The Apple Watch Ultra was already the best smartwatch available when it launched in 2022. The Ultra 3 takes everything that made it great and improves the two things that held it back: display brightness and battery life.

The New Micro-LED Display

Apple has replaced the OLED display with a new micro-LED panel — the first micro-LED display in any Apple product. The result is extraordinary: 4,000 nits peak brightness (up from 2,000 nits), true blacks, and a display that remains readable in direct sunlight without activating the always-on mode. The 49mm titanium case houses a display that is, by every objective measure, the best on any wearable.

Battery Life: 72 Hours

The Ultra 3's 72-hour battery life in standard mode (36 hours with always-on display) is the longest of any Apple Watch. In Low Power Mode, Apple claims 96 hours — enough for a four-day ultramarathon without a charge. In our testing, a 50km trail run with continuous GPS tracking consumed 22% of battery.

GPS & Precision Tracking

The dual-frequency L1/L5 GPS with Apple's new Precision Finding technology delivers location accuracy to within 10cm in open environments. For trail runners, mountaineers, and open-water swimmers, this level of precision transforms route tracking from approximate to exact. The new Depth app supports dives to 100m.

Health Sensors

The Ultra 3 adds a new blood glucose monitoring sensor — the most requested health feature in Apple Watch history. Using non-invasive optical sensing, it provides trend data for people managing pre-diabetes or monitoring metabolic health. Combined with the existing ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and crash detection sensors, the Ultra 3 is the most comprehensive health monitoring device available.

The Verdict

At $999, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most expensive Apple Watch ever made. It's also the best smartwatch ever made. The micro-LED display is transformative, the 72-hour battery life removes charging anxiety, and the health sensor suite is unmatched. For serious athletes and health-conscious users, it's worth every cent.

Fitness Tracking: Best in Class

The Ultra 3's fitness tracking capabilities are unmatched. The dual-frequency GPS with 10cm accuracy makes route tracking genuinely precise — trail runners can see exactly which switchback they took, and open-water swimmers get accurate distance measurements even in choppy conditions. The new Depth app supports dives to 100m with automatic dive logging. The Workout app now supports 80+ workout types with automatic detection for most common activities.

watchOS 12 Features

watchOS 12 introduces several features that make the Ultra 3 more useful as a daily driver. The new Smart Stack widget system surfaces relevant information based on time, location, and activity. The Translate app now works offline for 20 languages. The new Vitals app monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, and wrist temperature overnight and alerts you to significant changes. The blood glucose monitoring sensor — the most requested feature in Apple Watch history — provides trend data for metabolic health management.

Who Should Buy It

The Ultra 3 is not for everyone. If your primary use case is notifications and basic fitness tracking, the Apple Watch Series 10 at $399 delivers 90% of the experience at 40% of the price. The Ultra 3 is for serious athletes who need precise GPS and long battery life, health-conscious users who want the most comprehensive sensor suite available, and outdoor adventurers who need a watch that can survive extreme conditions. For those users, the $999 price is justified.

Build Quality and Durability

The titanium case is rated to MIL-STD-810H for shock, vibration, and temperature extremes. The sapphire crystal display is scratch-resistant under all but the most extreme conditions. The 100m water resistance makes it suitable for swimming, surfing, and shallow diving. The flat sapphire crystal — rather than the curved glass used on standard Apple Watch models — is more resistant to impact damage, which matters for trail runners and mountaineers who regularly knock their watch against rocks.

The new titanium band attachment system is more secure than previous generations, with a positive click that confirms the band is locked. The Alpine Loop and Trail Loop bands — designed specifically for the Ultra — are more comfortable for extended wear than the standard Sport Band, and the new Magnetic Link band provides a more formal option for users who wear the Ultra as a daily watch.

The Competition

The Ultra 3's main competition comes from Garmin's Fenix 8 Solar ($999) and Epix Pro ($899). Against Garmin, the Ultra 3 wins on display quality, health sensors, and ecosystem integration — but loses on battery life (Garmin's solar charging extends battery life to weeks) and the depth of sport-specific metrics for activities like trail running and cycling. For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the Ultra 3's seamless integration with iPhone, Mac, and AirPods is a significant advantage. For serious endurance athletes who prioritise battery life above all else, Garmin remains the better choice.

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