Apple Watch Series Ultra 3 unveiled — 42 hours of battery, satellite messaging, and Apple's largest screen ever

After an Apple Watch Ultra gap year in 2024, we finally have an Apple Watch Ultra 3 model to drool over in 2025.

That's right. Cupertino's rugged, ultra-high-end, and ultra-big smartwatch has finally received a much-welcomed refresh by way of a thinner case, larger screen and lots of new health and safety tools, including satellite messaging and high blood pressure alerts.

Read on to find out the biggest Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrades over the Apple Watch Ultra 2, along with price and availability details.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more details.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Upgrade cheat sheet

• Price: The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is $799, the same price as the Ultra 2 and original Ultra model.
• Display: The Ultra 3 sports Apple's LTPO3 wide-angle OLED panel, the largest and brightest on any Apple Watch to date. The screen refresh rate has also been bumped up.
• Design: the bezel has been reduced by 24%.
• Satellite messaging: Similar to the Pixel Watch 4 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, the Ultra 3 offers satellite messaging for off-the-grid emergency communications.
• Hypertension alerts: Like the new Apple Watch Series 11, the Ultra 3 offers hypertension alerts. The feature takes 30 days to calibrate.
• Daily sleep score: The Ultra 3 will provide users with a daily sleep score out of 100, similar to the competition.
• Better battery life While the Ultra 2 was rated for an impressive 26 hours of battery per charge with the always-on display, the Ultra 3 is rated for 42 hours per charge.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Price and release date

The new Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for preorder now and expected to start shipping on September 19 2025. It's priced at $799, the same cost as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Key upgrades

The Ultra 3 looks to be a major update over 2023's Apple Watch Ultra 2. Here are the biggest things that set it apart.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrade #1: A better, bigger screen

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 inherits the latest LTPO3 wide-angle OLED screen technology, first introduced in last year's Apple Watch 10. The largest and brightest display on an Apple Watch to date, it boasts 3,000 nits of max brightness, the same as the Ultra 2.

This should make it ridiculously easy to read in direct sunlight, even while on the move.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrade #2: Hypertension alerts

Hypertension causes roughly 10.8 million preventable deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization, which might explain why Apple has been hell-bent on adding a feature that can detect it to the brand's premier line of smartwatches.

The Ultra 3 and Series 11 are the first smartwatches with high blood pressure alerts. Like sleep apnea detection, the feature is designed to potentially tip off users to a deadly condition they might otherwise not be aware of.

Using the optical heart rate sensor, the Ultra 3 analyzes 30 days of data to try to spot any patterns that might suggest hypertension. While Apple notes it won't catch every single instance, the brand expects the new feature to alert as many as one million users that they have high blood pressure within the feature's first year.

Now FDA-cleared, hypertension detection is available in 150 countries.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 #3: Better battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was the brand's longest-lasting smartwatch, boasting up to 36 hours of use per charge with the always-on display and 72 hours per charge in low power mode.

The new Apple Watch Ultra 3 takes things a step further, with 42 hours of battery life in always-on mode. Oddly, the low-power battery rating is still 72 hours.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrade #4: SOS satellite messaging

With no shortage of rumors suggesting the arrival of off-the-grid emergency messaging coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, don't blame us for not being surprised by its announcement. After all, both the new flagship Google Pixel Watch 4 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro offer it.

Apple's take on satellite messaging allows users to connect with emergency services, share their location, and even message friends and family.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrade #5: Daily sleep score

Like the Apple Watch Series 11, the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 will provide users with a daily numeric sleep score out of 100 based on factors like sleep consistency, duration, time spent in deep sleep, and more.

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