Which Apple Wearable Should You Pick?
Apple updated the watch range with the Ultra 3, which has arrived alongside the series of basic models 11. Whether you are new in the world of portable devices or you think of an upgrade, these models occupy a similar place on the market but ultimately serve a different lens.
So which one should you choose? Let’s take a look.
Ultra 3 is larger and more robust
With its 49 mm chassis, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the largest portable that Apple manufactures. It is larger in each dimension compared to series 11, and it only comes from two finishes, in natural or black titanium. The ultra 3 weight and the more resistant shell make it more than twice as heavy than the lightest series 11 (61.6 g compared to 30.3 g), and a third heavier than the heaviest series 11.
Compare this with the 11 series, which is available in sizes 46 mm and 42 mm to adapt to any wrist. You can choose between aluminum and titanium, the first being lighter by about 5 grams. There are four aluminum finishes and three titanium to choose.
You just have to take a look at the 49 mm model to see where this weight took place. Ultra 3 is a robust laptop; It has a thick strip of titanium that revolves around the edge of the screen, and a large piece of titanium where the digital crown and the side button reside.
In comparison, the 11 series is much more indefinable. It can look like a sporting apparatus, a subtle jewel or an ordinary old watch designed to blend into everything you wear. The two devices are compatible with a range of first and third groups, but ultra 3 always seems to be preparing for a kind of adventure.
If you decide a watch only with your heart, this is where your decision will be made. Take a look at Ultra 3 and Series 11 and decide which one prefer to wear every day. Since the Ultra 3 comes only by a single size and has a fairly aggressive look, it will not be for everyone’s tastes.
The two share sensors and equipment
Despite the contrasting styles, the ultra 3 and the 11 series share more similarities than the differences. At the heart of the experience is the same system on S10 chip, which is not even new for 2025, having been introduced alongside the 10 series in 2024. Do not worry, the S10 is powerful enough.
They both run Watchos, and they both have access to the same tips that you expect from a flagship laptop. This includes the wrist film and the double tap gestures and a version of Siri that does not need your iPhone to be nearby. The two have an OLED screen still on wide angle, although the ultra 3 manages 1000 additional brightness nits compared to the CAP of the series 11 of 2000 NIT.
There is also a series of sensors that allow the types of features that have probably tried you to buy an Apple Watch in the first place. This includes GPS on devices to follow training sessions and navigation, so you can leave your iPhone at home. Ultra 3 has a slightly more precise double frequency GPS, which could give you the advantage in certain environments such as a forest.
Both have a heart rate sensor that can take ECGs, the same optical heart sensor to take your pulse and provide comments such as irregular heart rate notifications and hypertension notifications. There are water temperature sensors and wrist temperature, which can be used to follow your vital signs while you sleep to reflect the disease.
The two devices are water resistant, although the Ultra 3 can manage 100 m deep compared to the limit of the 50 m of the series 11. They also have a depth gauge, although the series 11 stops 6 m from 50m on the Ultra 3. The story is similar to the altimeter, which measures the altitude to help you determine how far you have climbed during a hike; And the Ultra 3 has an extended beach of 500 m to 9000 m.
Finally, while the two devices have a microphone, the Ultra 3 has three with an attenuation of the wind so that you can bark the instructions in your wrist in a blizzard (probably). You can see a model forming now: Ultra 3 is over-designed to be an adventurer tool, while series 11 is more like a lifestyle that meets the basic needs of the general population.
It should also be noted that the two offer blood oxygen readings, a characteristic that has disappeared for a while in the United States due to a patent offense dispute. Apple has intelligently managed to get around the problem by processing the data collected by the blood oxygen sensor on an iPhone companion instead.
Ultra has a better battery life
Since Ultra 3 is a larger laptop, Apple was able to allocate more space to a larger battery. Consequently, Apple currently assesses the Ultra 3 to 42 hours of battery life in normal or 72 hours if you activate the low power mode.
This is compared favorably to the 24 hours mentioned by Apple for series 11, which is up 18 hours on series 10 of last year (a significant improvement). If you push it, Apple says you can get 38 hours of continuous use if you activate low -power mode on series 11.
Although it can be tempting to activate the low power mode, know that this considerably limits the usefulness of your laptop. When activated, this will deactivate the display always on, tapping and films, background measurements for heart rate and blood oxygen (including when you sleep), low heart rate notifications, and more. This mode is perfect for extracting a little more life from your laptop, rather than something you should use all the time.
Ultra has a satellite and some other exclusive features
The biggest change for the ultra 3 compared to the previous version is the addition of emergency SOS via satellite. This means that Ultra 3 can now use the same satellite features available on the iPhone. Even in areas where there is no cellular network (and obviously no Wi-Fi), you can connect to the emergency services using a satellite connection instead.
Your Ultra 3 will collect information about your difficult situation and your location, then relay this information to the emergency services. You can also send SMS (SMS and iMessage) to the network, and use to share my location via the satellite if you venture out of network.
The Ultra 3 also has an additional speaker for the stronger audio, which allows the siren function to operate. If you are caught in an avalanche during a Red Bull Taurus ski trip, you can try to draw attention to this functionality. These features are what makes Ultra 3 stand out from the series 11.
In addition to certain ultra-specific bands (which are not compatible with the regular series, and vice versa), the ultra has some unique watch faces, a dark mode which preserves night vision using a red light and the action button, which you can program to do things like starting a training or triggering a shortcut.
Series 11 costs $ 300 less
For all those who weighed these portable devices, the price will be another major decisive factor. The 11 series starts at $ 399, which covers an aluminum version with a GPS chip. If you want to add Cellular (which is capable of 5G, just like the Ultra 3), it’s an additional $ 100. For titanium, you are considering a starting point of $ 699.
And this is only the 42 mm, the 46 mm version costing an additional $ 50 $ 50, depending on the finish you choose. For your money, you get a choice of strain silicone bands or soft textiles. You can also switch to a stainless steel loop or bracelet from $ 50.
The Ultra 3 starts at $ 799, without the possibility of reducing the price by choosing a GPS model only. All Ultra 3 models are delivered with 5G connectivity and a titanium chassis. Your only decision is whether you are increasing at $ 899 for a Milanese loop in titanium.
What watch should you choose?
What you choose to wear is a deeply personal decision, whether jewelry, clothes or a watch. But claim that we look at this perfectly logically logically: if you do not need features designed with endurance and adventure in mind, you probably don’t need Ultra 3.
Here again, you may want the possible battery life even if it means attaching a large piece of titanium on your wrist and paying much more. If that looks like you, Ultra 3 is the best choice.
I made this decision myself a few years ago when Apple presented the first generation ultra. Although it was immediately interested in the larger model, it took about 30 seconds of deliberation in store to choose the 8 series instead. Ergo, I would recommend trying them and see for yourself.
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- Heart frequency monitor
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Yes
- Color screen
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Yes
- Notification support
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Yes
- Battery life
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Up to 42 hours
- Helmet
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Titanium
- Colors
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Natural, black
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers a new satellite functionality, which facilitates the update of friends and family.
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- Heart frequency monitor
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Yes
- Color screen
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Yes
- Notification support
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Yes
- Battery life
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Up to 24 hours
- Helmet
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Aluminum or titanium
- Colors
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Gray, silver, pink, jet black space
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers the possibility of feeling high blood pressure and a sleep score similar to numerous health application competitors.
Remember that if you buy from Apple, there is no bad decision because you can always return the watch in the 14 -day window for a refund or an exchange.
