Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Series 11 wins 3 of the 7 categories we compared, against 2 for Apple Watch Ultra (2 tied) — including weight (37.8 g vs 61.3 g).
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: our verdict
Pick Apple Watch Series 11 if you want the lighter, easier watch to live with every day, plus blood pressure alerts without paying a premium. Pass on it if your priority is the longest battery life or more advanced GPS for rugged trips. The tradeoff is charging it more often.
Apple Watch Ultra makes sense for people who really need the longer battery and more precise GPS, especially outdoors. You pay $370 more and give up blood pressure alerts.
Summarised from our video comparison of these two wearables.
Watch the video comparison
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Battery & Charging
| Spec |
 Apple Watch Series 11
|
 Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours | 36 hours |
| Charging time | 60 min | 90 min |
| Charging | USB-C magnetic fast charging; up to 80% in about 30 minutes, 15 minute charge for 8 hours of use | USB-C magnetic fast charging |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Display
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.96 in | 1.92 in |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED | Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED |
| Resolution | 416 x 496 | 410 x 502 |
| Screen protection | Ion-X front glass with 2x better scratch resistance than Series 10 (aluminum); sapphire front crystal (titanium) | Flat sapphire front crystal; raised titanium case edges protect the crystal from edge impacts |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Health Sensors
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | Yes | Yes |
| Blood pressure alerts | Yes | No |
| Irregular rhythm alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Breathing rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | No | No |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: GPS & Navigation
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-band GPS | No | Yes |
| Satellite systems | 5 | 5 |
| Offline maps | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Smart Features
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Calls from the wrist | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular (LTE) | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency SOS | Yes | Yes |
| Software | watchOS | watchOS |
| Works with | iPhone only | iPhone only |
| Voice assistant | Siri | Siri |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Design & Durability
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 37.8 g | 61.3 g |
| Thickness | 9.7 mm | 12 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 100 m |
| Military-grade toughness | No | Yes |
| Case size | 46 mm | 49 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Titanium |
| IP rating | IP6X | IP6X |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Price & Colors
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black, Gold, Natural, Slate | Natural Titanium |
| Release year | 2025 | 2022 |
Where each one wins
Apple Watch Series 11
- Charging time: 60 min (vs 90 min)
- Screen size: 1.96 in (vs 1.92 in)
- Blood pressure alerts
- Weight: 37.8 g (vs 61.3 g)
- Thickness: 9.7 mm (vs 12 mm)
Apple Watch Ultra
- Battery life: 36 hours (vs 24 hours)
- Dual-band GPS
- Water resistance: 100 m (vs 50 m)
- Military-grade toughness
More Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra Comparisons
Wearables Similar to Apple Watch Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Apple Watch Ultra?
Apple Watch Series 11 wins 3 of the 7 categories we compared, against 2 for Apple Watch Ultra (2 tied) — including weight (37.8 g vs 61.3 g).
Which is cheaper, the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Apple Watch Ultra?
The Apple Watch Series 11 costs around $429, $370 less than the Apple Watch Ultra at around $799.
What are the main differences between the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra?
The biggest gaps are in battery life (36 hours on the Apple Watch Ultra vs 24 hours); weight (37.8 g on the Apple Watch Series 11 vs 61.3 g); water resistance (100 m on the Apple Watch Ultra vs 50 m).