Should You Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple's most expensive watch, priced starting at $799. It is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need more durability and a wider range of features than those who wear the standard Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Ultra was refreshed in September 2025, which means now is an okay time to buy. We are not expecting another update until September 2026 at the earliest, and Apple so far has not always refreshed the Ultra on a yearly basis. It's not yet clear if we're getting a refresh in 2026, but if a new model is planned, it won't have major new hardware features.
Compared to the second-generation Ultra model, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a larger and brighter display, slimmed down bezels, 5G support, and satellite connectivity. Compared to the Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra has better water resistance, a more rugged enclosure, and longer battery life.
The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple's largest Apple Watch at 49mm, and it might not fit some people with smaller wrists. Those who do not need the feature set of the Ultra or who need a smaller watch should check out the Apple Watch Series 11.
Design and Display
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 retains the same design as its predecessor, featuring a lightweight aerospace-grade titanium body, a flat sapphire crystal face, and a larger Digital Crown with deeper grooves. The case is 49mm, making it the largest Apple Watch available. The display has been updated with smaller bezels, increasing the viewable area to 1,245 sq mm, and it uses LTPO3 technology for a brighter always-on display that can reach up to 3,000 nits and dim to 1 nit. This allows for an always-on second hand. The watch is available in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, with the black finish using a diamond-like carbon coating for improved scratch resistance.
S10 Chip and Gestures
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is equipped with the S10 chip, which offers the same performance as the S9 but is physically smaller. It powers the Double Tap gesture, allowing users to interact with the watch one-handed by tapping index finger and thumb together. Additionally, watchOS 26 introduces the Wrist Flick gesture, which dismisses notifications or declines calls with a simple wrist movement. The watch also includes 64GB of storage.
Health Features
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 includes a third-generation optical heart rate sensor, an electrical heart rate sensor for ECG, and blood oxygen monitoring. It also offers hypertension alerts, sleep apnea detection, sleep tracking with Sleep Score, fall detection, crash detection, and temperature sensing for women's health. The hypertension feature analyzes heart rate data over 30 days to detect possible high blood pressure. Sleep apnea detection uses the accelerometer to monitor breathing interruptions. The watch can measure blood oxygen saturation between 70 and 100 percent, though in the U.S., readings are evaluated on the iPhone due to patent issues.
Activity and Outdoor Features
Designed for adventure, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 features dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5) for precise distance and route tracking. It includes a Depth app for underwater use, a Tides app for tidal information, and a Compass app with Waypoints and Backtrack functionality. The watch is certified to MIL-STD-810H and can operate in temperatures from –4ºF to 131ºF. It is water resistant to 100 meters and certified for recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters. The Action button on the left side can be customized for workouts, compass waypoints, and more. Three sport-focused bands are available: Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band.
Battery Life and Charging
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours of battery life on a single charge, a six-hour improvement over the previous generation. With Low Power Mode, battery life extends to 72 hours. Fast charging supports 0 to 80 percent in 45 minutes, and a 15-minute charge provides up to 12 hours of normal use.
Connectivity
All Apple Watch Ultra models include cellular connectivity, and the Ultra 3 adds 5G support for faster speeds. It also features satellite connectivity for Emergency SOS, text messaging, and Find My when Wi-Fi and cellular are unavailable. The watch includes a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding of iPhones and tracking AirTags. It also has an 86-decibel siren that can be heard up to 600 feet, activated by pressing and holding the Action or side button.
Price and Availability
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched on Friday, September 19, 2025, starting at $799. It can be ordered from Apple and other retailers. The watch is available with various band options, including the new Milanese Loop, and comes in Natural and Black Titanium finishes. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is sold alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 (starting at $399) and the Apple Watch SE 3 (starting at $249).
Source: MacRumors News