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PRESS RELEASE September 9, 2025
The ultimate sports and adventure watch now features Emergency SOS via satellite, the largest display ever

in an Apple Watch, 42-hour battery life, and powerful

new health insights

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Watch Ultra 3 — the most advanced Apple Watch — delivering expanded health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features, and seamlessly shifting between a powerful sports watch, an elegant smartwatch, and a comprehensive health companion.
Designed to keep users more connected and safer wherever they are with built-in satellite communications, Apple Watch Ultra 3 allows users to text emergency services, message friends and family, and share their location, all while they’re off the grid. The ultimate sports and adventure watch now features the largest screen of any Apple Watch, a display with a 1Hz always-on refresh rate, 5G cellular capabilities, the most accurate GPS in a sports watch, and up to 42 hours of battery life — with up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Notifications for signs of chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, offer a groundbreaking new health insight, and sleep score helps users understand the quality of their sleep. Updates to the Workout app, including Workout Buddy — a first-of-its-kind fitness experience powered by Apple Intelligence — add to a robust suite of advanced fitness features.
“Apple Watch Ultra is our most advanced Apple Watch, designed to take users from sports and adventure to the rest of their life, and help them stay active, healthy, connected, and safe, wherever they are,” said Eugene Kim, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch Hardware Engineering. “Apple Watch Ultra 3 debuts innovative satellite communications that will offer users more safety and connectivity when they’re off the grid, plus longer battery life, 5G, powerful health insights, and all the advanced fitness features our users love.”
With a cellular plan, Apple Watch users can take calls, send messages, and even get help with emergency services when their iPhone isn’t with them.3 When users are on the grid, Apple Watch Ultra 3 now offers 5G cellular capabilities, which provide better performance with greater throughput, so music, podcasts, and apps download faster.4 To boost reception in areas with weak coverage, Apple Watch Ultra 3 also uses an advanced algorithm that simultaneously engages the two system antennas when needed, significantly increasing the signal strength.

Satellite Communications

Advanced Fitness Features

With watchOS 26, Apple Watch Ultra 3 features Workout Buddy, a first-of-its-kind fitness experience powered by Apple Intelligence that analyzes a user’s workout data and fitness history to deliver personalized, spoken motivation throughout their session, based on data like heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings, personal fitness milestones, and more.11 Workout Buddy will be available starting in English across some of the most popular workout types, and is available on Apple Watch with Bluetooth headphones, with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby.
  • Runners get the most accurate GPS in a sports watch;13 a customizable Action button that can be used for Precision Start or to mark segments; advanced metrics including vertical oscillation, ground contact time, and stride length; customizable Workout Views including Heart Rate Zones; Race Route; Pacer; an industry-first automatic track-running detection feature; custom workouts; training load; and more for workouts and races. Users can also benefit from third-party experiences like Nike Run Club; the updated Strava app that includes Live Segments; and custom workouts from apps like Runna and TrainingPeaks.
  • Cyclists can easily view a workout started on Apple Watch as a Live Activity on iPhone and see metrics on the full screen — or connect a Bluetooth-enabled power meter or other cycling accessories to Apple Watch Ultra 3 — giving them more metrics and experiences, including cadence, an automatic estimate of functional threshold power, and Power Zones. Users can also track distance, speed, elevation, and heart rate.
  • Swimmers can make use of automatic stroke detection, lap count, and a SWOLF score — a stroke count combined with the time it takes to swim one length of the pool, displayed in seconds — plus take advantage of custom workouts and view water temperature directly within the Workout app. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is certified to WR100.14
  • Hikers can enjoy offline maps on the trail — complete with turn-by-turn directions — as well as features like Waypoints and Backtrack GPS data in the Compass app.15
  • Divers can take advantage of the Oceanic+ app — developed in partnership with Huish Outdoors — which turns Apple Watch Ultra 3 into a dive computer for recreational scuba diving.16
  • Golfers benefit from the bright display and long battery life of Apple Watch Ultra 3. With a suite of third-party apps, including Golfshot, Arccos, and 18Birdies, users can access course information or tools and insights utilizing the high-frequency motion API to help improve their game.
  • Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, the U.S., and more than 50 other countries and regions can pre-order Apple Watch Ultra 3 today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 19.
  • Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at $799 (U.S.), and is available in natural and black titanium.
  • New bands will be available to order today from apple.com/store and on the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 19.
  • watchOS 26 will be available for Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models on Monday, September 15, and requires iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26. Not all features are available on all devices or in all regions. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.
  • Apple Intelligence is available in beta. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115.
  • New subscribers may get three months of Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music with the purchase of Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, or Apple Watch Ultra 3. Offer and services availability varies by region. See apple.com/promo for details.
  • Clearance for hypertension notifications from the FDA and other regulators is expected soon, with availability in over 150 countries and regions — including the U.S. and the EU — this month.
  • AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new Apple Watch, or in the U.S., AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, theft and loss protection on eligible products, battery replacement service, and 24/7 support from Apple experts. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare.

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  1. When angled away from the user, as compared with Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2.
  2. Battery life varies by use and configuration. See apple.com/watch/battery for more information.
  3. Wireless service plan required for cellular service. Contact service provider for more details. Connection may vary based on network availability. Check apple.com/watch/cellular for participating wireless carriers and eligibility. See support.apple.com/HT207578 for additional setup instructions.
  4. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, users can contact their carrier and visit apple.com/watch/cellular.
  5. Emergency SOS via satellite requires a satellite connection, a cellular connection, or Wi-Fi calling with an internet connection from Apple Watch. Cellular models of Apple Watch can be used to make an emergency call in many locations, provided that cellular service is available. Some cellular networks may not accept an emergency call from Apple Watch if Apple Watch isn’t activated, isn’t compatible with or configured to operate on a particular cellular network, or isn’t set up for cellular service, or if the cellular network does not support emergency calling over IMS. See support.apple.com/108374 and apple.com/watch/cellular for more information. See support.apple.com/123924 for more information.
  6. Messages via satellite is available in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Requires a carrier plan. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch over satellite, the paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or an active cellular network, but iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby. SMS message rates may apply. Satellite connectivity provided by Globalstar and its affiliates. See support.apple.com/123924 for more information.
  7. Emergency SOS, Find My, and Messages via satellite are included for free for two years with the activation of Apple Watch Ultra 3. Connection and response times vary based on location, site conditions, and other factors. Find My and Messages via satellite require a carrier plan. To send and receive SMS from cellular models of Apple Watch over satellite, the paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or an active cellular network, but iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby. SMS is available on supported carriers, and message rates may apply. Satellite connectivity provided by Globalstar and its affiliates.
  8. 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. The feature is not intended for use by people under 22 years old, those who have been previously diagnosed with hypertension, or during pregnancy.
  9. Blood Oxygen app is for wellness purposes only and not for medical use. Measurements are calculated and viewed on iPhone in the Health app.
  10. Sleep score is available with watchOS 26 for Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models, paired with iPhone 11 or later, running iOS 26.
  11. Workout Buddy requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone nearby and Bluetooth headphones, with device and Siri language set to English. Apple Intelligence is available in beta. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115.
  12. An Apple Music subscription is required for automatic music selection.
  13. GPS performance was evaluated based on route map accuracy in challenging urban environments for outdoor running and walking workouts. Comparison made against industry-leading dual-frequency GPS sports watches commercially available at the time of testing in August 2025.
  14. Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a water resistance rating of 100 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. It may be used for recreational scuba diving (with compatible third-party app from the App Store) to 40 meters and high-speed water sports. Apple Watch Ultra 3 should not be used for diving below 40 meters. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and can diminish over time. For additional information, see support.apple.com/en-us/109522.
  15. Offline maps is available for Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch SE 2 and later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models running watchOS 26 or later. Requires iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 or later. Not available in all countries and regions.
  16. A subscription is required for Oceanic+ for dive computer capabilities. Available on the App Store. Apple Watch Series 11 supports snorkeling to 6 meters; Apple Watch Ultra 3 supports recreational scuba diving to 40 meters. Always follow diving protocols and dive with a companion and have a secondary device.
  17. Live Translation in Messages is available in Chinese (simplified), English (UK, U.S.), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain) on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. The wrist flick gesture is available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.