Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: a rugged evolution

Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple’s Watch Ultra series has long been the go-to for adventurers and athletes seeking a durable, feature-packed smartwatch. The original Ultra launched in 2022, followed by the Ultra 2 in 2023, which brought modest upgrades like a brighter display and the S9 chip. After a quiet 2024—limited to a new black titanium color — Apple unveiled the Ultra 3 on September 9, 2025, at its “Awe Dropping” event. Priced at $799, the same as its predecessor, the Ultra 3 builds on the Ultra 2’s foundation with targeted enhancements in display, connectivity, battery, and health monitoring. But is it worth the upgrade? Let’s break it down.
Both watches share a rugged 49mm titanium case, MIL-STD 810H certification for extreme conditions, and 100-meter water resistance, including EN13319 certification for recreational scuba diving to 40 meters. The Ultra 2 weighs 61.4 grams (natural) and 61.8 grams (black titanium), while the Ultra 3 uses a more efficient 3D printing process for the case: (natural: 61.6 grams, black titanium: 61.8 grams) without altering the dimensions (49mm x 44mm x 14.4mm). Colors remain natural and black titanium, with new band options like updated Alpine Loops. The signature Action button and larger Digital Crown persist, ensuring glove-friendly operation.
The most noticeable upgrade is the display. The Ultra 2’s 1.93-inch LTPO2 OLED Retina screen peaks at 3,000 nits brightness and 410 x 502 resolution—impressive for outdoor visibility. The Ultra 3 steps up to Apple’s largest Watch display yet: a 2.12-inch LTPO3 wide-angle OLED with 422 x 514 resolution and a blistering 3,000 nits peak brightness. Thinner bezels create an edge-to-edge feel without enlarging the case, and the LTPO3 tech enables a 1Hz always-on refresh rate. This means ticking seconds on watch faces and smoother always-on animations, a feature the Ultra 2 lacks. Both support the new Waypoint face exclusive to Ultras, but the Ultra 3’s screen is 40% brighter at angles, ideal for glancing at metrics during a trail run.
Performance-wise, the Ultra 2’s S9 SiP handles watchOS 26 smoothly, including double-tap gestures and on-device Siri. The Ultra 3 is powered by the S10 chip with 64-bit dual-core processor, 4-core Neural Engine, and adds 64GB storage versus the Ultra 2’s 32GB for more offline maps and apps. No major processing leap, but efficiency gains from the new display and modem support increased battery life and AI features like Workout Buddy, a virtual coach for personalized training plans.
Battery life sees a solid bump: the Ultra 2 offers up to 36 hours normal use (72 in Low Power Mode), while the Ultra 3 extends to 42 hours (72 in LPM) — the longest of any Apple Watch. A larger battery, paired with the power-sipping LTPO3 and 5G modem, enables this without bulking up the design. Fast charging hits 80% in 1 hour for the Ultra 2, but 80% only takes 45 minutes for Ultra 3.
Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch Ultra 3 can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, are detected.
Health and fitness tracking is where the Ultra 3 shines brighter. Both include dual-frequency GPS (the best in sports watches), ECG, blood oxygen, temperature sensing, and sleep apnea notifications. The Ultra 3 adds hypertension alerts—notifications for possible chronic high blood pressure after 30 days of calibration—expected to flag over 1 million cases in its first year. Hypertension notifications are currently under FDA review and expected to be cleared this month, with availability on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. Ultra 3 also introduces daily Sleep Scores and sport-specific metrics like SWOLF score for swimmers (SWOLF stands for “Swim Golf,” an acronym for swimming and golf, and is a metric of swimming efficiency, where a lower score indicates better performance, similar to golf) and track detection for runners. Backtrack and the Oceanic+ dive app return, but satellite integration elevates safety.
Connectivity is the Ultra 3’s killer feature. The Ultra 2 relies on 4G LTE with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.3. The Ultra 3 upgrades to 5G for faster data and doubles signal strength. Most crucially, it adds two-way satellite messaging for off-grid areas: send texts, share locations via Messages or Find My, and access Emergency SOS — all free for two years. This is a game-changer for remote expeditions, unavailable on the Ultra 2.
In summary, the Ultra 3 is an iterative but meaningful refresh, emphasizing practicality over revolution. The Ultra 3’s enhanced endurance and connectivity make it the ultimate adventure companion. Pre-orders started September 9th, with shipping on September 19th.
MacDailyNews Take: The solid evolution from version 2 to 3 proves the Apple Watch Ultra line is built to last — just like the watch itself.

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