Home / Daily News Analysis / Apple Watch Ultra 3

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Jun 29, 2026 Twila Rosenbaum 11 views

Should You Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple's most expensive watch, starting at $799. It targets outdoor enthusiasts who need superior durability and advanced features beyond the standard Apple Watch. Refreshed in September 2025, now is a reasonable time to buy, as the next update is expected in September 2026 with likely only minor changes.

Compared to its predecessor, the Ultra 3 offers a larger, brighter display with slimmer bezels, plus 5G support and satellite connectivity. It surpasses the Series 11 in water resistance, ruggedness, and battery life. However, its 49mm size may not suit smaller wrists; those seeking a compact alternative should consider the Series 11.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3

The third-generation Apple Watch Ultra competes with premium fitness watches from Garmin. It is built for endurance, exploration, and adventure, remaining the largest Apple Watch at 49mm. The S10 chip powers new gestures like Wrist Flick to dismiss notifications and Double Tap for one-handed control, though performance is similar to the S9.

Design-wise, the Ultra 3 retains the aerospace-grade titanium body, flat sapphire crystal, and the distinctive orange Action button. The display now has thinner bezels, increasing viewable area to 1,245 sq mm, with brightness up to 3,000 nits and a low 1-nit mode for dark environments. Three microphones and beamforming improve call quality, while an 86-decibel siren aids emergencies.

Battery life reaches 42 hours on a single charge, extendable to 72 hours with Low Power Mode—enough for a full triathlon. Fast charging delivers 80% in 45 minutes. Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) provides superior accuracy, and the watch operates from -20°C to 55°C, meeting MIL-STD-810H standards.

For water sports, the Ultra 3 is WR100 and EN 13319 certified, supporting kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and recreational scuba diving to 40 meters. The Depth app displays current depth, temperature, and dive time, while the Oceanic+ app transforms it into a dive computer.

Design

Colors and Materials

The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium. The black variant uses a diamond-like carbon coating for scratch resistance. The case is 3D-printed from aerospace-grade titanium powder, reducing material waste.

Exclusive Watch Faces

The Wayfinder face includes a built-in compass and up to eight complications, with an automatic red night mode. Modular Ultra uses the display edge for real-time data like altitude or depth, offering the most complications of any Apple Watch face.

Durability

It withstands extreme temperatures, military-grade shocks, and is protected by a flat sapphire crystal that resists edge impacts.

Water Resistance

Certified to 100m water resistance and EN 13319 for dive accessories, the Ultra 3 is suitable for extreme water sports and recreational diving.

Always-On Display

The LTPO3 display has 24% thinner bezels, a resolution of 422x512 pixels, and a 1,245 sq mm active area. It retains 3,000 nits brightness at wider viewing angles and shows a ticking seconds hand in always-on mode.

S10 Chip

The S10 chip features a 64-bit dual-core processor and a four-core Neural Engine. It enables Double Tap and Wrist Flick gestures, and offers 64GB of storage.

Health Features

The Ultra 3 includes a third-generation optical heart rate sensor, ECG, blood oxygen monitoring (limited in the U.S. due to patent issues), sleep apnea detection, fall detection, crash detection, and temperature sensing for cycle tracking. Hypertension alerts analyze 30 days of heart rate data to detect possible high blood pressure.

Blood Oxygen

Measures SpO2 between 70-100% using green, red, and infrared LEDs. In the U.S., results are only viewable in the Health app.

Sleep Apnea Detection

Using the accelerometer, it monitors breathing disturbances during sleep. After 30 days, it can indicate signs of sleep apnea, viewable in the Health app.

Activity Features

In addition to standard activity tracking, the Ultra 3 includes a Depth app, Tides app, and enhanced Compass with Waypoints and Backtrack. The Action button can be customized to start workouts, mark segments, or set compass points.

Battery Life

Up to 42 hours regular use, 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Fast charging reaches 80% in 45 minutes; a 5-minute charge provides 8 hours of sleep tracking.

Microphone and Speakers

Three microphones with adaptive beamforming and wind noise reduction ensure clear calls. Dual speakers provide louder audio for calls and Siri.

Connectivity

Cellular models now support 5G, plus satellite communication for emergency SOS, texting, and location sharing. The second-generation UWB chip enables Precision Finding for iPhones and AirTags, and proximity-based media controls for HomePod. Bluetooth 5.3 is included.

Depth Gauge and Seal Check

Users can request depth and water seal tests from Apple to ensure dive readiness.

Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

The Ultra 3 is sold alongside the Series 11 ($399) and SE 3 ($249). The Series 11 lacks satellite connectivity and has shorter battery life, while the SE 3 has an older design and fewer health sensors.

What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra

No major redesign is expected until 2028. The 2026 model, Ultra 4, may include a full redesign and enhanced sensing, including refined hypertension monitoring. Noninvasive blood glucose tracking is still years away. Touch ID and LG Display's HMO technology are also under consideration for future models.