Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3: Anticipated Features and AI Integration

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 Could Be Revealed Tomorrow

By this time tomorrow, we'll know exactly what Apple has planned for its new Apple Watch lineup. But one thing already seems very likely: a refreshed version of the rugged Ultra. Not only is it due for an upgrade (the Ultra 2 debuted in September 2023), but Apple may have actually dropped the biggest clue yet. Buried in the public beta of iOS 26 (first spotted by MacRumors) are screen specs that don't match any existing Apple Watch model on the market, hinting at the arrival of an Apple Watch Ultra 3. For a company as secretive as Apple, this slip might be the clearest sign yet of what's next for its most durable smartwatch. Follow along: The countdown has begun for the iPhone 17 to be revealed tomorrow, Sept. 9 -- read the latest rumors and our predictions in CNET's iPhone 17 Liveblog. Here's everything we're expecting for the Ultra 3 at Apple's Sept. 9 event based on the latest reports, leaks and usual upgrade patterns. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. If the leaked iOS 26 imagery holds true, the Ultra 3 will feature a slightly larger screen with a 422x514-pixel resolution (up from the Ultra 2's 410x502 pixels). In keeping with Apple's tradition of maximizing screen real estate without adding bulk to the already giant Ultra, the upgraded screen size wouldn't increase the actual footprint and could be achieved by reducing the bezel size. The Ultra is due for a performance bump to at least keep up with the S10 chip on the current Series 10 (the Ultra 2 runs on the S9 chip). The more likely scenario is that both the Ultra 3 and Series 11 get a new S11 chip that would typically bring faster performance and greater efficiency. The bump up in processing power could support new features such as enhanced GPS tracking, satellite connectivity, more advanced health monitoring and potentially some additional Apple Intelligence integrations like Workout Buddy which Apple announced in WatchOS 26 (and which I've started to think might be a bigger deal that it first appeared). One of the more intriguing Ultra 3 rumors comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has reported that Apple is exploring satellite connectivity for the next Apple Watch Ultra model. This would enable emergency messaging and location sharing even in areas without cellular coverage. If implemented, it could build on the Apple Watch's existing lineup of potentially life-saving features like emergency SOS, fall detection and car crash detection to outdoor enthusiasts going off the grid or even people who live in remote areas. Gurman's report also suggests the Ultra may gain 5G connectivity, a step up from its current LTE-only support. Several rumored health upgrades for the Series 11 could also make their way to the Ultra 3, the most anticipated being blood pressure tracking. According to Gurman, Apple is already testing the feature, though accuracy challenges could delay a public release this year. Blood glucose monitoring is another long-rumored addition, but it's expected to be even further out than blood pressure tracking, making it highly unlikely for 2025. In another Bloomberg report, Gurman says Apple is developing a broader AI health initiative, code-named "Project Mulberry," aimed at bringing personalized health and fitness insights to the Apple Watch. This would build on Apple's recently announced AI powered Workout Buddy which delivers personalized motivation for certain workouts with Watch OS 26. The Ultra's durability and long battery life could make it an ideal platform for round-the-clock training guidance, though based on current rumors, the rollout may be better aligned with a 2026 release. The Ultra already boasts the longest battery life of any Apple device (save for the Airtag of course), with up to two full days or 72 hours in low-power mode. While there are no concrete leaks about changes in battery capacity, pairing an S11 chip with a more efficient display could result in significant gains -- potentially approaching three days or up to four days in low-power mode. The faster charging Apple introduced with the Series 10 could also make its way to the Ultra line, reducing the amount of time the watch spends off your wrist. Barring unexpected price hikes from tariffs or component costs, the Ultra 3 is expected to keep the same $799 starting price as the Ultra 2. Apple typically unveils its new watches at the same event as the iPhone, which this year is Sept. 9. If the pattern holds, preorders should begin a few days after the keynote and arrive in stores (or at your doorstep) one to two weeks after that.

Why the new Apple Watch Series 11 may be the most ambitious model we've seen yet

Blood pressure monitoring and sleep scores could be on the way. We're hours away from Apple's annual September hardware event, where the tech giant announces its latest releases, from iPhones and iPads to AirPods and, my favorite, Apple Watches. Also: Should you buy the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17? How to decide which model to buy Rumors are swirling about what's to come on the next generation of Apple Watches, which include the Series 11, Ultra 3, and maybe even the SE 3. Apple's latest smartwatch software, WatchOS 26, gives us a few glimpses at what the Series 11 is capable of. A new Workout Buddy feature guides Apple Watch users through their workouts with encouragement, personal record announcements, and progress reports. Apple's new Liquid Glass display makes widgets, messages, and apps appear clear on the watch and mimics the display of Apple Vision Pro headset. Outside of those software updates, I'm keeping my eyes and ears open for rumors, murmurs, and whispers on Apple's next Apple Watch. Here's what we've heard so far. Rumors say we're getting not one, not two, but three Apple Watches at tomorrow's event. This includes the baseline Series 11, the rugged (and luxurious) Ultra 3, and a possible SE 3, Apple's affordable smartwatch. Apple historically unveils its new products around the second week of September, and we expect this year's event will be no different. After the company's product announcements, we can expect a subsequent rollout and shipment of the new devices around a week or two later, as has been the case in the past. Your sleep could be getting graded soon if Apple adds sleep scores to its next Apple Watch. MacRumor's Steve Moser found a "Watch Focus Score" and Apple Watch icon with an "84" score within the code of WatchOS 26 that hints at Apple's first foray into algorithmically monitoring and ranking time spent and quality of sleep. This is one feature I've been waiting for on the Apple Watch and have enjoyed using on several other smartwatches and rings. The issue with sleep scores, I've learned through testing several sleep trackers myself, is the fact that it's not an objective datapoint and can differ based on the device. When I was testing out three wearables at once, I'd often receive three different, albeit closely related, sleep scores, which proved to me that a sleep score feature can't be totally and completely objective. Also: I took these four sleep trackers to bed. Here's which one I recommend most Because many of the health features Apple launches are backed by a bevy of clinical research or cleared by the FDA -- Apple's sleep apnea detection feature, for example -- I'm curious how a sleep score feature would look and work on the smartwatch, and how Apple will give it its own voice or twist. We will probably see a new processor on the Series 11 and Ultra 3, given the fact that Apple upgrades its processor with every smartwatch release. The Apple Watch Series 10's peak brightness comes in at 2,000 nits. But Apple is aiming to make its next smartwatch brighter, according to serial Apple leaker Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. I've noticed that Apple's smartwatch rivals -- Google and Samsung -- have amped up their smartwatch's brightness to 3,000 nits. The Ultra 2 already has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, so maybe the Series 11 will take that brightness as well. According to Gurman, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 gets a screen size upgrade. By how much? We don't know, but we'll find out tomorrow. According to Gurman, satellite connectivity and 5G support could be coming to Apple's rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3, though they may skip the Watch 11. This could be on par with Google's recent standalone satellite feature, which doesn't require a carrier connection for off-grid communication. Apple has been working on giving its Health app a facelift. According to Gurman, Apple has been working on a major Health app revamp, code-named Project Mulberry, that would bring AI recommendations and actionable health and fitness insights to users. The most notable addition is an AI health coach that could "replicate, at least to some extent, a real doctor," Gurman writes. Also: 5 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 7 to get instead) The health coach would use the data it collects from Apple's wearables or third-party apps to provide recommendations and insights. The AI agent is being trained using data from physicians on staff, Gurman reports. Apple has leveraged AI already for Workout Buddy, a feature that provides stats, workout metrics, and encouragement when a user logs a workout on the watch. A highly coveted feature could be implemented on the Apple Watch, but it's yet to be determined whether it's implemented in both the Series 11 and Ultra Watch 3 or one at all. Rumors about a new blood pressure sensor that allows easy monitoring without an armband are swirling. Gurman wrote that Apple was ramping up the rollout of the feature, but it seems that blood pressure monitoring has run into many hurdles. There's a chance it's not revealed this year.