These days, I spot the Apple Watch Ultra on wrists almost as often as Apple’s annual Series upgrade. And when I ask people (many of whom don’t exactly strike me as hardcore hikers or divers) why they went for the Ultra, their answers usually boil down to two things: the battery life and the big, bright display. Those perks are still major reasons to choose the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and both have gotten even better this year.
For me, the Ultra 3's real headline is satellite connectivity. Borrowed from the iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature, the Ultra 3 can now keep you connected when you need it most. Combine that with the most rugged design, longest-lasting battery, and largest display of any Apple Watch, and you’ve truly got the ultimate smartwatch for those willing to spend $799. Even if it's mostly an incremental upgrade over the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
But is it the best Apple Watch or best smartwatch overall for you? And how does it stack up against the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3? Hopefully, I can answer those questions in my full Apple Watch Ultra 3 review below.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Quick facts
- Price: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 costs $799, and only comes in one 49mm size but two colors, Natural Titanium and Black Titanium.
- Battery life: The Ultra 3 battery is rated to last 42 hours per charge with the always-on display, compared to 36 hours for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
- Display: Apple's new Ultra model sports the largest and brightest screen on any Apple Watch to date, with the newer LTPO 3 standard that supports stronger off-angle brightness and can update every second.
- 5G connectivity: The Ultra 3 gets a bump up from LTE to 5G, giving it better cellular range while using less battery power to connect.
- Satellite SOS messaging: With satellite messaging, the Ultra 3 can keep you connected even when off the grid and well out of cellular range. This is in addition to the 5G cellular connectivity but exclusive to Ultra 3.
- Hypertension alerts: Alongside the new Apple Watch Series 11, the Ultra 3 is the first smartwatch in the world with alerts for possible high blood pressure based on 30 days of heart rate monitor analysis.
- Daily sleep score: Apple is finally following the likes of Google, Garmin, Samsung, and more by offering users a daily numeric sleep score out of 100. This is available via the watchOS 26 software.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Specs
Apple Watch Ultra 3 |
Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
Apple Watch Series 11 |
Apple Watch SE 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Starting price |
$799 |
$799 |
$399 |
$249 |
Dimensions |
49 x 44 x 12 mm |
49 x 44 x 14.4 mm |
46mm: 46 x 39 x 9.7mm / 42mm: 42 x 36 x 9.7mm |
44mm: 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm / 40mm: 40 x 34 x 10.7 mm |
Case colors |
Titanium: Natural, Black |
Titanium: Natural, Black |
Aluminum: Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black / Titanium: Gold, Natural, Slate |
Aluminum: Starlight, Midnight |
Display |
422 x 514 pixels (Always-On LTPO3 Wide-Angle OLED) |
410 x 502 pixels (Always-On Retina OLED) |
46mm: 416 x 496 pixels / 44mm: 374 x 446 pixels (Always-On LTPO3 Wide-Angle OLED) |
44mm: 368 x 448 pixels / 40mm: 324 by 394 pixels (Always-On Retina OLED) |
Display brightness |
3,000 nits |
3,000 nits |
2,000 nits |
1,000 nits |
Weight |
~61 g |
~61 g |
46mm: 37.8 g / 44mm: 30.3 g |
44mm: 32.9 g / 40mm: 26.3 g |
Processor |
S10 |
S9 |
S10 |
S10 |
Cellular |
5G |
LTE |
5G |
5G |
Water resistance |
100 meters |
100 meters |
50 meters |
50 meters |
Battery life with always-on display (rated) |
42 hours |
36 hours |
24 hours |
18 hours |
Compatibility |
iOS 26 or later |
iOS 18 or later |
iOS 26 or later |
iOS 26 or later |
Health sensors |
HRM, ECG, SpO2, Skin Temperature |
HRM, ECG, SpO2, Skin Temperature |
HRM, ECG, SpO2, Skin Temperature |
HRM, Skin Temperature |
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available as of September 19 for $799, coming in just one configuration (with the option of either Natural Titanium or Black Titanium). Unlike the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3, which have an optional premium for Cellular support, the Ultra 3 offers cellular support by default.
Apple has some minor updates to Apple Watch Ultra bands, but any larger size (44, 45, or 46mm) Apple Watch band works with the Ultra. I personally like the Trail Loop, but the Titanium Milanese Loop is a nice color-matched upgrade, introducing a bit more elegance to the otherwise rugged-looking watch.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: The Ups
Largest, brightest display in an Apple Watch
The Ultra 3 sports the largest display in any Apple Watch to date. The bezels around the flat display have been slimmed down ever so slightly to increase the amount of usable screen. The display space is bumped to 422 by 514 pixels with a 1,245 sq mm area, compared to the Ultra 2’s 410 by 502 pixels and 1,185 sq mm. It's not super noticeable, but I always preach about even the slightest changes making a difference when we're talking about the size of a smartwatch.
This is the Apple Watch with the brightest display, too, with up to 3,000 nits peak brightness that really makes a difference in sunny environments. The Apple Watch Series 11 (2,000 nits) and SE 3 (1,000) can't compare if you're outside, say, golfing, biking or any other outdoor activity of your choice.
Otherwise, the design is pretty much the same as before, down to the orange Action Button on the side and 100-meter water resistance. I think it's also worth calling out that the Ultra 3 is now made from 100% recycled titanium using a new 3D-printing process that reduces waste.
42-hour battery life rating
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 continues to be the best Apple Watch in terms of battery life, but it actually goes even further than the Ultra 2. It now lasts up to 42 hours as a result of the reengineered batteries found in the Ultra 3 and Series 11. If you turn on Low Power Mode, which disables certain battery-draining features, you can stretch it to around 72 hours. This means you can go up to three days without charging your Apple Watch Ultra 3.
I know this still doesn't keep up with the likes of Garmin GPS watches, some of which last weeks with the addition of solar-charging capabilities. But if you're thinking of upgrading from a Series to an Ultra watch, the difference is night and day.
The Ultra 3 also got even faster charging thanks to the bigger and more efficient charging coil that debuted with the Apple Watch Series 10. The result is about 8 hours of battery from just 15 minutes of charge, or up to an 80% charge in 30 minutes.
Satellite SOS messaging
Following the Pixel Watch 4 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be the first Apple Watch that lets you connect via satellite when off-the-grid and out of cellular range.
This feature is intended for emergencies, allowing you to share your location and details with responders, and touch base with loved ones. But you can technically communicate with anyone you've texted in the last 30 days, so if you just want to let a friend know you've arrived at a trailhead, it couldn't hurt to share your location.
I was able to demo satellite SOS on an Apple Watch Ultra 3, and sure enough, it worked much like it does on iPhone, with directions to connect to the nearest satellite and prompts for communicating with emergency services.
This joins other excellent safety resources in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, including an 86dB siren, international emergency SOS, fall detection and crash detection.
Abundant health tracking
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a pretty full-featured health- and activity-tracker, offering all of the tools you'll find in the Series watch. This includes a plethora of running features, biking features, automatic workout tracking, custom workouts, compatibility with Apple Fitness Plus classes, heart rate monitoring, ECG readings, SpO2 reports (yes, the Blood Oxygen app is working again,) skin temperature analysis for cycle predictions, and sleep tracking.
It doesn't have any "exclusive" features in this regard, but it does get the Hypertension Alerts and Sleep Score debuting alongside the Series 11. Hypertension Alerts use the heart rate monitor to detect for signs of high blood pressure, while the Sleep Score is a new way to understand how well you slept.
Sleep Score is available to all watches compatible with watchOS 26 (Series 6 and newer,) and Hypertension Alerts is available to Series 10 and the previous-generation Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The watch also supports the brand's new personalized AI fitness coach, Workout Buddy. Workout Buddy is an optional voice of encouragement to add to your workouts, putting your activity in context of your history and upcoming milestones. It is powered by Apple Intelligence, so you will need your iPhone 15 Pro or newer nearby in order to use Workout Buddy.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: The downs
Still bulky
Truly, my only complaint with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is that it's still a very bulky smartwatch to wear 24/7. I wish I were able to experience the long battery life and large display in a style that didn't get caught on my long sleeve shirts or look a little ridiculously oversized on my wrist.
I understand that Apple needs all the space it can spare to make it the watch it is, but I can't help but wish there was a way to slim down the Ultra's profile and still enjoy its best features.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: Verdict
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. With the brightest and largest display, the longest-lasting battery, 5G and now satellite connectivity, it’s the ultimate Apple Watch for people who want everything Apple can offer on the wrist.
It’s bulky, and $799 is still a rather major investment for a smartwatch, but if you’re looking for the most capable smartwatch on the market, the Ultra 3 is hard to beat. Do I think those with the Ultra 2 need to upgrade? Not at all, but those who love their first-generation Ultra might find the Ultra 3 has just the right amount of new features that matter.
