At the time of writing, Apple’s big iPhone event is just around the corner — a week away, give or take, depending on when you’re reading this. And while most of the hype is centered on the iPhone 17 and the new Liquid Glass UI coming with iOS 26, the Apple Watch will also be a supporting player during the big show.
In fact, we're expecting to see three new smartwatches make their debut at the Apple event on Sept. 9 — the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Not to sound like a broken record, but as with the iPhone 17 (and the Series 11), we're expecting incremental upgrades, not a drastic redesign. That’s not to say we won't see anything new, but temper your expectations for the $800 smartwatch. Here’s everything we know so far, and everything we think we know.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price
Let's start with the good news: As hinted above, the Ultra 3 is expected to stick to last year’s $799 starting price. That's still a steep buy-in, even for Apple’s top-tier wearable, but in the tariffs era, a lot of products are getting more expensive.
Like the Series 11 and iPhone 17, we think the Ultra 3 will be announced on Sept. 9, with preorders likely kicking off around Sept. 12. Early adopters can have it on their wrists as early as Sept. 19.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design and Display
According to MacRumors, the Ultra 3 is expected to sport a larger display — roughly 10 percent bigger than the Ultra 2. Measuring in at 2.12 inches, the new screen may also mark a shift away from OLED, with Apple reportedly testing more energy-efficient options like microLED or wide-angle LTPO panels.
There are also rumblings of an onboard camera, a feature that popped up in our Series 11 rumor roundup as well. If it makes the cut this year, the camera would sit on the side of the case near the digital crown. Don’t expect it to replace your iPhone, though. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes, the feature would likely serve more for AI-driven visual analysis than snapping Instagram-ready photos.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Hardware
A new Ultra also means a new chip. After two years, the Ultra 3 will finally get an upgrade with Apple’s latest S11 processor. The Ultra 2 ran on the S9, while the Series 10 jumped to an S10, but this year Apple is aligning the lineup — the Series 11, Ultra 3, and the rumored SE 3 are all rumored to ship with the updated S11.
That said, don’t get your hopes up too high. While it’s technically a new processor, MacRumors reports that leaks suggest the S11 shares much of the same internal architecture as the S9 and S10. It’s still a solid chip for a smartwatch, but in terms of real-world performance, the gains are expected to be modest at best.
The Ultra 3 is also expected to feature a larger charging coil, which should help extend battery life. Combined with the new energy-efficient display, CNET reports that the watch could last up to 72 hours in low power mode — a major boost for adventurers and endurance users.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: New watchOS 26 features
One of the standout upgrades, according to Mark Gurman, will be satellite messaging. The Ultra 3 is tipped to be the first Apple wearable capable of dispatching emergency texts via the Globalstar satellite network. That means even if you’re completely off the grid without cell service, you could still get a lifeline out. (Garmin recently announced its own flagship smartwatch with satellite connectivity, set to be released Sept. 8, the day before the Apple event.)
There are also rumors of built-in blood pressure monitoring, a feature that could provide early warnings for users at risk of hypertension. Beyond that, expect the Ultra 3 to carry over much of what the Ultra 2 already offered — with the notable addition of 5G connectivity baked directly into the watch.
