I Examined the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and It’s Like a Land Rover for Your Wrist

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is like the posh Land Rover you see in safari brochures: It’s adventure-ready on the skin, with all the trendy conveniences on the within. This smartwatch is able to carry you again to on a regular basis life with out the dust-in-your-teeth, back-busting bounce of a beat-up Jeep. It straddles that line between rugged and refined, with simply sufficient upgrades below the hood to make it definitely worth the wait.

Of all of the watches Apple introduced at its September occasion (the Series 11 and SE 3 included), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 was the one I used to be most curious to check. I’ve been reviewing smartwatches for over a decade, however that is my first time carrying an Ultra. I’ll admit, although, that I wasn’t wanting ahead to the added bulk, particularly throughout sleep. For somebody who will not even put on a hoop to mattress if I might help it, the Ultra 3 would possibly as nicely have been a wrist shackle. 

I bear in mind feeling crushed once I wasn’t the one reviewing the Ultra at its debut in 2022. With its first scuba certification and high-pressure water sports activities score, I used to be daydreaming about dusting off my scuba license and taking it on a jet-ski experience someplace unique — realistically, it most likely would’ve been the chilly waters of Monterey Bay, California, close to the place I stay. But between logistics and maternity depart, I sat out the primary two Ultras. By spherical three, I used to be greater than able to put one on my wrist, even when it meant shelving my desires of testing it in tropical getaways since a lot of the new options aren’t tied to water sports activities.

Instead, the Ultra 3 builds on its predecessors with satellite tv for pc connectivity, permitting for an additional layer of safety once you’re off the grid. There’s additionally a sooner processor, longer battery life and, to my shock, a design that is not as cumbersome as I feared. Even for mattress.

In a smartwatch panorama the place it is competing with feature-first rivals, reminiscent of Samsung and Google, and endurance-first manufacturers like Garmin, which affords week-long battery life and satellite tv for pc options, the Ultra 3 lands proper within the center. It’s the all-wheel-drive SUV of the smartwatch world: constructed for journey, however with out sacrificing the consolation, comfort and that seamless iPhone integration that solely the Apple Watch can supply. 

But it does not fairly bridge the hole for individuals (like me) preferring a slimmer, extra polished design. While my husband, who’s by no means owned a smartwatch in his life, would fortunately put on all of it day. I’d nonetheless swap it out for the Series 11 earlier than an evening out that required something past tennis sneakers. And identical to I can respect the engineering of a Land Rover with out really eager to drive one day by day, I can admire the Ultra 3 with out crowning it my ride-or-die.

Best battery life in an Apple Watch

One of the largest attracts of Apple’s Ultra line, past its rugged options, has been higher battery life. The Ultra 3 pushes previous the 36-hour mark set by the Ultra and Ultra 2: Apple says it will possibly run for 42 hours of every day use, however you’ll be able to doubtless squeeze in a number of extra hours relying on what you do with it. During my testing, I used to be in a position to get wherever between 45 and 49 hours. This included no less than one 90-minute hike (paired to my cellphone) and two nights of sleep monitoring, adopted by a principally sedentary day of writing at my desk. For somebody used to charging an Apple Watch virtually every day, that additional day of cost felt virtually disconcerting. For context, I acquired about 28 hours of use out of the Series 11, together with a 45-minute run. 

The 5G (technically 5G RedCap, or 5G Reduced Capacity) and new antenna algorithm makes it extra environment friendly and fewer energy hungry when utilizing mobile, but it surely nonetheless drains sooner than staying paired to the cellphone. Satellite use also can have an effect on battery life, so on multiday hikes it is most likely value switching to low-power mode to stretch the Ultra 3 to its promised 72 hours and save the emergency satellite tv for pc options for once you really want them. The Ultra 3 can be rated for 14 hours of GPS exercises with heart-rate monitoring, which ought to nearly cowl a full Ironman in case your tempo is quick sufficient. Serious triathletes will most likely nonetheless need the added buffer of a devoted sport watch.

Where the Ultra shines previous the game watches, although, is in charging velocity. This is the primary Ultra to stay as much as its identify with the extremely quick charging that we noticed come to the Series 10 and Series 11 watches. You can now cost it from zero to 100% in about an hour, get 12 hours of cost in simply quarter-hour, or get sufficient energy to cowl a full evening of sleep monitoring (8 hours) within the time it takes you to brush your enamel. For me, these top-offs have made the distinction between skipping sleep monitoring solely and truly unlocking the total image of the Ultra’s well being options.

Satellite connectivity beefs up emergency options on the Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the primary Apple Watch to supply satellite tv for pc connectivity. It’s a characteristic that iPhones (14 and later) already embrace, however this one stays on you, even in the event you fall. Not solely are you able to manually ship out a cry for assist or share your location with contacts once you’re out of mobile vary, the watch also can do it routinely if the autumn detection (watch) or crash detection (watch and iPhone) mode is triggered. And with low-power mode extending battery life as much as 72 hours, it may outlast your iPhone in these emergency conditions, supplying you with an additional layer of security once you’re off the grid.

At this stage in life with three younger children, my off-the-grid tenting days are few and much between. But once I unexpectedly discovered myself with out service (and a little bit misplaced) on the winding backroads of Northern California’s wine nation this weekend, I used it as the proper excuse to check the characteristic myself. 

I’ve been carrying the brand new Waypoint watch face, which provides a satellite tv for pc shortcut within the nook, however you can even set off satellite tv for pc communication from SOS or location sharing (or routinely with crash and fall detection).

There’s additionally a demo mode to strive once you’re inside cell vary. The watch first walks you thru connecting to a passing satellite tv for pc; as a result of satellites aren’t static, chances are you’ll have to step into open area or look forward to one to move overhead. Mine locked in straight away. The SOS demo then requested a brief collection of questions Apple would relay to emergency responders to hurry up assist. If an emergency had been triggered routinely (fall or crash) these prompts could be skipped.

When I visited Apple’s labs, I noticed how the corporate exams this accuracy by simulating satellite tv for pc geometry wherever on the earth, primarily tricking the watch into believing it is deep within the backcountry. That accuracy is vital to creating positive assistance is dispatched to the suitable place in an actual emergency.

In addition to the emergency options and satellite tv for pc connectivity, the Ultra 3 additionally has a security siren you’ll be able to entry by long-pressing the Action button, identical to triggering Emergency SOS by long-pressing the aspect button on all Apple Watch fashions. This characteristic, distinctive to the Ultra line, performs two alternating, piercing tones on repeat that may be heard from as much as 600 ft away and might help additional information emergency responders to your location.  

I did not want rescuing that day in wine nation, fortunately, but it surely was reassuring to know the watch did actually hook up with a satellite tv for pc whereas I used to be in any other case minimize off.

New well being options powered by longer battery life

The Ultra 3 provides a brand new hypertension (hypertension) notification, additionally coming to the Series 9 and later with WatchOS 26. I’ve by no means been identified with hypertension, and I have not been carrying the watch lengthy sufficient to set off an alert (it requires 30 days of information), however the reassurance issues — particularly since hypertension runs in my household and sometimes has no apparent signs. Like the watch’s irregular coronary heart rhythm and sleep apnea alerts, it runs passively within the background and requires nothing greater than opting in throughout setup or below the Heart part within the Health app in your iPhone. 

If an alert does seem, Apple recommends confirming with a standard blood-pressure cuff and logging your readings within the Health app, which now means that you can export outcomes as a PDF in your doctor. Apple estimates that as much as a million individuals may very well be notified of undiagnosed hypertension within the first yr alone.

The different massive addition is Sleep Score, additionally rolling out to older Apple Watches (Series 6 and later, SE 2 and later, and all Ultra fashions) with watchOS 26. Beyond simply monitoring your time in mattress and sleep phases, Sleep Score offers you a 0 to 100 score from “Low” to “Excellent,” based mostly on three fundamental components: time to mattress, period and interruptions. Apple says it is utilizing the most recent scientific sleep steering to tell the scoring.

Because the characteristic is retroactive, I used to be in a position to see my previous sleep charted out and see how the Ultra 3’s higher battery life and sooner charging had been already influencing my patterns. My earlier information was all over, with averages skewed by nights I skipped sleep monitoring solely. Since testing the Ultra 3 (and the Series 11, which has the identical quick charging), my sleep monitoring has develop into much more constant and dare I say “better” no less than by Apple’s requirements, regardless of nonetheless having the random toddler wake-ups and late-night writing periods.

And whereas I nonetheless would not name myself a fan of sleep monitoring, I’m a proponent of utilizing the Apple Watch to its fullest health-tracking potential. Sleep information unlocks different options like sleep apnea alerts, menstrual cycle and ovulation predictions and extra strong vitals monitoring. It requires no less than seven nights of temperature information to offer an entire image. 

Similar design, brighter display screen, bump in processing energy

Coming off the 42mm Series 11, the Ultra 3 felt large once I first strapped it on. At 61.6 grams, it is almost twice the load and its 49mm display screen dominates the wrist. But after that preliminary “whoa” second, it did not hassle me almost as a lot as I anticipated; no lopsided strolling or swinging my arm into doorframes. I even acquired by a full week of sleep monitoring with out ripping it off in the course of the evening. 

The Ultra 3 sticks with the acquainted Ultra form: a titanium flanked Apple Watch with a flat-topped sapphire crystal show that lies flush with the body. The physique this time round is created from 50% recycled titanium, however extra notable is that it is 3D-printed, not hewed from a strong block of steel. Despite that, I am unable to see any apparent indicators, reminiscent of layer traces, that it was manufactured in a different way. 

It’s match for leisure scuba diving as much as 40 meters and high-speed water sports activities with an IP6X score for mud resistance. You additionally get the devoted Action button, which could be custom-made for fast entry to options whether or not you are in or out of the water, although I’ve set mine to begin exercises. Under the hood is Apple’s S10 chip, which is new to the Ultra, however not new to the Apple Watch. All three 2025 Apple Watches run on this processor, which was first seen on the Series 10. 

What actually impressed me, although, was the display screen. The Ultra 3 nonetheless reaches the identical 3,000-nit peak brightness as its predecessor, however the swap to an LTPO3 wide-angle OLED show makes it look brighter in real-world use, whereas additionally being extra energy environment friendly. Reading my stats below a thick cover of timber or within the harsh noon solar was seamless. I watched the show modify instantly as I moved from shade to daylight preserving the display screen wanting simply as clear and vivid within the two opposing environments.

This means the flashlight can be brighter, and useful in a pinch. I would not advocate shopping for an Ultra simply to find misplaced child bottles in the course of the evening (for which it really works like a appeal), however for outside evening use, I can think about it will be particularly helpful.

WatchOS 26: A pleasant paint job and a few AI options

New software program offers the Ultra 3 a contemporary look when you activate the display screen. WatchOS 26 (preloaded on the Ultra 3) brings smoother animations and translucent overlays to the interface. The Liquid Glass UI, additionally on the iPhone and different Apple gadgets, makes the entire expertise really feel extra cohesive throughout platforms, although the softer distinction could make issues a little bit tougher to learn at a look on the Ultra 3. (If it bothers you, you’ll be able to dial it again with the Reduce Transparency toggle in Settings.)

WatchOS 26 is not nearly appears to be like, although. It additionally provides sensible options throughout the lineup: a local Notes app, a redesigned Workout app that may cue up music or media routinely and new wrist-flick gestures that allow you to silence alarms or calls with out touching the display screen.

The largest (however much less apparent) addition is Workout Buddy, a characteristic that provides you real-time motivation and suggestions throughout runs, walks and several other different exercises based mostly by yourself metrics. It’s not the AI health coach some individuals anticipated, however after testing it out in beta for over a month, I believe it is a strong first step into the AI area — principally due to how pure and un-scripted it feels. Right now it principally offers me tempo alerts and the occasional nudge and nonetheless wants the iPhone for processing energy, but when Apple expands it into extra personalised coaching down the road, it may develop into probably the most necessary constructing blocks for Apple’s eventual well being teaching ambitions.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 backside line

I can respect the perks of getting the Ultra 3, however not sufficient to ditch my Goldilocks decide, the Series 11. I like to recommend the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for anybody who places battery life above all else, even with the upper price ticket. At $800, it runs about twice the price of the bottom Series 11 and almost 3 times the SE 3, which now brings an always-on show and superior well being monitoring like temperature and sleep rating (although not ECG or hypertension alerts).

The Ultra 3 is the rugged improve that permits you to go off-roading with out leaving the consolation and comfort of Apple’s ecosystem. And with satellite tv for pc connectivity, its security guardrails now stretch even additional so you’ll be able to go feed your thrill looking for alter ego with out as a lot reckless abandonment understanding you are at all times related. 

2025 Apple Watches in contrast

	Apple Watch Series 11	Apple Watch Ultra 3	Apple Watch SE (Third Gen)
Design & sizes	Rectangular, 42mm, 46mm	Rectangular, 49mm	Rectangular, 40mm, 44mm
Display	42mm: 446×374 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle) 46mm: 496×416 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle)	49mm: 514×422 pixels; LTPO3 OLED Retina show (wide-angle, Always On)	44mm: 368×448 pixels (Always On Retina LTPO OLED) Apple 40mm: 324×394 pixels (Always On Retina LTPO OLED)
Brightness	Between 1 and a pair of,000 nits	Between 1 and three,000 nits	Up to 1,000 nits
Thickness & weight	46mm: 9.7mm; 37.8g (aluminum GPS), 36.9g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 43.1g (titanium) 42mm: 9.7mm; 30.3g (aluminum GPS), 29.7g (aluminum GPS+Cellular), 34.6g (titanium)	49mm: 14.4mm; 61.6g (titanium)	44mm: 10.7mm; 33.0g (aluminum GPS+Cellular) 40mm: 10.7mm; 26.4g (aluminum GPS+Cellular)
Material & end	Aluminum: jet black, rose gold or silver end; Titanium: slate, gold or pure end with sapphire crystal show (titanium)	Titanium, pure or black end with sapphire crystal show (titanium)	100% recycled aluminum, midnight and starlight
Durability	2X extra scratch resistant glass (aluminum), 5ATM Water + IP6X (mud)	Water resistance 100m; mud IP6X, scuba to 40m, examined to MIL-STD 810H	Cover glass is 4X instances extra proof against cracks than the SE 2; product of Ion-X glass. Water resistant as much as 50 meters.
Battery life	Up to 24 hours, as much as 38 hours Low Power (always-on) + Fast cost: 80% in 30 min, 100% in 60 min	Up to 42 hours; as much as 72 hours Low Power. Fast cost to 80% in 45 min, 100% cost 75 min	All-day, 18-hour battery life. Fast charging with 8 hours of regular use in simply quarter-hour on the charger.
Sensors	ECG, Third-gen optical coronary heart sensor, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass	ECG, Third-gen optical coronary heart sensor, pores and skin temp, depth gauge, SpO2, Noise monitoring, water temperature, compass	Wrist temperature, Second-generation optical coronary heart sensor
Emergency options	Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack	Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Fall detection, Crash detection, Check in and Backtrack	Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS and Check In
AI & teaching	Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy	Siri (voice assistant); Workout Buddy	On-device Siri, Workout Buddy
Processor	S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip	S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip	S10 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 Apple wi-fi chip
RAM/Storage	64GB (storage)	64GB (storage)	64GB (storage)
Payments	Apple Pay	Apple Pay	Apple Pay
Price (US)	$399-$750 (titanium)	$799	$249 (beginning)