Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review: Is it Worthy of the Name and the $800 Price Tag?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 introduces satellite connectivity, improved battery life, and enhanced health features, making it a rugged, versatile smartwatch with a high price tag.

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 features satellite connectivity and enhanced battery life.

• New sleep score and hypertension notifications boost health monitoring capabilities.

• The Ultra 3 maintains a rugged design, a bright display, and faster charging, making it a powerful, albeit bulky, device.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3, priced at $800, offers significant upgrades including satellite connectivity for off-grid emergencies and an extended battery life of 42-49 hours of daily use. While some features like a new sleep score and hypertension notifications are also available on older models, the Ultra 3 excels in its robust design, faster charging, and a brighter display. This makes it a strong contender for users who prioritize ruggedness and advanced features, though its bulkiness might not suit everyone for daily wear.

Key New Features

• 00:00:46 The Apple Watch Ultra 3's standout new feature is satellite connectivity, enabling emergency calls and location sharing even without cellular service, which can be a vital lifeline if fall or crash detection is triggered. While this feature is powerful, it is not exclusive to the Ultra 3, as other smartwatches also offer similar capabilities, and its daily relevance may be limited for most users.

• 00:02:16 Battery life is a major improvement, with the Ultra 3 offering an additional six hours compared to its predecessor, reaching an Apple-claimed 42 hours of daily use, and actual tests showing 45-49 hours. It also features ultra-fast charging, providing up to 12 hours of use from just 15 minutes on the charger, which significantly benefits features like sleep tracking by minimizing downtime.

• 00:03:56 The Ultra 3 introduces new health capabilities, including a sleep score that grades nightly sleep quality and hypertension notifications that alert users to potential high blood pressure. While these are not exclusive to the Ultra 3 and require activation and 30 days of data, they act as a crucial early warning system, complementing traditional diagnostic tools.

• 00:05:18 The design of the Ultra 3 maintains its signature rugged aesthetic with a titanium case, now 3D printed and available in a black finish. Hardware enhancements include a new S10 chip, similar to last year's Series 10, and a 49mm LTO display with smaller bezels, offering a brighter and clearer visual experience even in direct sunlight.