Apple just announced its most sophisticated wearable yet. The technology giant announced its Apple Watch Ultra 3, introducing satellite communication capabilities that let you contact emergency services when you're completely off the grid.
This device is just one of many unveiled by Apple in the past 24 hours, including the Apple Watch Series 11, iPhone 17, the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, the AirPods Pro 3, and more.
With its expanded display—now the largest ever fitted to an Apple Watch—and a whopping 42-hour battery life, you'll find this device designed for both extreme adventures and everyday health monitoring.
You'll be able to send text messages to emergency responders and loved ones even without mobile or Wi-Fi coverage. The watch also introduces a revolutionary health feature that monitors for signs of high blood pressure, potentially alerting millions of undiagnosed individuals to this silent condition.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 connects to satellites orbiting 800 miles above Earth, travelling at 15,000 mph, enabling two-way communication when traditional networks aren't available
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When you're hiking in remote mountains or sailing far from shore, the Apple Watch Ultra 3's satellite features could prove invaluable. For instance, the device connects to satellites orbiting 800 miles above Earth, travelling at 15,000 mph, enabling two-way communication when traditional networks aren't available.
You'll be able to send emergency SOS messages with just a few taps. For instance, if you're unresponsive after a severe car crash or hard fall, the watch can automatically alert emergency services with your location and situation details. The Find My feature lets you share your position every 15 minutes with pre-selected contacts, to ensure your loved ones can locate you in case of an emergency.
For everyday communication off-grid, you can exchange texts, emojis, and Tapbacks with anyone you've messaged in the past 30 days.
The watch's hypertension monitoring represents a significant advancement in wearable health technology. Using optical heart sensors, it analyses how your blood vessels respond to heartbeats, working quietly in the background over 30-day periods.
If you're among the 1.3 billion adults worldwide affected by high blood pressure—often without knowing it—this feature could provide a crucial early warning. The technology underwent rigorous testing with over 100,000 participants in development studies and 2,000 in clinical validation.
When the watch detects consistent signs of hypertension, you'll receive a notification prompting you to monitor your blood pressure for seven days using a traditional cuff. You can then share these results with your doctor. The feature awaits FDA clearance this month and will be available in over 150 countries, though it's not suitable for those under 22, pregnant women, or people already diagnosed with hypertension.
When the watch detects consistent signs of hypertension, you'll receive a notification prompting you to monitor your blood pressure
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The watch's display utilises LTPO3 technology with wide-angle OLEDs, making the screen 24% larger without changing the case dimensions. You'll notice improved brightness when viewing from angles, and the always-on display now refreshes every second rather than every minute, allowing you to see a ticking seconds hand without lifting your wrist.
Battery performance extends to 42 hours for daily use, or up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, and A 15-minute charge provides 12 hours of use. When you're tracking outdoor workouts continuously, you'll get 20 hours with full GPS and heart rate monitoring.The new sleep scoring feature analyses multiple factors, including duration, consistency, interruptions and sleep stages. You'll receive nightly scores with clear breakdowns to help improve your rest quality.
The 5G connectivity enables faster downloads of music, podcasts and apps when you're within network coverage. Apple's new Workout Buddy feature, powered by Apple Intelligence, provides personalised spoken motivation during exercise sessions based on your heart rate, pace and fitness history.
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Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers what Apple claims is the most accurate GPS in any sports watch, where runners benefit from automatic track detection
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For athletes, you'll find the watch offers what Apple claims is the most accurate GPS in any sports watch. Runners benefit from automatic track detection, while cyclists can view metrics on their iPhone screen. The device supports recreational scuba diving to 40 metres and includes offline maps for hikers.
The watch comes in natural or black titanium finishes. Apple has also incorporated 40% recycled materials, including fully recycled cobalt in the battery and titanium in the case, manufactured entirely with renewable electricity.
If you want to get your hands on the Ultra 3, it's available for pre-order today, but it will officially be available in stores on September 15. Prices for the watch will start at £749. Apple's satellite services come free for two years with your purchase. Additional fees afterwards have not yet been confirmed.