Highlights
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 – features a brighter display, 42-hour battery, satellite connectivity, and new watch faces. Priced at $799, shipping from Sept 19.
- Series 11 Upgrades – Powered by the S11 chip, it adds 5G, hypertension detection, Sleep Score, and improved durability with up to 24-hour battery life.
- SE 3 Refresh – Now includes an always-on display, gesture controls, and faster performance via the S10 chip, still priced at $249 with fast charging support.
Apple has officially announced its new smartwatch lineup during the iPhone 17 launch event, introducing the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3. The latest models bring upgrades in design, health tracking, performance, and connectivity, expanding Apple’s ecosystem of wearables.
To start with, the new Apple Watch lineup is as follows:
- Apple Watch Ultra 3: Starts at $799
- Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm): Starts at $249
- Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm): Starts at $279
- Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm): Starts at $399
- Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm): Starts at $429
Apple Watch Ultra 3 – Bigger, Brighter, and More Capable
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 takes center stage with several standout upgrades. It features a larger and brighter display, an extended 42-hour battery life, and for the first time on an Apple Watch, satellite connectivity.
The larger display incorporates Apple’s most advanced display technology with LTPO3 and wide-angle OLEDs.
LTPO3 tech is more power efficient and enables a faster refresh rate when the watch is in always-on mode. It goes from once a minute to once a second, which makes noticing a ticking second’s hand without raising the wrist possible.
Like the Series 11, the Ultra 3 supports 5G, hypertension detection, sleep score analysis, and introduces new watch faces including Flow and Exactograph. Exclusive to the Ultra is the Waypoint watch face and satellite-enabled features like Emergency SOS (free for two years), as well as Messages and Find My via satellite (with an active cellular plan).
The Ultra 3 retains its natural titanium and black titanium finishes but is now manufactured using a 3D printing process that reduces material use. Apple has also introduced new band colours for the Ultra lineup.
“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,” said Eugene Kim, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch Hardware Engineering. “Apple Watch Ultra 3 debuts innovative satellite communications that will offer users more safety and connectivity when they’re off the grid, plus longer battery life, 5G, powerful health insights, and all the advanced fitness features our users love.”
Key Features –
- 49mm titanium case
- Always-On Retina display, Up to 3,000 nits, Wide-angle OLED, LTPO3
- ECG app, High and low heart rate notifications, Irregular rhythm notifications, Low cardio fitness notifications, Blood Oxygen app
- Sleep Tracking, Sleep score
- S10 chip, Wrist flick gesture, Double tap gesture, On‑device Siri with health data access, Precision Finding for iPhone
- Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen and sleep duration
- Temperature sensing, Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
- Emergency SOS, International Emergency Calling, Fall Detection and Crash Detection, Siren
- Water resistant 100m, Swim, snorkel, scuba, high‑speed water sports, Depth gauge to 40m, Water temperature sensor
- Precision dual‑frequency GPS, Cellular options, 5G capable
- Up to 42 hours battery, Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, Fast-charge capable (0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 12 hours)
Pricing is set at $799, with pre-orders opening this Friday and availability starting September 19.
Apple Watch SE 3 – Affordable Upgrade with Always-On Display
Alongside its premium models, Apple also refreshed its entry-level wearable with the Apple Watch SE 3. First launched in 2019, the SE line has been popular among first-time buyers and parents purchasing for kids.
The SE 3 now runs on the S10 chip, promising faster performance, and gains an always-on display for the first time. It also supports gesture controls such as double-tap and wrist-flick, plus fast charging.
“Apple Watch SE offers a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, delivering outstanding health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features at an incredible value,” said Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing. “With even more health features, an Always-On display, and fast charging, we’re excited to see the ways Apple Watch SE 3 supports more people around the world to live a healthier and more active life.”
Key Features –
- 44mm or 40mm aluminium case
- Always-On Retina display, Up to 1,000 nits, OLED, LTPO
- High and low heart rate notifications, Irregular rhythm notifications, Low cardio fitness notifications
- Sleep Tracking, Sleep score
- Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature and sleep duration
- Temperature sensing, Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
- Emergency SOS, International Emergency Calling, Fall Detection and Crash Detection
- Water resistant 50m, Swim
- GPS, Cellular options, 5G capable
- S10 chip, Wrist flick gesture, Double tap gesture, On‑device Siri with health data access, Find iPhone
- Up to 18 hours, Up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode, Fast-charge capable (0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours)
The price remains unchanged at $249, with pre-orders live today and shipping beginning September 19.
Apple Watch Series 11 – Smarter Health Features and Stronger Build
Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch Series 11, which builds on last year’s Series 10 with meaningful refinements. The smartwatch is powered by the new S11 chipset, offers 5G support, and is now twice as scratch-resistant.
“Apple Watch is the world’s most popular watch, using advanced sensing capabilities to empower millions of people around the world to better understand their health simply by wearing it, while also serving as a fitness coach, message center, mobile wallet, and beautiful timepiece,” said Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing. “With powerful new health features — hypertension notifications and sleep score — plus longer battery life, a more scratch-resistant glass display, and 5G cellular, all in a thin and comfortable design users love, Apple Watch Series 11 is an indispensable companion that supports users’ health, fitness, safety, and connectivity throughout the day and night.”
Health tracking sees a big leap with the introduction of Hypertension detection, rolling out to more than 150 countries pending regulatory approval. Apple also added a Sleep Score feature, developed using data from over 5 million nights of sleep, providing users with deeper insights into sleep quality.
The Series 11 also integrates Apple’s redesigned Blood Oxygen monitoring feature, though results must be viewed through the iPhone.
Key Features
- 46mm or 42mm aluminium or titanium case
- Always-On Retina display, Up to 2,000 nits, Wide-angle OLED, LTPO3
- ECG app, High and low heart rate notifications, Irregular rhythm notifications, Low cardio fitness notifications, Blood Oxygen app
- Sleep Tracking, Sleep score
- Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen and sleep duration
- Temperature sensing, Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
- Emergency SOS, International Emergency Calling, Fall Detection and Crash Detection
- Water resistant 50m, Swim, snorkel, Depth gauge to 6m, Water temperature sensor
- GPS, Cellular options, 5G capable,
- S10 chip, Wrist flick gesture, Double tap gesture, On‑device Siri with health data access, Precision Finding for iPhone
- Up to 24 hours, Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, Fast-charge capable (0–80% in about 30 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours)
Another major update is the larger battery, which now delivers up to 24 hours of usage.
The Apple Watch Series 11 will be available in two sizes, 42mm for $399 and 46mm for $429. GPS + Cellular models will cost an additional $100.
Apple Watch Series 11 is available in aluminium in a new space grey, as well as jet black, rose gold, and silver, and also in polished titanium in natural, gold, and slate. Pre-orders open this Friday, with sales starting September 19.
FAQs
Q1. What are the key features of the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Answer. The Ultra 3 offers a larger, brighter display, 42-hour battery life, satellite connectivity, 5G support, and exclusive watch faces like Waypoint and Exactograph.
Q2. What upgrades does the Apple Watch Series 11 bring?
Answer. Series 11 introduces the S11 chip, 5G, hypertension detection, Sleep Score analysis, improved Blood Oxygen monitoring, and a more scratch-resistant build.
Q3. What’s new in the Apple Watch SE 3?
Answer. The SE 3 now includes an always-on display, gesture controls like double-tap and wrist-flick, fast charging, and improved performance via the S10 chip.
Q4. What are the battery life improvements across the new models?
Answer. Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours, Series 11 delivers 24 hours, and SE 3 maintains solid battery life with added fast charging support.
Q5. When will the new Apple Watches be available and what are the prices?
Answer. Pre-orders open this Friday, with shipping from September 19. Prices: SE 3 at $249, Series 11 at $399 (42mm) and $429 (46mm), Ultra 3 at $799.
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