Apple Watch Ultra 3 Debuts With Satellite Messaging, Smarter Health Tracking, and Multi-Day Power

Apple’s most rugged smartwatch is back with its boldest leap yet. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 combines adventure-ready durability with satellite connectivity, advanced health tracking, and a reimagined display, cementing its place as the flagship model for explorers and athletes alike.

The headline feature is satellite messaging, a first for Apple Watch. With redesigned antennas capable of reaching orbiting satellites, the Ultra 3 lets users stay connected off-grid, whether it’s sending location updates, contacting loved ones, or reaching emergency services when accidents strike. Apple says the system is powerful enough to function even during severe falls or crashes when no other network is available.

For fitness enthusiasts, the watch doubles down on precision. Its GPS remains among the most accurate in a consumer sports watch, while a refreshed Workout app adds customizable sessions, pacing tools, and auto-triggered playlists. The new Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, offers spoken feedback mid-run or during training sessions, adapting motivation to a user’s pace and heart rate trends.

Health remains at the core of the Ultra 3. Apple has introduced hypertension detection, an algorithm-based feature that analyzes cardiovascular patterns over weeks to flag signs of chronic high blood pressure. Sleep tracking has also been upgraded with a data-driven scoring system, developed from millions of nights logged in Apple’s Heart and Movement Study.

The display has been redesigned with thinner borders and LTPO3 technology, allowing for smoother always-on performance down to the seconds hand. Battery endurance now stretches to 42 hours of daily use or 72 hours in Low Power Mode, with rapid charging ensuring hours of life from a short plug-in.

Despite its cutting-edge upgrades, the Ultra 3 retains the titanium build and water resistance up to 100 meters, while introducing refreshed band styles and new Hermès collaborations. Pricing begins at $799, with pre-orders live today and general availability starting September 19 across more than 50 countries.

With its mix of off-grid communication, medical innovation, and refined outdoor features, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 pushes the smartwatch beyond convenience and into the realm of survival and endurance technology.