Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 review: Small upgrades, but great watches

Apple gave us a new Ultra watch this year – it’s called the Apple Watch Ultra 3. They also gave us a new standard Apple Watch called the Series 11, and a new entry-level one called the SE 3. This looks like an exciting year for Apple Watches. However, if you look closer, you’ll find that, aside from the SE 3, the Ultra 3 and Series 11 actually received only incremental upgrades. What’s really changed, and should I upgrade to the new Ultra 3 and Series 11?

What’s new with Ultra 3

Let’s start with the Ultra 3. This is Apple’s most rugged smartwatch, and after the mild disappointment of last year, we finally have a new model. Here’s what’s new on the Ultra 3.

• Wide-angle OLED display
• 5% larger display
• S10 chip
• 5G connectivity
• Satellite connectivity
• Larger battery
• Faster charging

The Ultra 3 mostly looks like its predecessor. The case is still made of titanium, and it still comes in Natural Titanium and Black. However, the case is now made using a 3D printing process that produces less waste material and uses 100% recycled titanium. Thanks to the new manufacturing process, Apple was able to make the Ultra 3 about 16% thinner. That said, I can’t tell that it’s slimmer.

The display is also slightly larger. But again, the difference isn’t night and day. It’s more pronounced if you use a watch face with a coloured background, but I hesitate to call it a significant upgrade. What’s more noticeable is the wide-angle OLED that makes it easier to see the screen when viewed at an angle. This can be handy when you can’t raise your hand to get a good look at the watch, like when you are exercising, washing dishes, or driving.

The other improvements don’t drastically alter the Apple Watch Ultra experience either. Though the Ultra 3 is powered by the S10 chip, it feels just as fast as the Ultra 2. Both feel equally snappy. 5G support is also nice to have, but again, it doesn’t fundamentally change the wearing experience.

One new feature that might be of interest to users, especially those who love the great outdoors, is satellite connectivity. It enables the Ultra 3 to send the following three types of messages even if there is no cellular connectivity.

• Emergency SOS message
• Text message via the Messages app
• Send Location in Find My

Given that nearly every corner of Singapore has cellular connectivity, it’s unlikely anyone would ever need to call on this feature here, but it’s easy to see how this feature might be useful if you are going to visit somewhere far-flung and remote.

The Ultra 3 also has a slightly larger battery. Though Apple doesn’t disclose its exact capacity, reports say it holds about 6% more charge. According to Apple, the Ultra 3 will last up to 42 hours, or 6 hours more than its predecessor. That’s a conservative estimate because I found the Ultra 3 to last about two full days with two nights of sleep-tracking before needing a charge. That’s significantly better than the Ultra 2, which would typically require a charge at the end of the second day.

What’s new with Series 11

The list of upgrades with the Apple Watch Series 11 is even shorter. They are:

• More scratch-resistant Ion-X glass
• 5G connectivity
• Larger battery
• New Space Grey finish

Fans of the Space Grey finish that you got on older MacBook Pros will be happy with the new Space Grey finish. It looks like you’re wearing a piece of the MacBook Pro on your wrist. But apart from the new finish, the new Series 11 is identical to its predecessor. It’s still available in 46mm and 42mm sizes, and the case dimensions are unchanged. The more durable glass is nice to have, but in my years of testing Apple Watches, I haven’t had problems with scratches.

The larger battery is the most appreciable improvement. Up until now, the standard Apple Watches have claimed battery lives of up to 18 hours. In practice, this means you’d have to charge it at some point in the day if you want it to last a full day and still track your sleep. Apple claims Series 11 can now last up to 24 hours, and in my experience, I found that this meant it could last an entire day with sleep tracking before requiring a charge the next morning. It doesn’t drastically alter the Apple Watch experience because you still need to charge it quite regularly, but longer battery life is always a welcome improvement.

Sleep score and Hypertension Notifications

During the unveiling of these new watches, Apple also announced two new features: Sleep Score and Hypertension Notifications. While these are unquestionably useful health features to have, know that they are not exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11. Older Apple Watches will also get Sleep Score and Hypertension Notifications.

Sleep Score is particularly generous and will even work with Apple Watches from five years ago. These are the older watches that support Sleep Score:

• Apple Watch SE 2
• Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
• Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2

As for Hypertension Notifications, it’ll work with these older watches:

• Apple Watch Series 9 and 10
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

As you can see, you don’t need to buy the latest watches to get these new health features. You will get them as long as you have a fairly recent Apple Watch.

Final thoughts and buying advice

If it’s not clear by now, readers who bought a new Apple Ultra 2 or Series 10 last year shouldn’t upgrade. This is especially true for the Series 11, which might have the smallest upgrade I’ve ever seen in an Apple Watch. 5G connectivity and a longer battery life are certainly nice things to have. However, they don’t greatly alter the Apple Watch experience. 4G in Singapore is plenty fast. And even with the improved battery life, you’ll still have to charge these watches fairly frequently. Satellite connectivity could be handy for some, but this feature is also found on the iPhone 14 or later phones. That’s not to say these are bad watches; it’s just that the year-on-year improvements are getting marginal.

In fact, the new Ultra 3 and Series 11 are fantastic watches, and if you have a watch that’s over two years old or older, now is a great time to upgrade. The Ultra 3 has a fantastic display, long battery life, and is immensely capable and packed with features. The Series 11, on the other hand, has a very slim and wearable case and is almost just as capable as the Ultra 3. Unless you absolutely must have the enhanced durability and features of the Ultra 3, it’s just a matter of personal preference. I’d be happy with either of them.

But if you are on a budget, you might want to consider the new Apple Watch SE 3. Though it’s based on an older design, it offers many of the features and capabilities of the Ultra 3 and Series 11, but at a significantly lower price. Check out my first impressions of the Watch SE 3 here, and stay tuned for my review of the Watch SE 3.

Note: You can find the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11 on Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple Online Store.