Updated August 26, 2025
• Apple has announced a Sept 9th event; new Apple Watches are near
• The Ultra 3 will likely sport a larger display if/when it debuts this fall
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will feature Apple's new AI-powered Workout Buddy
• The next-gen Apple Watch Ultra 3 could have a built-in camera
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 tipped for blood pressure tracking
• Third-gen Ultra will likely feature satellite messaging for offline communication + 5G connectivity
• Rumors suggest a September 2025 launch for the Ultra 3
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3 may sport a similar design to its predecessors
Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, there was no Apple Watch Ultra 3 launch last September (2024). Instead, all we got was an admittedly sleek-looking new Jet Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 model.
Now, with September 2025 right around the corner and an Apple launch event officially confirmed for Sept 9th, the debut of an Apple Watch Ultra 3 — not to mention, an Apple Watch 11 — is likely imminent. What will it cost, what new features and tech will it offer, and when can you get your hands on one?
Based on the numerous leaks and rumors so far, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the forthcoming Ultra 3; here's everything you need to know.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 cheat sheet: Biggest rumors
- Release date prediction: September 9th, 2025
- Price prediction: from $799 and up
- Design: Same basic design as the Ultra and Ultra 2, but possibly with a larger 2.12-inch screen and slightly thinner case; an onboard camera built into the side of the case is also possible
- Display: A more energy-efficient display may come in the form of microLED or wide-angle LTPO, similar to the Series 10
- Chip: S11 with a dedicated four-core neural engine for machine-learning tasks
- Features: High blood pressure detection, emergency satellite connectivity, 5G cellular, personalized AI-powered fitness tools
- Battery: A larger coil in the case back could increase charging speeds
- Software: watchOS 26
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and release date
This means that you could, in theory, have the Ultra 3 on your wrist before September is complete.
Apple has once again penciled in a launch event for September 9th (same date as the Series 10's arrival). Beyond the possible debut of an Apple Watch Ultra 3, we also expect to get our first look at the new iPhone 17 family, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch Series 11. An Apple Watch SE 3 is possible but less likely.
The price of the Ultra 3 is somewhat difficult to gauge, but I can guess based on the fact that the first two generations were $799. Ultimately, it seems unlikely Apple will raise this already high price of entry by much, especially when you consider that the Android equivalent, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, significantly undercuts Apple's Ultra models at $649.
Pre-orders will likely immediately follow with units shipping a week or two after that (based on prior releases). This means that you could theoretically have the Ultra 3 on your wrist before September is done.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Possible design changes
Given that Apple has stuck with the same design broadly over its first ten years of smartwatch manufacturing, it would be surprising if the company were planning big changes for the look of the Watch Ultra 3.
However, there is one eyebrow-raising rumor about its appearance. According to the supply chain market research firm TrendForce, the next model will be even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and its sizable 1.93-inch panel. The report (from December 2023 — so a long time ago) claims the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s screen will grow around 10%, clocking in at 2.12 inches.
More recently, the folks at MacRumors spotted a leak that suggests the resolution on the Ultra 3 will increase to 422 x 514 pixels, up from 410 x 502 pixels for the Ultra 2. Will this screen increase lead to a case increase too?
The current model already feels large on the wrist (our wearables guru Kate Kozuch writes of the need to sometimes take it off at night for a good night’s rest), so a larger case size feels like a bold move. However, it's possible that Apple will further shrink the device's bezel to accommodate the larger display.
There's also a chance that the Ultra 3 will debut with a thinner case size, similar to the Series 10, which is 1mm thinner than the Series 9 (and several grams lighter).
One of the odder Apple Watch Ultra 3 rumors circulating regards the inclusion of an onboard camera on the side of the case, near the watch's digital crown. This camera wouldn't be used for image making but rather for visual AI analysis, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Display and connectivity
The Ultra 3 is predicted to be a boost in regular connectivity, with the adoption of 5G over the 4G LTE tech in current models. However, this doesn’t appear to be for any advanced functionality and looks to be a consequence of the ongoing move away from Intel, which provided the old modems.
The new supplier will apparently be MediaTek, and the modem will be a 5G Redcap number, “aimed at internet-connected devices and wearables that typically don’t require fast data connections.”
Another big spec upgrade we've heard about stems from TrendForce predicting the Apple Watch Ultra would adopt microLED technology in its screen. That would theoretically give it the ability to be both brighter and thinner than OLED, which could be quite a noteworthy improvement. However, this particular rumor seems a little more sketchy, given another report suggested that we may have to wait until 2026 for a microLED Apple Watch screen.
More likely, the Ultra 3 will sport an upgraded display similar to the wide-angle LTOP OLED panel in the Series 10 with improved viewing angles for better at-a-glance readability. No word yet on whether the maximum screen brightness will exceed 3,000 nits, the current max for the Ultra 2.
Other upgrades that the Ultra 3 will likely inherit from the Series 10 include a larger charging coil on the case back for increased charging speeds and the inclusion of Apple's latest S10 chip, which features a dedicated four-core neural engine for machine learning tasks.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: New features
Rumors claim the Watch Ultra 3 could be Apple’s first wearable with high blood pressure monitoring. This would provide an early warning of hypertension
With the debut of watchOS 26 beta, we already have some idea regarding the Ultra 3's new features, including an AI-backed personalized fitness coach called Workout Buddy, a new Wrist Flick gesture for dismissing notifications, the addition of a Notes app (finally), and smarter notifications overall.
Of course, outside of the latest watchOS 26 features, there's still a lot we don't know, but here's what seems likely:
Rumors claim the Watch Ultra 3 could be Apple’s first wearable with high blood pressure monitoring. This would provide an early warning of hypertension, which is responsible for nearly 13% of all deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.
Rather than putting an exact figure on diastolic or systolic levels like an on-the-arm cuff, it's believed Apple's system will work more like the sleep apnea detector, merely informing the wearer that their pressure may be high. This then raises the warning flag for the user to visit their healthcare provider.
Following the news last week that Apple has reinstated blood oxygen monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and Ultra 2 in the U.S., following Apple's legal battle with rival Masimo, it's pretty likely that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have SpO2 monitoring. For now, it's likely that users in the U.S. will still need to look at their readings in the health app on their iPhone, rather than on their wrists like the rest of the world.
Other rumored new features are largely around connectivity improvements Apple is likely to make. According to Gurman's sources, the Ultra 3 will be the first wearable to feature satellite messaging, allowing the dispatch of emergency messages for those off the grid and without a mobile signal via the Globalstar satellite network.
Too bad Google already beat Apple to the punch with the launch of SOS satellite messaging on the Pixel Watch 4.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Battery life
In addition to adopting a larger charging coil, similar to what we saw on the Apple Watch Series 10, the Ultra 3 could see a bump in battery life thanks to a more efficient display and processing. While there has been little by way of Ultra 3 battery life leaks or rumors, I strongly suspect that the smartwatch will at least maintain its 36-hour battery life rating while possibly increasing longevity in low-power mode beyond 72 hours.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Outlook
For now, it sounds like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be a decent upgrade over the Apple Watch 2 with notable improvements to health features and connectivity — even if the design doesn't change all that much.
Keep in mind, though, that Apple Watch upgrades tend to be incremental. For example, the jump from the Ultra to Ultra 2 wasn’t much to write home about. Will the Ultra 3 represent a broader refinement of the series? We'll know in just a few short weeks.
Still, even if Apple Watch Ultra 2 owners may not feel the need to upgrade, there could be enough here to tempt Apple Watch Ultra or regular Apple Watch Series 9 or 10 wearers to make the jump.
Stay tuned. We'll have complete coverage of Apple's Sept 9 event right here on Tom's Guide.
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