Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple Watch Ultra 3 wins 3 of the 7 categories we compared, against 1 for Apple Watch Series 11 (3 tied) — including battery life (42 hours vs 24 hours).
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: our verdict
Go for Apple Watch Ultra 3 if longer battery life, a brighter display, and advanced GPS matter enough to justify the extra cost. If you want something lighter on your wrist or you're watching your budget, this isn't the one to buy. You pay $370 more and give up a thinner, lighter build.
Apple Watch Series 11 makes more sense if you want a thinner, lighter watch that feels easy to wear all day. The shorter battery means charging it more often.
Summarised from our video comparison of these two wearables.
Watch the video comparison
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Battery & Charging
| Spec |
 Apple Watch Series 11
|
 Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours | 42 hours |
| GPS battery life | 8 hours | 14 hours |
| Charging time | 60 min | 75 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; up to 80% in about 45 minutes |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Display
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.96 in | 1.98 in |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 3000 nits |
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED | Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED |
| Resolution | 416 x 496 | 422 x 514 |
| Screen protection | Ion-X front glass with 2x better scratch resistance than Series 10 (aluminum); sapphire front crystal (titanium) | Flat sapphire crystal display |
Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Health Sensors
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 3: GPS & Navigation
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 3: Smart Features
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 3: Design & Durability
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 37.8 g | 61.6 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 3: Price & Colors
| Spec |
Apple Watch Series 11
|
Apple Watch Ultra 3
|
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Jet Black, Gold, Natural, Slate | Natural Titanium, Black Titanium |
| Release year | 2025 | 2025 |
Where each one wins
Apple Watch Series 11
- Charging time: 60 min (vs 75 min)
- Weight: 37.8 g (vs 61.6 g)
- Thickness: 9.7 mm (vs 12 mm)
Apple Watch Ultra 3
- Battery life: 42 hours (vs 24 hours)
- GPS battery life: 14 hours (vs 8 hours)
- Screen size: 1.98 in (vs 1.96 in)
- Peak brightness: 3000 nits (vs 2000 nits)
- Dual-band GPS
- Water resistance: 100 m (vs 50 m)
- Military-grade toughness
More Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Apple Watch Ultra 3 wins 3 of the 7 categories we compared, against 1 for Apple Watch Series 11 (3 tied) — including battery life (42 hours vs 24 hours).
Which is cheaper, the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
The Apple Watch Series 11 costs around $429, $370 less than the Apple Watch Ultra 3 at around $799.
What are the main differences between the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
The biggest gaps are in battery life (42 hours on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs 24 hours); peak brightness (3000 nits on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs 2000 nits); weight (37.8 g on the Apple Watch Series 11 vs 61.6 g).