Should You Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple's most expensive watch, starting at $799. It is tailored for outdoor enthusiasts who require extra durability and advanced features beyond the standard Apple Watch. The watch was refreshed in September 2025, making now a suitable time to purchase, as the next update is not expected until September 2026 and may only bring minor changes.
Compared to the second-generation Ultra, the Ultra 3 boasts a larger and brighter display, slimmer bezels, 5G support, and satellite connectivity. It outperforms the Series 11 in water resistance, ruggedness, and battery life. The Ultra 3 is the largest Apple Watch at 49mm, which may not suit smaller wrists. Those who do not need its capabilities or prefer a smaller size should consider the Apple Watch Series 11.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3
The third-generation Apple Watch Ultra follows the model released in September 2023, competing with premium fitness watches from Garmin. It is built for endurance, exploration, and adventure, and remains the largest Apple Watch at 49mm. The device features an S10 chip, though it offers no performance improvement over the S9. It supports the Wrist Flick gesture for dismissing notifications and calls, and Double Tap for one-handed control.
The design remains unchanged from the original, utilizing a lightweight aerospace-grade titanium body, flat sapphire crystal face, and a larger Digital Crown. The Action button, colored international orange, is customizable for various functions. The display now has smaller bezels, increasing the viewable area to 1,245 sq mm, with LTPO3 technology offering up to 3,000 nits brightness and a minimum of 1 nit for dark environments.
Audio quality is enhanced with three built-in microphones and a beamforming algorithm, while an 86-decibel siren assists in emergencies. The larger 49mm casing accommodates a bigger battery, lasting up to 42 hours on a standard charge (72 hours in Low Power Mode). Fast charging reaches 80% in 45 minutes. The device features dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5) for superior accuracy, and can operate in extreme temperatures from -20°C to 55°C. It is MIL-STD-810H certified and water-resistant to 100 meters, suitable for water sports and recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 includes a Depth app, a Tides app, and an enhanced Compass with Waypoints and Backtrack. It also offers all standard Apple Watch health features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring (with restrictions in the US), sleep apnea detection, and a new Sleep Score metric. The device supports emergency SOS via satellite, satellite messaging, and Find My updates. It also includes a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding and other integrations.
The watch comes with three sport-focused bands: Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band, and is compatible with standard Apple Watch bands. It is available in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, both with a satin finish. The black model uses a diamond-like carbon coating for enhanced scratch resistance. The case is manufactured using 3D printing with aerospace-grade titanium powder for efficiency.
How to Buy
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available from Apple and other retailers since September 19, 2025.
Design
The design is identical to previous Ultra models, with slimmer bezels for a larger display. The rounded rectangular shape remains, with a rugged build. The Digital Crown and side button are in a raised area for easy use with gloves. The Action button on the left side is customizable and bright orange for visibility.
Colors and Materials
Available only in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, both with a satin finish. The black finish applies a diamond-like carbon coating. The case is 3D printed from aerospace-grade titanium powder.
Exclusive Watch Faces
The Wayfinder face includes a compass and up to eight complications, with a night mode that turns red. The Modular Ultra face maximizes the display with real-time data like seconds, altitude, or depth. A new Waypoint face aids navigation, and satellite communication complications are available.
Durability
Certified to MIL-STD-810H, the watch withstands extreme temperatures, altitude, shocks, and other harsh conditions. The flat sapphire crystal protects the display, and the raised edges prevent edge impacts.
Water Resistance
Water-resistant to 100 meters (WR100) and certified to EN13319 for dive accessories, suitable for kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and recreational diving to 40 meters.
Always-On Display
The LTPO3 OLED display offers 24% thinner borders, a resolution of 422x512 pixels, and a display area of 1,245 sq mm. It reaches 3,000 nits brightness at wider angles and supports a ticking seconds hand in always-on mode.
S10 Chip
The S10 chip features a 64-bit dual-core processor with 5.6 billion transistors and a four-core Neural Engine. It powers Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures, though no performance improvements over the S9. Storage remains at 64GB.
Health Features
Includes a third-generation optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart rate sensor, and blood oxygen monitoring. It detects low, high, and irregular heart rates, and monitors for atrial fibrillation. Hypertension alerts analyze heart rate data over 30 days. Sleep apnea detection uses accelerometer data. ECG can be taken via the Digital Crown. Sleep tracking monitors stages, and Sleep Score provides a numerical quality metric. Fall detection and Crash Detection automatically alert emergency services. Temperature sensors measure wrist and ambient temperature for women's health and fertility tracking.
Activity Features
Standard activity tracking includes steps, calories, and exercise rings. The Depth app displays time, depth, water temperature, and duration underwater, with a dive computer via the Oceanic+ app. The Tides app shows high/low tides, tide height, and sunrise/sunset. The Compass app offers waypoints, backtrack, and dynamic updates.
Battery Life
Up to 42 hours normal use, 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Fast charging from 0 to 80% in 45 minutes. A 15-minute charge provides 12 hours of normal use; a 5-minute charge gives 8 hours of sleep tracking.
Microphone and Speakers
Three microphones with adaptive beamforming and wind noise reduction. Dual speakers for clear calls and Siri.
Connectivity
Supports 5G, satellite communications, Bluetooth 5.3, second-gen UWB chip, and W3 wireless chip. Satellite features include Emergency SOS, messages, and Find My. Precision Finding for AirTags and misplaced iPhone. Siren reaches up to 600 feet (180 meters). Dual-frequency GPS for most accurate positioning.
Depth Gauge and Seal Check
Apple offers depth and water seal tests to ensure the watch's diving integrity.
Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3
The Ultra 3 is sold alongside the Series 11 ($399, aluminum or titanium, 42/46mm) and SE 3 ($249, older design, fewer sensors). The Ultra 3 offers satellite connectivity, siren, longer battery life, and rugged build compared to Series 11. The SE lacks blood oxygen and ECG.
What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra
No major design changes expected until at least 2028. The 2026 models may include watchOS 27 with new faces, and the Ultra 4 could offer a redesign and upgraded sensing functions. Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring is years away. LG Display's HMO technology may be used in 2027 for lower power consumption. Future models might include Touch ID.
Source: MacRumors News