device AI to analyze calls in real time.
A refined Comfort View display mode designed to reduce visual overstimulation.
Expanded language support for Guided Frame, the AI-powered camera feature that assists blind and low-vision users by describing scenes in real time.
New connected camera support, including external DSLR compatibility via USB-C on supported models.

Google is also introducing a desktop-style experience on supported Pixel phones, allowing you to connect to an external monitor via USB-C for a multiwindow interface when paired with a mouse and keyboard.

Pixel Watch updates

Pixel Watch devices are also getting updates in this drop, including expanded one-handed gesture controls on Pixel Watch 3, left-behind phone reminders and automatic phone locking when the watch moves out of range. Google is also expanding Satellite SOS to more regions, including parts of Europe and Canada, and adding standalone earthquake alerts to supported watches to provide earlier warnings in affected areas.