Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: Apple’s most advanced adventure watch yet

On September 9th, 2025, Apple officially introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 3, calling it the “most advanced Apple Watch yet”. This watch promises to deliver expanded fitness, health, safety, and connectivity features, presenting itself as both a capable sports watch and an elegant smartwatch.

✨ Apple Watch Ultra 3 review

✨The Ultra 3 keeps its £749.00 price tag but delivers Apple’s largest and brightest watch display, new safety features like satellite SOS, and the longest battery life in Apple Watch history at 42 hours. There are also new and improved health tracking features, including blood pressure trend alerts and a sleep score. These features make the Ultra 3 more practical for daily use and outdoor adventures.

Why you can trust this Apple Watch Ultra 3 review

You can trust our list over others because our review of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is based on only the facts that Apple confirmed during its keynote and newsroom release.

We’ve also taken it a step further by filtering the details we’ve learned through a refurbisher's lens to help you understand how these announced features will translate into real-world performance and capability.

With our years of experience testing, cleaning, repairing, and examining Apple watches, we know how they should perform. We also have expert insights into how these changes will affect how you use the Ultra 3 watch and what you can actually do with it.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: The verdict

💗💗💗💗4/5: An adventurous watch that monitors your health

A quote from Eugene Kim, Apple's vice president, surrounding the Apple Watch Ultra 3 perfectly summarises the watch's intention. He said:

“Apple Watch Ultra is our most advanced Apple Watch, designed to take users from sports and adventure to the rest of their life, and help them stay active, healthy, connected, and safe, wherever they are.”

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will debut innovative satellite communications. On the surface, this might seem impressive, and it is. These communications, alongside 5G connectivity, will offer you and other users improved safety no matter where you are in the world.

We don’t know about you, but this sounds pretty attractive, especially for those who love to wander off the beaten path and go off-grid. The watch's longer battery life is also not something to scoff at. With more than a day's battery life on offer with a single charge, you get more out of the device without feeling like you’re pushing it to its limits.

Additionally, although its somewhat similar sleek design might not be anything groundbreaking, the powerful health and fitness insights are worth a second glance. With many advanced features and improvements, it will be easy to fall in love.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 specs

The tech conglomerate has not yet confirmed all the specs for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but we can share what we do know. Have a look below at the specs you can expect if this watch has caught your eye. Use this information to help decide whether it’ll make its way into your cart when it is released by Apple:

• Display: Largest and brightest Apple Watch display ever with a 1Hz Always-On refresh rate

• Processor: An S11 SiP optimised for efficiency

• Battery: Up to 42 hours of typical use and 72 hours in Low Power Mode on a single charge

• Connectivity: 5G support + Emergency SOS via satellite

• Health: Blood pressure trend alerts, sleep score, ECG, SpO₂, and heart rate monitoring

• Build: Rugged titanium, available for now in natural and new black finish

Apple Watch Ultra 3 pros and cons

Would our Apple Watch Ultra 3 review be complete without a pros and cons list? We think not. That’s why we’ve shared a brief overview of what makes this watch worthwhile and what might cause you to hesitate.

✨The Apple Watch Ultra 3 delivers a brighter display, rugged build, and solid health tools, though its high price and efficiency-focused performance might hold some buyers back.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 features and benefits

To understand why many are excited about the Apple Watch Ultra 3, you need to know about its features and benefits and why they matter. So, to give you an expert's insight into why this watch might live up to the hype surrounding it, we’ve detailed what you can expect and look forward to most when it's sitting snugly on your wrist.

Design and display

We bet users like this Redditor who said,

“You know how each new iPhone is almost the exact same as last year’s model? Yeah, that’s probably going to be the AWU3 too,”

are regretting their comments now. Based on Apple's keynote, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is as impressive as the brand promised it would be. Although not groundbreaking, its new design and display are remarkable to behold, with the watch being durable, repairable, and built to last.

Let’s talk screens first, and bigger might be better in this instance. As the brand's largest and brightest screen yet on a smartwatch, it should come as no surprise that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is powered by LTPO3 technology and wide-angle OLEDs. It should also be unsurprising that the design’s thinner borders create more viewing space without needing to increase the case size, thus preventing the watch from feeling bulky on the wrist.

It also comes with the convenient design perk of an Always-On display that refreshes every second. With this design, both the familiar and the updated watch faces, of which there are more than 20, feel far more alive and visually appealing.

Speaking of watch faces, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 now comes equipped with a new Waypoint face. This navigation face displays a live compass, satellite access, and Night Mode, making it ideal for adventures that keep you out after dark.

You might also love that wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 3 feels like you’re doing your part for the environment, considering it is made using 40% recycled materials, 100% titanium and cobalt, and renewable energy is used during its production. It also doesn't hurt that the watch comes in two sleek colour options: natural or black titanium with new band options.

✨ The Apple Watch Ultra 3 may not reinvent the design wheel, but its brighter display, durable design, and eco-friendly build make it a reliable pick for daily use and exploration.

Battery and endurance

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes equipped with a larger battery and a power-efficient LTPO3 enhanced display, allowing it to produce better battery life stats. Those who use their Ultra 3 daily can expect up to 42 hours of use on a single charge, but if you’re lucky and use your watch in Low Power Mode, you might see an astonishing 72 hours of battery life.

But there is perhaps something else battery-wise that is even more impressive, especially for those of us who love working out in the great outdoors. With the Ultra 3, you will now get 20 hours of battery life when using your watch for outdoor workout tracking, as well as full GPS and running heart rate readings.

And when it's time to charge the smartwatch, you can expect a 15-minute fast charge to yield up to 12 hours of battery life, which is perfect for those of us (*cough, cough*) who forget to charge our smartwatches overnight before work or an otherwise busy day.

✨ The Apple Watch Ultra 3 sets a new bar for endurance, offering up to 42 hours of daily use and fast charging that keeps you powered even on your busiest days.

Connectivity and safety

Whether you spend more time on or off the grid, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have you covered, connected, and keep you safer than many other fitness watches out there. It's believed that the Ultra 3 will feature 5G cellular support and dual antenna technology that will improve reception in areas with weak coverage.

With these features, you won't have to feel worried that you can't get help if you’re ever in a less-than-stellar predicament. This smartwatch will also support downloads for music, podcasts, and apps much faster, keeping you connected at all times to your playlists, messaging applications, and that latest episode of Call Me Daddy.

But what about when Wi-Fi or cellular networks aren’t available? Well, that's when the Ultra 3’s two-way end-to-end encrypted satellite communication steps in.

With satellite functionality that can connect with satellites orbiting up to 800 miles away, you can share your location, text friends, share tapbacks, use Find My, and even message emergency services through Emergency SOS. This nifty satellite service is even free for the first two years, giving you enough time to think about whether or not it's worth having.

And there are incredibly beneficial, if not life-saving, features like fall detection and crash detection that automatically alert responders to your location, giving you peace of mind when traversing more remote locations.

✨ The Apple Watch Ultra 3 goes beyond fitness tracking, offering satellite SOS, crash detection, and reliable connectivity to keep you safe and connected wherever you are.

Health and wellness

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that takes health and wellness seriously, you should consider the Apple Watch Ultra 3 when it releases. This new Ultra model will offer blood pressure trend notifications and provide a new sleep score system.

It might not quite be a mini doctor on your wrist just yet, but you can expect it to passively review heart rate data over 30-day periods. It will analyse this data and alert you if it detects signs of chronic hypertension, which is a condition that often goes undiagnosed until it's too late and stroke happens, or heart or kidney disease develops.

However, there is a caveat. Apple is waiting for the FDA and other regulatory bodies to approve clearance for hypertension notifications. Still, the brand expects this feature to be available in more than 150 countries, including the EU, soon. This unique hypertension feature has been validated in large-scale studies and confirmed by clinical trials, with Apple anticipating that it will notify more than a million people with undiagnosed hypertension within the first year.

On the sleep side, the sleep score gives you better insights into your sleep quality and helps you learn how to make your sleep more restorative. This new feature complements the existing, more accurate heart rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature readers. All in all, many find these features, when combined, to be incredibly helpful in monitoring overall health and wellness, thereby helping individuals lead healthier lives.

✨ The Apple Watch Ultra 3 raises the bar in wellness tech, offering blood pressure trend alerts, sleep insights, and advanced health tracking that support healthier living every day.

Fitness and training tools

Now, we know the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has been designed for everyone, but if there is one group of people who might benefit the most, it is athletes and fitness lovers who enjoy running, swimming, diving, cycling, and more.

We say this because the Ultra 3 is designed to suit everyone from casual movers to serious adventurers, with features like its Workout Buddy. Workout Buddy can act as an AI coach, offering spoken motivation and using its adaptive capabilities to provide workouts based on your heart rate, pace, and milestones.

Then, there’s the refreshed Workout app. This app makes customising sessions easy. You’ll have Race Routes, Pacer, and Workout Views at the swipe of a finger, alongside access to your music and podcasts if you want extra motivation.

Another convenient addition, especially for hikers and mountain bikers, is the offline maps feature that comes equipped with turn-by-turn directions. There’s also the Oceanic+ support that divers get, and golfers aren’t left out either. They get access to several third-party apps and on-course insights. Like we said, this watch provides impressive fitness-focused features at the touch of a button.

✨ The Apple Watch Ultra 3 shines as a training partner, blending advanced workout tracking, offline maps, and dive support to keep athletes and adventurers motivated and on course.

Shopping tips for the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Before you pre-order the Apple Watch Ultra 3, it might be a good idea to give the tips we’ve shared below a look. They should help guide you on your shopping journey and help you make sure you’re making the right decision:

• Compare features vs. needs: The Ultra 3 has the newest health, fitness, and satellite tools, but if you won’t use them daily, an older model might still be satisfactory. At Back Market, we have quite a few options available, including the Ultra and Ultra 2 models.

• Look at battery life and performance: The Apple Ultra 3 is built for longer adventures, but the Ultra and Ultra 2 already offer strong durability and multi-day use for most users. So, if battery life isn’t a huge concern, you might want to consider an older model until you’re sure you want the Ultra 3.

• Consider refurbished: The Ultra and Ultra 2 are still powerful, and buying refurbished can save you money while providing premium features for less. At the end of the day, the Ultra 3 is going to cost a small fortune, and it will be up to you to decide if it's worth the cost.

And remember, Back Market’s year-round pricing often beats seasonal “deals,” so you don’t have to wait for big sales days if you do want to buy a refurbished Ultra 3 down the line after it’s released.

Why choose a refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 3?

Besides the obvious bit where buying a refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 3 or older will save you money, you’ll also do your part to help reduce e-waste. Every year, billions of tons of tech waste end up in landfills, and choosing refurbished helps keep one more device out of these toxic places.

Additionally, if you choose refurbished, you’re also choosing a watch that is cleaned, tested, repaired if needed, and backed by a one-year warranty. This means you have peace of mind that your smartwatch is not going to simply clock out on you at the worst possible time.

Many of our customers choose refurbished devices from us over new ones, with one Back Market user saying:

“Great price. Watch delivered within 24 hours of order by recorded delivery. I was slightly cautious, having never previously ordered from online sellers of refurbished items, but I really can’t fault this service. Very impressed!”

However, since the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has not yet been released, it might be a little while before we get our hands on units to refurbish. Fortunately, there are plenty of other Apple Watches to choose from, or you can branch out and try a Fitbit, Google Pixel, or even a Samsung smartwatch for now.

Who knows, you might even like it enough to keep it and not trade it in.

Trade in your old tech and upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

If you’re ready to upgrade, Back Market’s trade-in program makes it easy. Send in your old Apple Watch or other tech for an instant quote and free shipping. If you accept the quote, you can put the credit toward the Ultra 3 when we have it in stock, or stretch your savings further with a refurbished Ultra 2 or Series 10.

Prices of Apple Watch Ultra models

Below, you’ll find the pricing of the different Apple Watch Ultra models. This should give you a good indication of how much a new one costs compared to refurbished, and how much savings you can expect.

*Back Market prices are subject to change daily.

Final thoughts on the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Evidently, the excitement surrounding the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is warranted considering all it brings to the table for fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and everyday users. However, it will cost you a pretty penny if you buy it new. Still, it might be worth it if you want to experience its connectivity, safety, health and wellness, design, display, and battery features for yourself.

But if it is a little out of your price range and you want something comparable, consider the Ultra 2 or Series 10. Both are good options depending on your needs. Regardless of which smartwatch you decide on, you can get it refurbished on Back Market. We have a wide range available, so one is likely to catch your eye.