Though Apple Watch fans might still be satisfied with the Ultra 2 or the Apple Watch Series 10, the Ultra 3 is ready for those who want the most advanced smartwatch Apple has to offer.
The Watch Ultra 3 gets the same 5G support, hypertension notifications and Sleep Score as the Series 11, along with watchOS 26 upgrades like Workout Buddy and Liquid Glass. I need a few more days with the Ultra 3 before I can vouch for its 42-hour battery estimate, but it’s nice to see longer runtimes on an endurance watch.
From my initial testing, I can confirm that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is simply a powerhouse of a wearable, adding 5G, satellite connectivity and new screen technology to an already-winning formula. I’ll be testing it further, including the Low Power Mode that can stretch its runtime to a remarkable 72 hours, but all the early signs suggest that Apple's Ultra upgrade can truly go the distance in every sense of the term.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. With the brightest and largest display, the longest-lasting battery, 5G and now satellite connectivity, it’s the ultimate Apple Watch for people who want everything Apple can offer on the wrist.
You get a staggering 42 hours of battery life as standard, rising to 72 hours if you switch it into Low Power Mode. This is very impressive given the density of tech running on this device.You can also blast it up with a quick 15-minute charge to get 12 hours of battery life. Not bad.