Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is less a reinvention than a careful refinement. Apple has kept the familiar titanium case size and sapphire-fronted design but trimmed the bezels to fit the largest display yet on an Apple Watch. It has also added the features that matter most to its outdoor-leaning audience: satellite messaging for SOS and off-grid contact, plus 5G connectivity.

This watch is for iPhone owners who want the toughest, longest-lasting Apple Watch, particularly hikers, runners and anyone who regularly heads beyond reliable phone coverage. It requires an iPhone 11 or newer, so Android users and owners of older iPhones are excluded. Reviewers broadly agree it makes the most sense for people buying their first Ultra rather than those upgrading from a recent one.

On paper, the Ultra 3's most meaningful addition is satellite messaging. For people who venture off-grid, being able to send an SOS or a message without cellular coverage is a genuine safety upgrade rather than a spec-sheet extra. 5G is a smaller but welcome step forward for the cellular side of the watch.

Battery life also improves. Apple's advertised figure rises from 36 to 42 hours, helped by a 6% larger battery. In the Guardian's testing it ran for about three days of general use with overnight sleep tracking, which is strong for a full-featured smartwatch. The S10 chip brings it in line with the Series 11, including double tap and wrist flick gestures. New health tools, sleep score and hypertension tracking, add further value, though our sources offer little detail on how accurate or useful they are in practice.

• The larger, slimmer-bezelled display is a nice touch, but the overall design is otherwise unchanged.
• The reported 61.8g weight and familiar case size will suit people who already like the Ultra's chunky build, but not those who want something lighter.
• At $799 it is a premium purchase, and the improvements are incremental for anyone who already owns an Ultra.

Overall, the Ultra 3 is a well-rounded, high-end iPhone companion that sharpens an already strong formula. It earns a high score for first-time Ultra buyers, but it falls short of top marks because the generational gains are modest and it remains tied to the iPhone ecosystem.