Apple Watch Ultra 3: Innovation meets sustainability

This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.

Make Apfelpatient a preferred source One click – and you'll see us more often on Google

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 ushers in a new chapter in wearable technology. With built-in Satellite SOS, the largest display ever on an Apple Watch, up to 42 hours of battery life, and powerful health features, it demonstrates how technology, sport, adventure, and health can all come together in a single device.

The demands of a modern smartwatch have long since gone beyond traditional fitness features. Today, it's not just about counting steps or displaying notifications, but also the ability to help in critical situations, provide important health data, and stay connected anywhere. This is precisely where the Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes in. It was designed to be equally impressive as a sports watch, adventure tool, elegant accessory, and health assistant.

Larger display and new display technology

The display on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the largest Apple has ever installed in a watch. This is made possible by LTPO3 technology, which allows for 24 percent thinner bezels without changing the case size. It also features a new wide-angle OLED that's easier to read even from side angles. In Always-On mode, the refresh rate increases from once per minute to once per second, so the second hand remains visible. Over 20 watch faces have been adapted for this, as have the stopwatch and timer. Also new is the Waypoint watch face with a live compass, quick access to satellite communications, and Night mode.

42 hours of battery life and fast charging

The Ultra 3 offers a battery life of up to 42 hours in normal use and 72 hours in power-saving mode. For outdoor workouts with GPS tracking, the watch can last up to 20 hours in power-saving mode. Especially convenient: just 15 minutes of fast charging provides up to 12 hours of battery life.

5G mobile communications and improved reception

With an active cellular plan, you can make calls, send messages, or call for help, even without an iPhone. New is 5G support, which ensures faster downloading of music, podcasts, and apps. To maintain stable reception even in areas with weak reception, the watch activates both antennas simultaneously when needed, thus amplifying the signal.

Satellite communications for greater security

The biggest innovation is satellite communication. If neither cellular nor Wi-Fi is available, you can contact emergency services via text message, send messages to friends and family, or share your location. Emergency SOS via satellite is automatically activated if a serious accident or fall is detected. The "Find My" function also uses satellites to transmit your location every 15 minutes. Messages, emojis, and Tapbacks are also possible - end-to-end encrypted. To make this possible in such a small device, Apple redesigned the antenna and doubled the signal strength. This enables connection to satellites up to 800 miles high and at speeds of up to 15,000 km/h. These features are free for two years and can be used without a cellular contract, as long as they enable emergency calling and location sharing.

New health features: Hypertension detection

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first to offer notifications for high blood pressure. It detects signs of hypertension by analyzing how blood vessels respond to heartbeats. The algorithm runs in the background, collecting data for 30 days and alerting users if abnormalities are detected. This feature is based on machine learning with data from studies involving over 100,000 participants and has been clinically tested on 2,000 people. High blood pressure is a major risk worldwide, often undetected, and a leading factor in heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. The Ultra 3 is designed to help detect it early. If an alert occurs, Apple recommends measuring your blood pressure with an external device for one week and discussing it with your doctor. The feature will be available in more than 150 countries, including the US and EU, once it receives approval from the FDA and other authorities.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple — Image: Apple

Sleep score for better sleep

watchOS 26 introduces a new Sleep Score feature. It assesses sleep quality based on duration, regularity, waking hours, and individual sleep stages. Each morning, the Sleep app provides an overall score, complemented by a detailed breakdown. This helps you understand which factors can be improved. The score is based on guidelines from leading sleep societies and was developed using over 5 million nights of sleep data.

Workout Buddy and new fitness features

The Ultra 3's fitness features have been significantly expanded. With Workout Buddy, the watch uses Apple Intelligence to analyze training data and provide spoken cues for heart rate, pace, distance, and personal milestones. Initially, the feature is available in English for the most popular workouts. The Workout app itself has been redesigned, with customizable workouts, views, Pacer, Race Route, and more. Music and podcasts can be integrated directly into workouts, and Apple Music can automatically select suitable playlists. Precise measurements are available for various sports:

Runners benefit from the most accurate GPS in a sports watch, Precision Start, segment markers, advanced run metrics, and track detection.
Cyclists see live data on their iPhone, connect power meters, and use new zone calculations.
Swimmers get stroke and lap detection, SWOLF scores, and temperature measurement. The watch is WR100 water resistant.
Hikers use offline maps, waypoints and backtrack GPS.
Divers can transform the watch into a dive computer using the Oceanic+ app.
Golfers rely on third-party apps such as Golfshot or Arccos.

New design and bracelets

watchOS 26 brings a fresh design with Liquid Glass, improved Smart Stack alerts, live translations, and a new one-handed gesture for dismissing notifications. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 itself is available in natural or black titanium. New bands include a Trail Loop with reflective yarn, as well as new colors for the Ocean Band and Alpine Loop. Hermès offers new designs like the Scub'H Diving band with a titanium buckle.

Sustainability and environmental balance

The watch is made from 40 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled titanium in the case and recycled cobalt in the battery. The case is 3D printed, halving material consumption. Production is powered by renewable energy, and the packaging is entirely fiber-based. Apple aims to be carbon-neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030.

Prices and availability

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at $799, is available for pre-order now, and will be available in stores on September 19. New bands will also be available on that date. watchOS 26 will be released on September 15 and requires an iPhone 11 or later.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: More than just a smartwatch

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 combines a high-tech sports watch, smart everyday aid, and innovative health assistant. With satellite SOS, 5G, precise GPS, new health features, AI-assisted training, and an eco-conscious design, it clearly sets itself apart from previous generations. It's aimed at adventurers, athletes, and anyone who values safety, health, and smart technology—and demonstrates that a watch can be much more than just a timepiece today. (Image: Apple)