Apple Watch Ultra 3: The pinnacle of Apple's sports and adventure watches

Apple has announced the Apple Watch Ultra 3, its most powerful watch yet. The new watch combines advanced health, fitness, security and connectivity features and looks to have no trouble switching between the roles of a powerful sports watch, a stylish smartwatch and a versatile health companion. The key innovation is built-in satellite connectivity, which allows the user to send emergency messages, share their location and communicate with family and friends, even when they are out of range of a cellular or Wi-Fi network. It will most likely be available in the next, with a starting price of around €800.

Bigger screen, 5G and up to 42 hours of battery life

Watch Ultra 3 uses Apple’s most advanced display technology with LTPO3 and wide-angle OLED. The bezels are about a quarter thinner, so the screen area is larger and readability at an angle is better, even though the body remains the same size. The display in Always-On mode refreshes at 1 Hz, which for the first time allows you to see the running seconds hand without raising your wrist, while updated watch faces and apps like Stopwatch and Timer take advantage of the new frequency. The watch supports 5G, uses a more efficient modem and an algorithm that activates two system antennas simultaneously for greater throughput in areas with poor signal. It provides up to 42 hours of operation in everyday use, up to 72 hours in Low Power mode, and up to 20 hours in power saving mode for continuous outdoor exercise recording with GPS and heart rate measurement on. A quick charge in 15 minutes adds up to about 12 hours of use.

Unfortunately, Apple will not be able to avoid criticism regarding battery life this year either. While the new Watch Ultra 3 is theoretically rated for 3 days of battery life, the competition offers more than a week, even two weeks. The new Huawei watches (Watch GT 6), which we will be introducing next week, are said to last up to 21 days with optimal use. I'm not saying that this is a number that Apple can achieve, but for just under a thousand, it is appropriate that such a watch should last at least a week, without skimping on features.

Satellite as a safety net when there is no network

Built-in two-way satellite communication provides a sense of security in remote areas. When there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, users can text emergency services, share their location with Find My, or send a message to loved ones. The exchange of messages is encrypted. In the event of a serious accident or fall and unresponsiveness, the SOS satellite function can automatically send key information to rescuers and emergency contacts when it is in line of sight of a satellite. For such a compact device, the radio has been expanded to multiple frequencies, and the antenna has been redesigned to double the signal strength, allowing the watch to connect to satellites up to approximately 800 miles away and traveling at 15,000 mph. Apple also offers 24/7 call centers with trained operators. Satellite communication features are free with Ultra 3 for the first two years.

It has not yet been officially confirmed whether these features will also be available in Europe.

New health insights: hypertension and sleep quality

Ultra 3 introduces notifications for signs of chronic high blood pressure, which use an optical heart rate sensor and a background algorithm to analyze the response of the vessels to each heartbeat over 30 days. When there are consistent signs of hypertension, the watch alerts the user and directs them to further measurements and consultation. The feature is supported by data from multiple studies with more than 100,000 participants and validated in a clinical trial involving 2,000 people. Also coming with watchOS 26 is Sleep Score, which combines sleep duration, consistency of bedtime, wake times, and sleep stage proportions into a clear, understandable result, available on the watch and in the Health app.

Sport without compromise

The Ultra 3 remains a premium sports watch with accurate GPS, a customizable action button, a rich set of metrics for running, cycling, swimming and hiking, and support for third-party apps. The new Workout app layout makes it easier to customize workout views, and scheduled workouts, music and podcasts can be tied to the start of a workout. Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, analyzes your heart rate, pace, distance, activity rings and personal milestones in real time and delivers personalized motivation through the headphones.

The case is available in natural and black titanium. The new band collection brings updated colors to the Ocean Band and Alpine Loop, as well as a redesigned Trail Loop with a reflective thread along the edge.