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📺 A bigger display that’s easier to see
🔋 Longer battery life is a huge plus
🏃 Great for tracking all kinds of workouts
💪 Durable design with strong water resistance
🚀 Faster performance than Ultra 2
🎨 Only two color choices
💰 Expensive price
📐 Might be too big for some users
You’re not seeing double - the Apple Watch Ultra 3 looks practically identical to the Ultra 2. From the robust design to the available color choices, Apple’s latest $799 smartwatch hasn’t been redesigned or re-envisioned for a new generation. Instead, the Ultra 3 introduces a number of nice-to-have upgrades that make it an even more appealing choice for those who have yet to pick up an Apple Watch.
I switched from an Ultra 2 to the Ultra 3, and there are three things I’ve noticed about the watch that make it stand out and further solidify it as my favorite smartwatch currently on the market. It’s still ready for any adventure with robust waterproofing, shock resistance, and its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. It can track any workout, offers plenty of utility for runners and cyclists, and takes extra steps to tempt me to ditch my Whoop band once and for all thanks to Sleep Scores.
Is it the right Apple Watch for everyone? I wouldn’t say so, if only because the size and look won’t appeal to everyone. But for folks who like a big screen, multi-day battery life, and a bold design, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple’s best high-end watch to date, which makes it harder to take off my wrist.
⌚️ The larger screen is noticeably nicer. In my briefing with Apple about the Ultra 3, I was surprised I could notice a difference in screen size compared to my Ultra 2. Upon further examination, the difference is even more noticeable. It goes from a 1.84 square inch display on the Ultra 2 to 1.93 square inches, helping everything on the screen stretch much further to the sides of the watch, especially with its slimmer bezels. It’s the largest display ever on an Apple Watch, and for someone with not-so-great eyes, it’s perfect for quickly glancing at something and easily seeing it.
🔋 A welcome battery boost. Apple was able to increase the battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 thanks to the S10 chip, which delivers better efficiency than the previous S9. The company says you can get up to six extra hours on a charge, going from 36 to 42 hours before it conks out. I did a lot of battery testing during my review, and I can confidently say that it lasts noticeably longer than my Ultra 2. At a music festival in Florida, I could comfortably use it all day, at high brightness and tracking various walks around the park, and it never dipped below 65% by the time I went to bed. That gave me plenty of juice for the next day. It also seems to sip less power while tracking workouts and using apps. It’s by far the best battery life on an Apple Watch yet.
🚀 Look for the speed bump. The difference isn’t night and day, per se, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3 definitely feels a bit snappier than my Ultra 2. Whether it’s opening apps, firing up workouts, or making changes to a watch face, watchOS 26 feels smoother and more responsive. The S10 SiP isn’t a major leap forward for Apple Watch performance, but it’s a nice little boost nonetheless.
📐 A familiar design with a cool twist. The Ultra 3 is basically identical to the Ultra 2, which was identical to the original Ultra. On the surface, there’s not much new to see, but Apple’s manufacturing process has changed for the watch. Now, the company 3D prints each titanium Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, all while maintaining their good looks and durability. You can’t tell the Ultra 3 is 3D printed, but it’s a cool factoid nonetheless, and it helps reduce carbon emissions.
🎨 Same colors, same size. The Ultra 3 keeps the same “Black” and “Natural” color options as the Ultra 2, and the same 49mm size. It seems doubtful at this point that the Ultra lineup will ever get a smaller size option, so those with smaller wrists will want to stick to the regular Apple Watch Series 11. I asked Apple for the Natural colorway since all of the bands I own have matching metal, plus it goes with more outfits than an all-black watch (even though it looks dope AF).
🕰️ Tick, tock. The Apple Watch Ultra 3’s display takes after the Apple Watch Series 10 from last year in that its refresh rate can drop down to 1Hz when using the always-on display. This allows the second hand on a watch face to tick in real time, which helps give the Ultra 3 a more watch-like appearance when wearing it. It’s not a life-changing addition, but it’s welcome nonetheless.
⛰️ Ready for the Rockys. The big reason you get an Apple Watch Ultra is the added durability, which Apple maintains with the Ultra 3. It still comes with 100-meter waterproofing for scuba diving, military-grade durability that protects the watch from extreme temperatures, and a display that can light up to 3,000 nits so you can see in the dark with the flashlight feature. It also has plenty of emergency features to keep you safe while out in the wild. Living in Manhattan, it’s rare to need any of these features, but if you’re someone who needs their tech to follow them up mountains and deep into the ocean, the Ultra 3 is ready for it all.
🛰️ Stronger satellite connections. Apple improved its Emergency SOS via satellite feature on the Ultra 3 with even stronger antennas. Now, you can send and receive messages over satellite to loved ones when needed, in addition to emergency services. You can even share your location with others if you’re in a pinch. This is great news for anyone who spends a lot of time in the woods or other remote areas where cellular connectivity isn’t always reliable.
📶 There’s also 5G. The Ultra 3 can also connect to 5G, just like the Apple Watch Series 11. Does this make a difference in everyday life? Beyond efficiency improvements, not really. I used the cellular network on my Apple Watch a few times during my testing when my phone was out of range, but it wasn’t like it was noticeably quicker to send a text or open an app because of 5G. It’s more of a future-proofing feature that brings the watch in line with the iPhone and iPad.
❤️ Hypertension tracking. The biggest new health feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is hypertension tracking, which can alert you to chronic high blood pressure. It uses an advanced algorithm to analyze heart-sensor data over 30-day periods. If it detects signs of hypertension, it’ll alert you. I’ve had the feature set up during my review period and haven’t received any notifications or signs. I’m a healthy 25-year-old guy, so I don’t expect to get a notification. That being said, it’s great that the feature is here, especially if it can at least steer you in a better direction for your health.
😴 Score your Zzz’s. Another feature on the Ultra 3 that’s available on other watchOS 26 watches is your Sleep Score, which analyzes how you slept and gives you a score based on any disturbances, your deep sleep, what time you went to bed, and more. It can give you a better idea of how you’re sleeping at night and where you can improve. It was one of the most noticeably missing features from the sleep tracking experience on the watch, all while competitors like Samsung, Google, and Whoop have been giving users recovery and sleep scores for years. It’s nice that the feature has finally arrived on the Apple Watch, and it makes wearing it while you sleep a lot more useful.
🫀 Health and hardware are homogeneous. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 keeps all the same health-tracking hardware and software features that we’ve seen before, including blood oxygen monitoring, heart rate sensing, and all the rest. You can track over 100 different workouts, there are special features for runners and cyclists, you can measure how deep you dive with the Dive app, and (as previously mentioned) you can keep track of your sleeping habits with ease. It’s the quintessential Apple Watch Health/Workout Experience, with all the strengths and shortcomings that come with it.
⌚️ watchOS 26 shakes things up (a bit). With the new Liquid Glass UI, a redesigned Workout app, Workout Buddy for encouragement during activities, upgrades to Messages and Smart Stack, and a handful of new watch faces, watchOS 26 brings some nice quality-of-life improvements to the Apple Watch. It’s available on older Apple Watches, of course, so you don’t need to buy the Ultra 3 to get it. Regardless, it does help the Ultra 3 feel refreshed compared to the Ultra 2, despite the familiar hardware.
👀 Comparing to other watches. The big question I get from potential Apple Watch users is whether the Ultra is worth buying over a regular Apple Watch or something like a Garmin. The Apple Watch Ultra is specifically designed for better durability and longer battery life than a normal Apple Watch, and those who need those two perks should consider it. If you don’t own an iPhone or need more robust running features, get a Garmin. For everyone else, you’ll likely be fine with a regular Apple Watch, especially since the Ultra will cost you an extra $400.
✅ You own an original Apple Watch Ultra and want to upgrade
✅ You need longer battery life from your smartwatch
✅ You go hiking or diving often
✅ You like wearing big watches
❌ You want to save money (get an Apple Watch Series 11)
❌ You own an Apple Watch Ultra 2
❌ You have a small wrist (get an Apple Watch Series 11)
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.
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