An Apple Watch Ultra is still worth real money, whichever generation you have. As of September 30, 2026, Techtree pays up to $412 for an Apple Watch Ultra 4, $323 for an Ultra 3, $226 for an Ultra 2 and $161 for the original Ultra, each in Good condition (light wear, fully working) with the band and charger. A scratched Ultra still sells: in Fair condition the same four watches are worth $326, $267, $151 and $102.
This guide lines up all four generations: how to tell which one is on your wrist, what each is worth in every condition, how much value one year costs, and when selling beats keeping it.
At a glance (Techtree, as of September 30, 2026):
- Techtree pays up to $412 (Ultra 4), $323 (Ultra 3), $226 (Ultra 2) and $161 (Ultra, first generation) in Good condition. Every Ultra is priced as GPS + Cellular with its 49mm titanium case.
- Each year of age costs an Ultra about $89 (Ultra 4 to 3), $97 (Ultra 3 to 2) and $65 (Ultra 2 to the first) of trade-in value in today's price book.
- A deeply scratched Ultra 3 in Fair condition keeps 83% of its Good price; an Ultra 2 keeps 67%.
- An Ultra 3 in Good condition covers 40% of the $799 Ultra 4; an Ultra 2 covers 28%.
- Turn off Activation Lock before you ship. An Ultra that is still linked to your Apple Account cannot be bought.
Which Apple Watch Ultra do you have?
All four generations share the same 49mm titanium case shape, the orange ring on the Digital Crown and GPS + Cellular, so they are easy to mix up. The model number settles it. On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app, then My Watch, General, About, and tap Model until it shows a number that starts with "A".
| Model | Released | Model number | Finishes | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra (first generation) | September 2022 | A2622 (US); A2684, A2859 elsewhere | Natural titanium only | A black Ultra is never a first generation |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | September 2023 | A2986 (US); A2987 China | Natural; black titanium from September 2024 | Looks almost identical to the first Ultra in natural; check the number |
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | September 2025 | A3281 (US); A3282 China | Natural or black titanium | Larger display (1245 sq mm, up from 1185), satellite messaging, 5G |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | September 2026 | A3579 (US); A3580 China | Natural or black titanium | Same size as the Ultra 3; about 1.4 grams heavier |
If the watch is already erased and unpaired, Apple says the case back carries engraving with the case size and more details. Our quote asks only for the generation, so the model number is all you need. Not an Ultra? Apple Watch Series 5 to Series 12 lists the model number of every Series and SE, and what each one is worth.
What each Ultra is worth today
These are Techtree's own prices as of September 30, 2026, for a complete, working watch (band and charger included), GPS + Cellular, 49mm titanium. Tap a model for its live quote and full price history.
| Model | Flawless | Good | Fair | Minor damage | Broken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Apple Watch Ultra 449mm titanium |
$477 | $412 | $326 | $116 | $33 |
 Apple Watch Ultra 349mm titanium |
$359 | $323 | $267 | $56 | $16 |
 Apple Watch Ultra 249mm titanium |
$252 | $226 | $151 | $48 | $14 |
 Apple Watch Ultra49mm titanium |
$186 | $161 | $102 | $26 | $7 |
A sealed, never-activated Ultra is worth a little more again: $487, $369, $262 and $196 respectively. Every model we buy is also in our trade-in price index, with its best Brand New, Good and Fair prices. What counts as sealed is in selling an unopened Apple Watch.
How much value does an Ultra lose each year?
Read across the four generations, our price book shows what each year of age costs a Good-condition Ultra:
- Ultra 4 to Ultra 3 costs $89, from $412 to $323.
- Ultra 3 to Ultra 2 costs $97, from $323 to $226.
- Ultra 2 to the original Ultra costs $65, from $226 to $161.
Apple has launched every Ultra at the same $799 US starting price, which makes the comparison clean. A Good-condition Ultra 4 is worth 52% of that today, an Ultra 3 40%, an Ultra 2 28% and the original Ultra 20%.
The practical reading: across today's lineup, the Ultra's value falls in steady steps rather than off a cliff, and each generation sits one step below the next. If you already know you are replacing yours, selling before the next September launch keeps you on the higher step. For every Apple Watch line side by side, see our Apple Watch depreciation report.
Our Ultra offers since June
Prices move. This is what Techtree offered for each Ultra in Good condition, averaged by month, from June to September 2026.
- Ultra 4 $418
- Ultra 3 $322
- Ultra 2 $228
- Ultra (1st gen) $162
Two things stand out. Our offers on the Ultra, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 rose over the summer, by 44%, 35% and 23% respectively in Good condition between June 7 and September 29. And in September, after the Ultra 4 arrived, they leveled off rather than dropping, with the Ultra 4 itself easing from $425 to $412 in its first two weeks. Each model page has the day-by-day chart for every condition.
Scratched or cracked: what condition costs
Titanium scuffs, and an Ultra gets worn on hikes, dives and climbs. That is fine. We grade what we find, and a worn Ultra still sells well:
| Condition | What it means | Ultra 3 | Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Light scratches or dents, not fingernail-deep | $323 | $226 |
| Fair | Fingernail-deep scratches, major dents or mild housing damage | $267 (83%) | $151 (67%) |
| Minor damage | One issue, such as a cracked display that still works | $56 (17%) | $48 (21%) |
| Broken | Does not power on, or more than one issue | $16 | $14 |
Percentages are the share of that model's Good price. Do not polish or repair a scratched Ultra before you sell it. Pick Fair in the quote if the scratches catch a fingernail, and ship it as it is. The how we grade page lists every check, and selling a cracked device covers cracked displays in more depth.
What changed between Ultra 1, 2, 3 and 4
The hardware differences explain most of the price gaps. From Apple's own specifications:
| Ultra (1st gen) | Ultra 2 | Ultra 3 | Ultra 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | S8 | S9 | S10 | S11 |
| Brightest display | 2000 nits | 3000 nits | 3000 nits, wide-angle OLED | 3000 nits, wide-angle OLED |
| Display area | 1185 sq mm | 1185 sq mm | 1245 sq mm | 1245 sq mm |
| Battery (normal) | 36 hours | 36 hours | 42 hours | 50 hours |
| Low Power Mode | up to 60 hours | 72 hours | 72 hours | 84 hours |
| Cellular | LTE | LTE | 5G and LTE | 5G and LTE |
| Satellite | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Finishes | Natural | Natural, black | Natural, black | Natural, black |
| Latest watchOS | watchOS 26 | watchOS 27 | watchOS 27 | watchOS 27 |
- Ultra 2 over the first Ultra: a brighter display, the S9 chip with double tap and on-device Siri, Precision Finding and, from 2024, the black titanium option.
- Ultra 3 over the Ultra 2: the biggest jump in the line. A larger wide-angle display, 5G, satellite Emergency SOS and Messages, six more hours of battery and hypertension notifications.
- Ultra 4 over the Ultra 3: the same size, display and finishes, with a new Health Sensing System (heart rate every five seconds, a readiness score), the S11 chip and 50 hours of battery.
Our reading of the price book (a judgment, not a rule): the Ultra 3 sits close to the Ultra 4 because it already has the modern display, 5G and satellite, while the Ultra 2 and the first Ultra now lack all three. That is why one of the largest steps in the chart above is between the Ultra 3 and the Ultra 2.
Does your old Ultra cover the Ultra 4?
Against the $799 Ultra 4, in Good condition:
- Ultra 3: $323 covers 40%. You pay $476.
- Ultra 2: $226 covers 28%. You pay $573.
- Ultra (first generation): $161 covers 20%. You pay $638.
From an Ultra 3, the upgrade is incremental. Same case, same display, same finishes: you are paying $476 for the new health sensors and eight more hours of battery. Plenty of Ultra 3 owners will reasonably keep theirs.
From an Ultra 2 or the first Ultra, the upgrade is large. You gain the bigger display, 5G, satellite messaging and 14 more hours of battery at once.
Apple no longer sells the Ultra 3 new; its watch lineup is now the Series 12, the Ultra 4 and the SE 3.
Is the original Ultra still worth selling?
Yes, and sooner is better. watchOS 27 runs on the Ultra 2 and later, so the first-generation Ultra stays on watchOS 26. It still works, but it will not get the watchOS 27 features, and it is now two generations behind on display, cellular and satellite.
It is still worth $161 in Good condition and $102 in Fair today, which is real money for a four-year-old watch. If yours is in a drawer, it is earning nothing there.
How to get the top price for your Ultra
- Unpair it from your iPhone. In the Watch app on the paired iPhone, choose the watch and tap Unpair. That erases the watch and removes Activation Lock in one step. The full walkthrough, including a passcode-locked watch, is in how to reset an Apple Watch.
- Check Find My. Make sure the watch no longer appears under your devices at iCloud.com/find.
- Send the band and charger. The price assumes a complete watch. The quote asks what you are including, and the offer it shows already accounts for anything you leave out.
- Choose the condition honestly. If the scratches catch a fingernail, choose Fair. An honest pick is paid as quoted; an optimistic one gets revised after inspection.
- Ship within the price lock. Your quote is locked for 21 days, and we send a free prepaid label.
Ready? Get your Apple Watch quote, or compare every way to sell in carrier trade-in, sell it yourself, or a buyback service.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Apple Watch Ultra worth? As of September 30, 2026, Techtree pays up to $161 for a first-generation Apple Watch Ultra in Good condition, $186 in Flawless condition and $102 in Fair condition.
How much is an Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth? Up to $226 in Good condition, $252 in Flawless and $151 in Fair, as of September 30, 2026.
How much is an Apple Watch Ultra 3 worth? Up to $323 in Good condition, $359 in Flawless and $267 in Fair, as of September 30, 2026.
How much is an Apple Watch Ultra 4 worth? Up to $412 in Good condition and $477 in Flawless; a sealed, unactivated Ultra 4 is worth up to $487, as of September 30, 2026.
How do I know which Apple Watch Ultra I have? Open the Watch app on your iPhone, then My Watch, General, About, and tap Model to see the A number: A2622 is the first Ultra, A2986 the Ultra 2, A3281 the Ultra 3 and A3579 the Ultra 4 (US models).
Does the first Apple Watch Ultra get watchOS 27? No. watchOS 27 supports the Ultra 2 and later; the first-generation Ultra stays on watchOS 26.
Can I sell an Apple Watch Ultra with scratches? Yes. Light scratches are Good condition; fingernail-deep scratches or dents are Fair, which still pays $267 for an Ultra 3 and $151 for an Ultra 2.
Can I sell an Apple Watch Ultra with a cracked screen? Yes, if it powers on and the crack is its only problem. That is Minor Damage: $116 for an Ultra 4, $56 for an Ultra 3 and $48 for an Ultra 2.
Do I need to send the band and charger? The price assumes both. You can still sell without them: the quote asks what you are including, and the offer it shows already accounts for anything missing.
Will you buy an Apple Watch Ultra with Activation Lock on? No. Unpair it from your iPhone, or remove it at iCloud.com/find, before you ship it.
Sources
- Techtree prices: trade-in price index and the model pages linked above, as of September 30, 2026. Figures are for a complete, working watch in the stated condition; prices are reviewed daily and your quote is the authority.
- Identify your Apple Watch, Apple Support (model numbers and finishes)
- Introducing Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Newsroom, September 2022
- Apple unveils Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Newsroom, September 2023
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 now available in black titanium, Apple Newsroom, September 2024
- Introducing Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Newsroom, September 2025
- Apple unveils Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple Newsroom, September 2026
- Tech specs: Ultra, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, Ultra 4, Apple
- watchOS 27 compatibility, Apple
- New Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 (video), Apple
Apple facts checked against the pages above on September 30, 2026.
