If you’ve ever gone camping, walked 20 yards away from your campsite to go pee behind a tree, and looked up to find that you were completely lost in the dark, then the new Watch Ultra 3 is for you. It now features satellite messaging, which I tested on a weekend off-grid camping trip. It’s a significant improvement over sat comms on your phone, since you’re more likely to have your watch on your body.
The battery life on the Watch Ultra 3 is also improved—now up to 42 hours from a mere 36 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. On my weekend trip, I didn’t carefully dole out battery usage—freely using the Watch Ultra 3 off-grid to navigate a several-hour car ride, track multiple trail runs and hikes, and send satellite texts—and it lasted me from Friday morning to Sunday morning.
It has the biggest display of any Apple Watch, which is better for viewing offline maps. It also has the same distinctive design as the original, which includes diving capabilities and a three-mic array for taking calls while on the ski lift. Like the Series 11, it has 5G connectivity in addition to sat comms, hypertension notifications, and all the features in watchOS 27.
Also like the Series 11, the Watch Ultra 3’s titanium case is 3D-printed for greater material efficiency. It’s also the only Apple Watch with a siren. I haven’t tried to attract help from a passerby with it, but I did scare my dog. It’s now a true weekend-warrior watch, fulfilling the promise that the Watch Ultra made several years ago. —Adrienne So
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Case Size | 49 mm |
| Display | Always-on Retina display, up to 3,000 nits |
| Battery Life | Up to 42 hours |
| Durability | 100-meter water resistance; IP6X dust resistant; Tested to MIL-STD 810H |
| Key Health Features | Hypertension notifications, ECG app, Blood Oxygen app |