Updated March 20, 2025
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 tipped for blood pressure tracking.
• Third-gen Ultra will likely feature satellite messaging for offline communication and 5G connectivity.
• Rumors suggest a September 2025 launch for the Ultra 3.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3 may sport a similar design as its predecessors.
2024 marked the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch; the very first model debuted in September 2014 and went on sale in April 2015. A decade later, Apple continues to be (arguably) the most dominant force in the world of smartwatches with three popular variations of the Apple Watch on offer including the Series 10, SE (2022) and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The newest model, the Apple Watch Series 10, was announced last year during Apple's September 2024 event and features the largest display and thinnest design to date. However, the widely-predicted Apple Watch Ultra 3 — expected to debut alongside the Series 10 — was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Apple announced a new color option (Satin Black) and bands for the current Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains one of the best smartwatches available in 2025. But with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, it's no longer the only full-featured, tough-built flagship wearable out there. The Galaxy Watch also boasts impressive features not found on the Apple Watch, including AI-backed sleep analysis.
Now, with 2025 in full swing, rumors of an autumn Apple Watch Ultra 3 launch have reached a fever pitch. So, what upgrades can you expect in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, how much might it cost and how will it compare to Samsung's tough-built flagship? Read on for our expert predictions based on all the Ultra 3 rumors and leaks so far.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 cheat sheet: Biggest rumors
- Release date prediction: September 2025
- Price prediction: from $799 and up
- Design: Same basic design as the Ultra and Ultra 2 but possibly with a larger 2.12-inch screen and slightly thinner case
- Display: A more energy-efficient display may come in the form of microLED or wide-angle LTPO similar to the Series 10
- Chip: S10 with dedicated four-core neural engine for machine-learning tasks
- Features: Hypertension detection, satellite connectivity, blood pressure tracking, 5G Cellular
- Battery: A larger coil in the case back could increase charging speeds
- Software: watchOS 11 or possibly watchOS 12
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and release date
Apple's Glowtime launch event occurred on September 9, 2024, where we saw the debut of the Apple Watch 10 and iPhone 16. For fans of Apple's higher-end smartwatches, though, there was no new Ultra model, only a new case color and strap option.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated the reason we didn't see the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in 2024 was due to Apple's needing more time to develop “innovative health management features.”
Whatever the reasoning, we'll likely see the Watch Ultra 3 launch in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 family. The price is somewhat harder to gauge but we can make a guess based on the fact the first two generations cost $799, and it seems unlikely Apple will raise this already high price of entry by much. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra significantly undercuts Apple's Ultra models at $649.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design
Given Apple has stuck with broadly the same design over its first ten years of smartwatch manufacturing, it would be surprising if the company was planning big changes for the look of the Watch Ultra 3.
However, there is one eyebrow-raising rumor about its appearance. According to the supply chain market research firm TrendForce, the next model will be even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and its sizable 1.93-inch panel. The report (from December 2023 — so a long time ago) claims the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s screen will grow around 10%, clocking in at 2.12 inches.
The current model already feels large on the wrist (our wearables guru Kate Kozuch writes of the need to sometimes take it off at night for a good night’s rest), so that feels like a bold move. But it’s not clear at this point how much of that size increase can be achieved by reducing the watch’s bezels or if Apple has innovative ways to reduce the weight, so it’s best to keep an open mind for now.
There's also a chance that the Ultra 3 will debut with a thinner case size, similar to the Series 10 which is 1mm thinner than the Series 9 (and several grams lighter).
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Specs and features
Rumors claim the Watch Ultra 3 could be Apple’s first wearable with blood pressure monitoring. This would provide an early warning of hypertension which is responsible for nearly 13% of all deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.
Rather than putting an exact figure on diastolic or systolic levels like an on-the-arm cuff, it's believed Apple's system will work more like the sleep apnea detector, merely informing the wearer that their pressure may be high. Which then raises the warning flag for the user to visit their healthcare provider.
Other rumored new features are largely around connectivity improvements Apple is likely to make. According to Gurman's sources, the Ultra 3 will be the first wearable to feature satellite messaging, allowing the dispatch of emergency messages for those off the grid and without mobile signal via the Globalstar satellite network.
There’s also predicted to be a boost in regular connectivity, with the adoption of 5G over the 4G LTE tech in current models. However, this doesn’t appear to be for any advanced functionality and looks to be a consequence of the ongoing move away from Intel, which provided the old modems. The new supplier will apparently be MediaTek, and the modem will be a 5G Redcap number, “aimed at internet-connected devices and wearables that typically don’t require fast data connections.”
Another big spec upgrade we've heard about stems from TrendForce predicting the Apple Watch Ultra would adopt microLED technology in its screen. That would theoretically give it the ability to be both brighter and thinner than OLED, which could be quite a noteworthy improvement. However, this particular rumor seems a little more sketchy given another report suggested that we may have to wait until 2026 for a microLED Apple Watch screen.
More likely, the Ultra 3 will sport an upgraded display similar to the wide-angle LTOP OLED panel in the Series 10 with improved viewing angles for better at-a-glance readability However, max brightness will likely remain unchanged compared to the Ultra 2 at 3,000 nits.
Other upgrades that the Ultra 3 will likely inherit from the Series 10 include a larger charging coil on the case back for increased charging speeds and the inclusion of Apple's latest S10 chip which features a dedicated four-core neural engine for machine learning tasks.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Outlook
For now, it sounds like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be a decent upgrade over the Apple Watch 2 with notable improvements to health features and connectivity — even if the design doesn't change all that much.
Keep in mind, though, that Apple Watch upgrades tend to be incremental. For example, the jump from the Ultra to Ultra 2 wasn’t much to write home about. Will the Ultra 3 represent a broader refinement of the series? Time will tell.
Still, even if Apple Watch Ultra 2 owners may not feel the need to upgrade, there could be enough here to tempt Apple Watch Ultra or regular Apple Watch Series 9 or 10 wearers to make the jump.
As for when we'll see it? There's been no hard leaks yet but our best guess is alongside the next iteration of the iPhone at a launch event in Cupertino in September 2025.
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