The Apple Watch Ultra Just Became a True Adventure Watch, Thanks to This New Feature

The new Apple Watch Ultra 3 now comes with a life-saving feature — and it doesn’t cost extra.

A person wearing a dark blue bandana and sunglasses is outdoors, looking at a smartwatch on their left wrist. The smartwatch screen displays a satellite connection interface with the text "Keep Pointing at Satellite." The person is using their right hand to interact with the watch. The background is a blurred natural landscape with muted colors.

Published 6 hours ago

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Good things come to those who wait.

And the Apple Watch Ultra 3, arriving not one but two years after its predecessor, looks to be a worthy update in all the right ways.

A person wearing a black sleeveless shirt over a long-sleeve green shirt, a blue bandana, and reflective sunglasses is jogging outdoors against a clear blue sky. They hold a water bottle in one hand and wear a smartwatch with a blue strap on the other wrist. — The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first update to Apple’s most rugged sportswatch in two years.

Bigger display, 5G and more battery

At face value, the key changes include 5G and 42 hours of battery life (up from 36 hours).

It also includes a slightly larger screen than the one on the Ultra 2 (although the case size is the exact same), while the display itself refreshes more frequently in always-on mode. That enables more dynamic watch faces with a ticking seconds hand, for example.

Side view of a smartwatch with a silver metallic case, featuring a large round crown with an orange ring and an elongated button next to it. The watch has a green strap and a black screen displaying a compass interface with green and white markings. — The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has the largest display of any Apple Watch ever.

Digital smartwatch with a rugged silver case and blue fabric strap, displaying a detailed compass interface. The screen shows the time as 10:09, with navigation information including a direction of 43°, altitude of 6,370 feet with a ±20 feet margin, and wind speed of 12 mph. The display also indicates a location named "ED'S CABIN" 4 miles away, updated 2 seconds ago, and features satellite connectivity. The interface uses pink and white accents on a black background. — A higher refresh rate in always-on mode opens the door for more dynamic displays.

Alone, every single one of those features would appeal to early adopters of the Apple Watch series, which debuted in 2022 as a more rugged alternative to the mainline variants, as well as the SE (both of which received notable updates during Apple’s September keynote).

However, its most notable new trick is one solidifies the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as a true adventure watch that can compete with the best of them: built-in, two-way satellite connectivity.

Three smartwatches with rectangular faces and rounded edges are shown side by side. The left watch has a light green perforated silicone band, a silver case, and a blue-themed digital display showing navigation details. The middle watch features a black fabric band, a dark gray case, and a pink-themed digital display with similar navigation information. The right watch has a blue woven nylon band, a silver case, and a green-themed digital display also showing navigation data. Each watch displays the time as 10:09. — The Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes in two finishes: natural and black titanium.

SOS texts (and emojis)

Satellite means that the users can text emergency services or share their location with friends and family, even when they find themselves off the grid without wi-fi or cellar service. It will even let them send emojis.

Smartwatch with a black and gray woven strap displaying a messaging app screen. The conversation shows a message from Tania asking, "Did you make it there okay?" and a reply in blue text saying, "I'm on my way!" The time displayed is 10:09. — Satellite connectivity enables texting, even when there’s no wi-fi or cell service.

What’s more, satellite communication comes standard on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, even without cellular selected as an add-on, and it’s free for two years after purchase.

Though the addition of satellite connectivity is notable on the Apple Watch no matter how you spin it, it would arguably be a bigger talking point if it didn’t include it.

Google recently added it to the Pixel Watch 4, while Garmin introduced it to the Fenix 8 just last week.

Garmin Fenix smartwatch with a round black bezel and strap, displaying the time 10:10, date Saturday August 1, step count of 15k, heart rate of 88, and a battery icon at the top. The watch face has a dark background with orange contour lines and white digital numbers and icons. — The Fenix 8, also new this month, is yet another example of high-end sportswatches adopting satellite messaging as a standard perk.

Availability and pricing

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for preorder in natural or black titanium, with shipping scheduled for September 19. It starts at $799.

Smartwatch with a rectangular display and a brown woven strap. The screen shows a satellite connection interface with an image of Earth at night, a satellite icon at the top, and a green dot indicating location. Text on the screen reads "Keep Pointing at Satellite" and "Connected." The time displayed is 10:09.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Starts at $799

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.