Do you hear that? That soft, distant rumbling? It’s the sound of new Apple Watches coming on September 9th. As we enter the home stretch ahead of Apple's September event, it seems increasingly likely that we will soon be graced by not one but two new Apple Watch models.
Assuming September brings us both the anticipated Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, you may be wondering, which one might be best for you? Based on all the leaks and rumors so far, along with insights gleaned from prior Apple Watch launches, and general tech nerd intuition, here’s how the Apple Watch 11 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3 comparison might play out.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price
Apple has been pretty consistent with pricing across its Apple Watch lineup, and I suspect pricing for the standard and Ultra series will remain roughly the same as before. This means that the Series 11 could debut with a starting price of $399 for the smaller non-cellular model, and judging by the launch price of the Ultra and Ultra 2, I’d be willing to bet the Ultra 3 debuts at $799.
However, it’s possible that fallout from U.S. tariff policy could result in inflated costs for either model, but let’s keep things positive here. It’s also worth noting that while Google kept the pricing of the new Pixel Watch 4 consistent with last year’s model, Samsung increased the starting cost of the latest Galaxy Watch 8 by $50 versus the Galaxy Watch 7. Inflation talk aside, the price gap between the latest Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3 will surely remain significant, making the former a better value.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design and display
Last year's Apple Watch Series 10 introduced a slightly overhauled design with a thinner, lighter case and an upgraded screen. The Series 10 is Apple's first smartwatch with a wide-angle OLED screen optimized for easy viewing even at extreme angles. The screen on the 46mm Series 10 is also ever so slightly larger than the screen on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. What does all this mean for the Series 11 and Ultra 3?
It seems quite likely that the Series 11 will sport the same case design and dimensions as its predecessor. The screen dimensions will likely remain unchanged, too, but I suspect that the maximum brightness of the Apple Watch 11 will be 3,000 nits to match the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8. This would be an increase of 1,000 nits over the Series 10's max brightness.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is more likely to see an increase in display size compared to its predecessor. I also expect the max brightness of the Ultra line to jump from 3,000 nits to 4,000 nits or higher. You can also bet on the Ultra 3 inheriting the Series 10-style wide-angle OLED screen.
While the size of the Ultra 3 case might increase to accommodate a larger screen, what's more likely is the case getting thinner. That said, the button layout and overall look of the Ultra 3 will probably mirror its predecessors.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers 100 meters of water resistance compared to 50 meters of the Series 10, and I suspect the same will be the case for the newer models. After all, ruggedness is one of the major differentiators between the two lines.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Health and fitness features
We got a sneak peek at some of Apple's forthcoming health and fitness features by way of watchOS 26 beta, namely the new personalized fitness coach, Workout Buddy (more on that below). What other new holistic features might be in store?
The biggest, juiciest rumors suggest that the next-gen Apple Watches could be among the first consumer wearables on the market to offer some form of high blood pressure detection. We know that Apple and the competition (Samsung, Google, Oura, and more) have been trying to crack the code for some time. The question is, if blood pressure monitoring is actually ready for prime time, will both the Series 11 and Ultra 3 support it? My intuition says yes.
There are also hints that Apple may finally provide wearers a daily sleep score out of 100, similar to what you get from pretty much every other major smartwatch out there, from Garmin to Amazfit. If this proves true, you can likely expect the tool to be offered across the full range of Apple Watches, not just the latest models or Ultra series.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Safety features
When Google announced the Pixel Watch 4 in August, it was the world's first full-featured smartwatch with emergency satellite messaging. However, it likely won't be the only smartwatch with the tool for long. If rumors pan out, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will offer something similar.
Given the Ultra line's position as Apple's tough-built wearable for hardcore outdoorsy types and athletes, I'm guessing that satellite messaging will be reserved for just the Ultra 3. It also requires a cellular antenna, which comes standard on the Ultra series but is optional on the flagship Apple Watch series.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: AI features
I'm not going to sugarcoat it; Apple is behind the competition when it comes to onboard AI features. Both the latest Google Pixel Watch and the best Samsung Galaxy smartwatches offer Google's outstanding Gemini AI voice assistant onboard. Apple Watch wearers are stuck with a non-AI version of Siri for the foreseeable future.
While I don't expect that to change with this new generation of Apple Watch models, there are a handful of Apple Intelligence features you can expect on the Series 11 and Ultra 3. For example, Workout Buddy is Apple's take on an AI-powered fitness trainer. In its current form, you need an Apple Watch paired with one of the latest iPhones to use it. Perhaps the new models will support the feature natively on the smartwatch itself?
The new Apple Watches are also confirmed to support live message translations and AI-generated smart replies. Could other surprise AI features be in the cards? Maybe! An AI surprise sure would be nice. Either way, I suspect any new marquee AI features will be offered across the full range of new Apple Watch models.
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Battery life
No surprises here: While increases in battery life would be hugely welcomed for the standard Apple Watch line — the Series 10 gets just 18 hours per charge (36 hours in low-power) — you can bet that the latest Ultra 3 will remain the Apple Watch battery life king.
The Ultra 2 battery is good for a respectable 36 hours per charge (72 hours in low power mode). However, the combo of a more efficient display and processor, with a potentially larger capacity battery, could lead to even greater longevity for both new models.
Winner: Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple Watch 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Outlook
Even without the Series 11 and Ultra 3, Apple makes some of the best smartwatch models available in 2025. However, if both devices actually launch on September 9th, the differences between them are likely to be consistent with the differences between the Series 10 and Ultra 2.
This means that fitness and wellness features will likely be a match between the two. However, the Ultra 3 will likely boast a tougher design, better battery life, and potentially a unique (for Apple) SOS satellite messaging safety function... all for a much higher cost. Stay tuned for more coverage of the upcoming Apple Watch announcements, including live reporting, hands-on impressions and more.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
More from Tom's Guide
- Apple Watch SE 3 — 5 Reasons I Want a New Budget-Friendly Apple Watch More Than a Series 11 or Ultra 3
- Apple Watch 10 vs Pixel Watch 4 — Which is the Better Smartwatch?
- Forget the Apple Watch 10 — 5 reasons why I prefer this cheap Casio Baby-G watch to the best smartwatches
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
