The Apple Watch segment is often one of the most inspiring parts of Apple’s September keynote, showcasing stories of how the watch has saved lives or detected health issues before they became more serious. With the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple continues that legacy. Here’s your breakdown of the features, upgrades, and what’s new.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: The Ultra 3 keeps its rugged titanium build and 49mm size but boosts brightness from 2,000 nits on the Ultra 2 to 3,000 nits, making it Apple’s brightest display yet. This improvement makes maps, metrics, and apps easier to read in direct sunlight.

It also introduces a new Natural Titanium finish alongside refreshed band colors designed for outdoor and sports use. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was made with 95% recycled titanium, and now Apple can confidently say their Apple Watch Ultra 3 is made with 100% recycled titanium.

Apple Watch Series 11: The Series 11 comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes with brightness increased from 1,000 nits on Series 10 to 2,000 nits. The slimmer, lighter profile makes it comfortable for everyday wear. It’s available in aluminum finishes (Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and new Pink) and stainless steel (Silver, Gold, and Graphite), with fresh band styles to match.

Durability and Screen Brightness: Both models build on Apple’s improvements in durability and visibility. The Ultra 3 sets a new benchmark with its 3,000-nit display, while the Series 11 doubles the brightness of its predecessor. Combined with new finishes and band options, both watches are easier to personalize and better suited to a range of lifestyles.

Both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 are powered by Apple’s new S9 SiP chip, built for faster performance and greater efficiency. This translates to smoother navigation, quicker app launches, and more responsive interactions across both models.

On the battery side, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has up to 42 hours of battery life on a single charge, and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. This is an improvement over the Ultra 2, which had up to 36 hours of standard use. The Apple Watch Series 11 provides up to 18 hours of battery life, or up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode, similar to the Series 10.

These upgrades mean you can expect faster performance without extra drain. Workouts track more smoothly, GPS and maps refresh quicker, and apps run in the background with less impact on battery life. For everyday users, the Series 11 maintains reliability throughout the day, while the Ultra 3 extends Apple Watch into true multi-day territory for adventurers and heavy users.

The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces improved sleep insights with a new sleep score, refinements in wrist temperature sensing, and a new feature: Hypertension Notifications, which can alert you if consistent signs of high blood pressure are detected over a 30-day period using the optical heart sensor. Ultra 3 also includes this hypertension notification feature, but doesn’t appear to have additional exclusive health sensors beyond what Series 11 offers.

Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 run on watchOS 26, which introduces the new “Liquid Glass” design. This update brings smoother animations, layered translucency, and a more fluid overall experience. On the Series 11, the OLED display highlights these subtle UI details, while the Ultra 3’s larger and brighter screen makes the Liquid Glass effects feel even more immersive, especially outdoors.

With the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, Apple continues to refine its lineup for two very different audiences: the adventurer who demands durability and multi-day battery life, and the everyday user who values comfort, style, and health insights.

Both watches share upgrades in performance, display brightness, and health tracking, while watchOS 26 adds a fresh new design element. Whether you’re scaling mountains with the Ultra 3 or navigating daily life with the Series 11, the 2025 Apple Watch lineup continues its purpose of blending technology with everyday life.

A new watch calls for a new band. Choose between our titanium, stainless steel, or full-grain leather options.