At the moment of this writing, Apple’s significant iPhone presentation is imminent — approximately a week away, depending on your reading time. While the excitement primarily revolves around the iPhone 17 and the new Liquid Glass UI debuting with iOS 26, the Apple Watch will also play a supportive role during the major event.
In fact, we anticipate witnessing the launch of three new smartwatches at the Apple event on September 9 — the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Without sounding repetitive, similar to the iPhone 17 (and the Series 11), we foresee minor enhancements, not a complete overhaul. That isn’t to imply we won’t see any innovations, but manage your expectations for the $800 smartwatch. Here’s all that we know up to this point, and everything we speculate.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Pricing
Let’s begin with the positive aspect: As suggested earlier, the Ultra 3 is likely to maintain the prior year’s starting price of $799. This remains a high entry point, even for Apple’s premium wearable, but in the current landscape of tariffs, many products are becoming pricier.
Like the Series 11 and iPhone 17, we believe the Ultra 3 will be unveiled on September 9, with preorders probably commencing around September 12. Early adopters could don it on their wrists as soon as September 19.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design and Display
As per MacRumors, the Ultra 3 is expected to feature a larger display — approximately 10 percent bigger than the Ultra 2. Measuring at 2.12 inches, the new screen might represent a shift away from OLED, with Apple supposedly testing more energy-efficient alternatives like microLED or wide-angle LTPO panels.
Additionally, there are hints of an integrated camera, a feature that also emerged in our Series 11 rumor summary. If included this year, the camera would be positioned on the side of the case near the digital crown. However, don’t anticipate it to take the place of your iPhone. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman observes, the feature would likely be used more for AI-driven visual analysis rather than capturing Instagram-ready images.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Hardware
A new Ultra signifies a new chip. After two years, the Ultra 3 will finally receive an upgrade with Apple’s latest S11 processor. The Ultra 2 operated on the S9 while the Series 10 switched to an S10, but this year Apple is unifying the lineup — the Series 11, Ultra 3, and the speculated SE 3 are all expected to come equipped with the refresh S11.
That said, temper your expectations. While it technically is a new processor, MacRumors indicates that leaks imply the S11 retains much of the same internal framework as the S9 and S10. It’s still a robust chip for a smartwatch, but in terms of real-world efficiency, the improvements are anticipated to be subtle at best.
The Ultra 3 is also projected to include a bigger charging coil, which should assist in prolonging battery life. Paired with the new energy-efficient display, CNET reports that the watch could potentially last up to 72 hours in low power mode — a significant enhancement for adventurers and endurance enthusiasts.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: New watchOS 26 features
One of the notable upgrades, according to Mark Gurman, will be satellite messaging. The Ultra 3 is suggested to be the first Apple wearable capable of sending emergency texts via the Globalstar satellite network. That means even if you’re entirely off the grid without cellular service, you could still send out a distress signal. (Garmin recently unveiled its own flagship smartwatch with satellite connectivity, scheduled for release on September 8, the day before the Apple event.)
There are also speculations about integrated blood pressure monitoring, a feature that could give early alerts for users at risk of hypertension. Beyond that, expect the Ultra 3 to inherit much of what the Ultra 2 previously offered — with the remarkable addition of 5G connectivity built directly into the watch.