The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is discounted by $100 ahead of Apple's next hardware event

Apple's next hardware event is officially set for September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT. The upcoming iPhone 16 is widely expected to be the star of the show, although if rumors are to be believed, Apple will likely also use the show to unveil a new Apple Watch Series 10 and Watch Ultra 3. However, Apple's third-generation smartwatch is unlikely to launch below $799, which makes the $100 discount we found on Amazon on the Apple Watch Series 2 so much sweeter.

Currently, all three Ultra 2 models—specifically the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band configurations—are discounted to $699, matching their Prime Day low price. Although the rumored Ultra 3 is said to get a faster chip alongside the flagship Series 10, the S9 SiP processor built into the Ultra 2 is still plenty fast, enabling built-in Siri processing and Apple's handy double-tap feature. The 49mm, LTE-enabled Ultra 2 offers a more rugged build than the Series 9, as well as a number of premium, outdoor-focused features you won't find on the Series models. These include a variety of sensors for measuring various dive metrics, as well as more robust water resistance, a bright 3,000-nit display, and a battery that lasts for several days at a time.

The new Ultra will certainly introduce some iterative updates—some of which could be foundational to future AI-based improvements thanks to Apple Intelligence—but there's a lot to like about the current model if you don't need the latest and greatest from Apple.