Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: The verdict is pretty clear

Surely, there are reasons to get either one, and while both have their strengths and weaknesses, there’s a case to be made for getting either smartwatch if you’re deeply invested into the Apple ecosystem.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 keeps its flat display and more rugged style with an oversized digital crown and a customizable Action Button, while sleekness will continue its reign on the regular Watch Series 11.

Water resistance and overall endurance continue to be a forte of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is water-resistant up to 100 meters, while the regular Watch Series 11 can be dunked only up to 50 meters thanks to its 5ATM water resistance, just like its predecessor.

In terms of brightness, not much has changed, as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is listed at 3,000 nits peak, just like its predecessor. The regular Apple Watch 11 tops at 2,000 nits.

However, both devices have scored LTPO 3.0 screens, which can refresh at only 1Hz, which allows for a more feature-rich always-on display functionality that also saves more energy than before. Both watches have scored watch faces that can properly display every second change while in always-on display mode.

Bands

Fortunately, no changes here

Despite rumors that Apple would be changing the band connection mechanism with the Apple Watch Series 10, those rumors turned out to be false. The Watch Series 10 featured just the same one-button latch mechanism that all previous Apple Watch devices have utilized.

And that’s great, as it means you can use the vast collection of Apple Watch bands you’ve accrued through the years. Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Watch Ultra 3 continue the tradition and continue using the well-established band-attachment mechanism.

That was not the case with Samsung’s recent band mechanism change, which rendered older Galaxy Watch bands incompatible with the newest Samsung wearables.

Apple has a number of new color options for its base Apple Watch Ultra bands, the Trail Loop, the Ocean Band, and the Alpine Loop. They all match the new watch perfectly,

Software & Features

watchOS 26 incoming

Both wearables come with the latest watchOS 26. This wearable OS features a visual redesign that brings glass-like UI elements, styled after the visionOS aesthetics.

One of the cool new features that can be found on both the Watch 11 and the Watch Ultra 3 include blood pressure monitoring. However, don’t expect it to provide you with the standard systolic and diastolic readings that regular blood-pressure monitors do; Apple’s wearables only monitor for signs of hypertension and alert you if your blood pressure stays high over a long period of time. That’s still a mighty useful feature, though!

Either new Apple Watch supports a new, rather useful gesture, which dismisses the on-screen notifications, gets back to your home screen, or cancels activities. That’s somewhat similar to the iPhone’s shake-to-undo feature.

Both watches come with a refreshed fitness app and some cool new workout features. The layout is slightly different but still familiar and lets you access features like Pacer, Race Route, and Custom Workout more easily than before.Both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the regular Apple Watch 11 now feature 5G connectivity, and you can use satellite messaging in emergencies.

We get a new Sleep Score functionality on either device, which awards your sleeps or naps a score based on their longevity, the different types of sleep, and your bedtime. That’s a bit late to the party, as most other smartwatch makers have been providing a similar functionality for years now.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also the only Apple wearable to feature an 85dB emergency siren.

Battery and Charging

Better efficiency is key

Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Ultra 3 come with slightly better battery life, attributable to the more efficient chipset on board either wearable.

We get the Apple S10 chip on deck with either new wearable, and this helps the two devices achieve significantly better battery life than their immediate predecessors.

The Apple Watch Series 11 now lasts 24 hours between charges, up from 18 hours on the Series 10; the Apple Watch Ultra 3 lasts up to 42 hours, up from 36 hours.

This better battery life tracks well with our real-life impressions. Depending on the specific usage, you might get longer or slightly shorter battery life than this, provided how many of the battery-wasting features you use. Intense GPS navigation and music playback or activity tracking will naturally drain your device faster than just using it for its most rudimentary timekeeping function.

What’s even more impressive here, however, is the faster charging. The Watch Series 11 can charge from 0 to 80% in roughly half an hour, which is an excellent result! The larger Watch Ultra 3 takes 45 minutes to do the same, but it’s still wildly impressive considering the much slower previous Apple Watch units.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is available in two sizes, 42mm and 46mm, with each one available with cellular connectivity (5G).

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 once again comes in a single 49mm size with cellular connectivity, just like its predecessors. The difference, of course, is the 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) functionality.

Prices are unchanged from last year: the GPS-only Watch Series 11 starts at $399 and the cellular-enabled version goes for $499. At the same time, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 goes for $799, in either of the two color options available.

Specs

Here’s how the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 compare:

Apple Watch Series 11	Apple Watch Ultra 3
Models 42mm 46mm both in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular versions	Models 49mm Only a 5G Cellular version
Processor S10 chip	Processor S10 chip
Software watchOS 26	Software watchOS 26
Battery 24-hour battery life Magnetic charger, 0-80% in 30 mins	Battery 42-hour battery life Magnetic charger, 0-80% in 45 mins
Sensors HR Blood oxygen monitor Blood pressure monitor (hypertension) Altimeter ECG Thermometer Depth gauge (up to 6 meters)	Sensors HR Blood oxygen monitor Blood pressure monitor (hypertension) Altimeter ECG Thermometer Depth gauge (up to 40 meters)
Key features Thinner Lighter Mor customization options available	Key features Emergency Siren Action button Titanium + sapphire build Dual speakers

Apple doesn’t really like to make sudden moves with its Apple Watch range of wearables. We’ve rarely witnessed major surprises with the design, software, or hardware features, and aside from the somewhat unexpected launch of the Apple Watch Ultra a few years ago, everything has been mostly predictable.

This trend remains unchanged with the new Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. We have a polishing job rather than an overhaul and thus, if you have to choose between these two, the choice remains ultimately driven by your specific needs and use cases.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 remains the larger and more premium watch, but for most people out there, a regular Watch Series 11 will perfectly fine. The prices also remain the same as last year; the regular Apple Watch 11 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will set you back $799.

Should you get the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

The verdict is clear. If you aren’t really adventurous and hiking a lot, then a Watch Series 11 will most certainly be a better fit and overall better value. The Watch Ultra 3, however great, is aimed at a more niche audience.

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