(credit: Apple)
Apple is back in 2025 with a powerful new upgrade to its most rugged smartwatch: the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple's ultra premium wearable has finally received a much anticipated refresh — bringing a thinner design, larger display, and a host of new health and safety features, including satellite messaging and hypertension alerts.
If you’re an adventurer, athlete, or just love Apple’s most feature packed smartwatch, here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Display: Bigger, Brighter, Better
The Ultra 3 features Apple’s LTPO3 wide-angle OLED panel, making it the largest and brightest screen ever on an Apple Watch. The refresh rate has also been improved, offering smoother interactions and better battery optimisation.
Design: Thinner Case, Slimmer Bezel
Apple has refined the Ultra’s rugged design by making it thinner overall and reducing the bezel size by 24%, giving users more screen real estate without increasing the watch’s footprint.
Satellite Messaging: Stay Connected Off the Grid
In a major leap for safety and emergency use, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 now supports satellite messaging — similar to features found on the Pixel Watch 4 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. This allows users to send messages even when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi range, a critical addition for outdoor enthusiasts and emergency situations.
Health Features: Hypertension Alerts
The Ultra 3 includes new hypertension (high blood pressure) alerts — a first for any smartwatch. This feature takes 30 days of continuous wear to calibrate properly, offering more proactive heart health monitoring.
Sleep Tracking: Smarter Rest Insights
The Ultra 3 now provides a daily sleep score out of 100, giving users deeper insights into their rest quality and actionable tips to improve sleep — putting it on par with other top-tier fitness trackers.
Battery Life: A Major Jump
Battery life gets a significant boost. While the Ultra 2 offered up to 26 hours with the always on display, the Ultra 3 pushes that to an impressive 42 hours per charge — making it the longest-lasting Apple Watch ever.
Final Thoughts
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is more than just a minor update — it’s a substantial upgrade in both design and functionality. With a larger screen, thinner build, satellite communication, and advanced health tracking, it’s clearly designed for those who need more than the average smartwatch.
If you’re upgrading from an earlier model — or waiting for Apple to bring something new to the Ultra line — 2025 is your year.