Should You Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Priced starting at $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple's most expensive watch, designed for outdoor enthusiasts who need greater durability and specialized features beyond the standard Apple Watch. Since its refresh in September 2025, it is now an okay time to buy, as the next major update likely won't arrive until September 2026. Compared to the Ultra 2, the Ultra 3 introduces a larger, brighter display with slimmer bezels, 5G connectivity, and satellite messaging. However, those with smaller wrists or who do not need the Ultra's extreme feature set may prefer the Apple Watch Series 11.
The Third Generation Apple Watch Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 follows the second-generation model from September 2023. It competes directly with high-end fitness watches from Garmin and others, targeting sports enthusiasts and athletes who demand more battery life, better connectivity, and sport-specific performance. Apple continues to position the Ultra as the watch built for endurance, exploration, and adventure, retaining the largest Apple Watch size at 49mm.
S10 Chip and Gestures
Inside, the Ultra 3 packs the S10 chip, which offers no performance improvement over the S9 but enables new gestures. The Wrist Flick gesture allows users to dismiss notifications or decline calls with a flick of the wrist, while Double Tap lets users interact one-handed by tapping index finger and thumb together. These gestures are powered by the chip's four-core Neural Engine. Storage remains at 64GB.
Design and Display
The design is unchanged from the original Ultra: a lightweight aerospace-grade titanium body, flat sapphire crystal face, a grooved Digital Crown, and an orange Action button. However, Apple slimmed down the bezels, increasing the viewable display to 1,245 sq mm—making it the largest display of any Apple Watch. The LTPO3 panel reaches 3,000 nits brightness and can dim to 1 nit for dark environments, allowing an always-on seconds hand. The watch is available in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, the latter with a diamond-like carbon coating for scratch resistance.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life jumps to up to 42 hours on a single charge, a 6-hour improvement over the Ultra 2. In Low Power Mode, it can last up to 72 hours for multi-day adventures. Fast charging reaches 80% in 45 minutes, and a 15-minute charge powers 12 hours of normal use. These improvements make it suitable for long-course triathlons and multiple days off the grid.
Connectivity: 5G and Satellite
The Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch with 5G cellular support, alongside a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for precision finding of lost iPhones and AirTags. The biggest new feature is satellite connectivity, enabling Emergency SOS via satellite, text messaging via satellite, and Find My updates when Wi-Fi and cellular are unavailable. This functionality works without a cellular plan for emergencies, while messaging requires an active plan. Satellite connectivity is currently free.
Health and Activity Features
The Ultra 3 includes all health sensors from the Series 11: a third-generation optical heart rate sensor, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring (with U.S. restrictions due to patent issues), sleep apnea detection, fall and crash detection, and temperature sensing for fertility tracking. New health features exclusive to watchOS 26 include Hypertension Notifications, which use heart rate data over 30 days to flag possible high blood pressure, and a Sleep Score metric that provides a numerical rating for sleep quality. For outdoor activities, the watch offers a Depth app for diving, a Tides app, and an enhanced Compass with Waypoints and Backtrack GPS tracking. The action button can be customized to launch workouts, mark segments, or set waypoints.
Durability and Water Resistance
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is certified to MIL-STD-810H and operates from –4°F (-20°C) to 131°F (55°C). It is water resistant to 100 meters with WR100 and EN13319 certification for recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters. The flat sapphire crystal and raised case edges protect the display from impacts. Three specialized bands—Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band—are available, and the watch also fits standard 44mm, 45mm, and 46mm bands.
Pricing and Availability
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched on Friday, September 19, 2025. It is available from Apple and other retailers, with pricing starting at $799 for models with Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, or Ocean Band, and $899 for the Milanese Loop variant. The watch is sold alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 ($399) and Apple Watch SE 3 ($249), offering a clear tier for consumers.
What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra
Rumors suggest the Apple Watch Ultra 4, expected in September 2026, will not bring major design changes, though a full redesign may come by 2028. The Ultra 4 is rumored to include enhanced sensing functions and a refined high blood pressure detection feature. Apple is also working on noninvasive blood glucose monitoring, but that technology remains several years away. In 2027, the display may shift to LG's high-mobility oxide (HMO) TFT for lower power consumption. For now, the Ultra 3 stands as the most capable and rugged Apple Watch, ideal for adventurers and athletes who want the latest connectivity and health tracking.
Source:MacRumors News