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Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched in the U.S. at $799 on September 19, 2025. That is its historical launch price, not a confirmed current retail price: Apple announced the newer Apple Watch Ultra 4 in September 2026, also starting at $799 in the U.S. Ultra 3’s headline features included satellite communications, 5G, a larger display, and Apple-estimated battery life of up to 42 hours in normal use.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 price and release date
Apple announced Apple Watch Ultra 3 on September 9, 2025, with a U.S. starting price of $799. Availability began September 19, 2025. The $799 figure is the launch price; it should not be treated as a current price because retailer pricing and stock can change. Apple’s announcement did not establish a current retail price. Apple’s Ultra 3 announcement
As of October 8, 2026, Ultra 3 is no longer Apple’s newest Ultra generation. Apple announced Apple Watch Ultra 4 in September 2026, with a U.S. starting price of $799. That is Ultra 4’s launch price, not a verified current retail price. Apple’s Ultra 4 announcement
Apple Watch Ultra 3 key features
Large, bright display and longer battery estimates
Apple described Ultra 3 as having the largest display ever on an Apple Watch at its announcement, using LTPO3 and wide-angle OLED technology. Apple estimated up to 42 hours of battery life with normal use, up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, and up to 12 hours of use after a 15-minute charge. These are Apple’s estimates, not results from independent testing. Apple’s Ultra 3 announcement
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Running & Multisport Smartwatch w/Rugged Titanium Case w/Black Titanium Milanese Loop - L. Satellite Communications, Advanced Health & Fitness Tracking](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51x8F3QDUWL._SL160_.jpg)
- RUGGED AND READY TO GO—The ultimate sports and adventure smartwatch is built to last with an extremely tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display. Water resistant up to 100m—it’s great for swimmers, divers, and fans of high-speed water sports.*
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Ultra 3 can take an ECG* and check your heart rhythm for signs of AFib—right from your wrist. The smartwatch sends alerts for possible hypertension,* an irregular heart rhythm,* or an unusually high or low heart rate. You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- ULTIMATE RUNNING AND WORKOUT COMPANION—A superior fitness tracker for marathoners, triathletes, mountain bikers, backcountry hikers, and mountain climbers, Ultra 3 provides precision dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, running power, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* training load, and more.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash* and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- MULTIDAY BATTERY LIFE—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that’s engineered to give you even longer battery life. It’s perfect for trail runners—with up to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.* Track a workout with full GPS and heart rate monitoring for up to 20 hours in Low Power Mode.*
5G and satellite communications
Ultra 3 added 5G and two-way satellite functions for Emergency SOS, messaging, and Find My location sharing. Apple said satellite features were included free for two years with Ultra 3. Emergency SOS via satellite did not require a cellular plan; Messages and Find My via satellite did require an active cellular plan, according to Apple’s announcement. The announcement does not establish present-day service terms or carrier requirements beyond those statements.
Health and sleep features
Apple announced hypertension notifications and a sleep score for Ultra 3, alongside its health and fitness features. Availability and eligibility for health features can vary by region and user circumstances; Apple’s announcement does not make every feature universally available.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Running & Multisport Smartwatch w/Rugged Titanium Case w/Anchor Blue Ocean Band. Satellite Communications, Advanced Health & Fitness Tracking](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/410UsX8rgRL._SL160_.jpg)
- RUGGED AND READY TO GO—The ultimate sports and adventure smartwatch is built to last with an extremely tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display. Water resistant up to 100m—it’s great for swimmers, divers, and fans of high-speed water sports.*
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Ultra 3 can take an ECG* and check your heart rhythm for signs of AFib—right from your wrist. The smartwatch sends alerts for possible hypertension,* an irregular heart rhythm,* or an unusually high or low heart rate. You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- ULTIMATE RUNNING AND WORKOUT COMPANION—A superior fitness tracker for marathoners, triathletes, mountain bikers, backcountry hikers, and mountain climbers, Ultra 3 provides precision dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, running power, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* training load, and more.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash* and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- MULTIDAY BATTERY LIFE—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that’s engineered to give you even longer battery life. It’s perfect for trail runners—with up to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.* Track a workout with full GPS and heart rate monitoring for up to 20 hours in Low Power Mode.*
Workout tracking and Workout Buddy
Ultra 3 includes advanced workout tracking. Apple also announced Workout Buddy, an audio coaching feature that requires Bluetooth headphones and a nearby iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence. At launch, it began in English and supported selected workout types. Apple’s announcement describes its launch conditions rather than guaranteeing current language or workout availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Ultra 3 compares with Apple Watch Ultra 4
Ultra 4 is the newer generation. Apple’s announcements list the following distinctions; they are manufacturer claims, not independent head-to-head test results.
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Rank #3
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Running & Multisport Smartwatch w/Rugged Titanium Case w/Black Alpine Loop - M. Satellite Communications, Advanced Health & Fitness Tracking](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412vVDB7SSL._SL160_.jpg)
- RUGGED AND READY TO GO—The ultimate sports and adventure smartwatch is built to last with an extremely tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display. Water resistant up to 100m—it’s great for swimmers, divers, and fans of high-speed water sports.*
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Ultra 3 can take an ECG* and check your heart rhythm for signs of AFib—right from your wrist. The smartwatch sends alerts for possible hypertension,* an irregular heart rhythm,* or an unusually high or low heart rate. You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- ULTIMATE RUNNING AND WORKOUT COMPANION—A superior fitness tracker for marathoners, triathletes, mountain bikers, backcountry hikers, and mountain climbers, Ultra 3 provides precision dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, running power, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* training load, and more.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash* and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- MULTIDAY BATTERY LIFE—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that’s engineered to give you even longer battery life. It’s perfect for trail runners—with up to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.* Track a workout with full GPS and heart rate monitoring for up to 20 hours in Low Power Mode.*
| Detail | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 |
| Generation and announcement | Announced September 9, 2025 | Announced September 2026 |
| U.S. starting price at announcement | $799 | $799 |
| Battery claim highlighted by Apple | Up to 42 hours normal use; up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 45 hours of outdoor workout tracking |
| Features specifically highlighted | 5G, two-way satellite functions, hypertension notifications, sleep score, and Workout Buddy | New Health Sensing System and readiness score |
Battery figures describe different use conditions, so they are not a direct comparison. Apple’s Ultra 3 announcement reports normal-use and Low Power Mode estimates; its Ultra 4 announcement highlights outdoor workout tracking. Neither figure is an independent test result. Ultra 3 announcement · Ultra 4 announcement
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular, 49mm] Black Titanium Case with Black Ocean Band (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41pgd6Mf8nL._SL160_.jpg)
- Snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, rowing, and more — you’ll find tons of additional ways to take your favorite sports and activities to the next level with Ultra 3 in the App Store. Tap in. Max out.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Running & Multisport Smartwatch w/Rugged Titanium Case w/Blue/Bright Blue Trail Loop - M/L. Satellite Communications, Advanced Health & Fitness Tracking](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SKumOyv8L._SL160_.jpg)
- RUGGED AND READY TO GO—The ultimate sports and adventure smartwatch is built to last with an extremely tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display. Water resistant up to 100m—it’s great for swimmers, divers, and fans of high-speed water sports.*
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Ultra 3 can take an ECG* and check your heart rhythm for signs of AFib—right from your wrist. The smartwatch sends alerts for possible hypertension,* an irregular heart rhythm,* or an unusually high or low heart rate. You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- ULTIMATE RUNNING AND WORKOUT COMPANION—A superior fitness tracker for marathoners, triathletes, mountain bikers, backcountry hikers, and mountain climbers, Ultra 3 provides precision dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, running power, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* training load, and more.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash* and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- MULTIDAY BATTERY LIFE—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that’s engineered to give you even longer battery life. It’s perfect for trail runners—with up to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.* Track a workout with full GPS and heart rate monitoring for up to 20 hours in Low Power Mode.*
What to know before buying Ultra 3
- Check a retailer for current price, stock, and condition; the $799 price is the U.S. launch price from 2025.
- Confirm satellite feature availability and service terms for your location and carrier. Apple’s launch announcement specified different cellular-plan requirements for Emergency SOS versus Messages and Find My.
- Check device and regional eligibility for health features. Workout Buddy also has headphone, nearby-iPhone, language, and workout-type requirements.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
