Apple Watch Ultra 3
VERDICT
The Ultra 3 is boring in the best way possible: it keeps the rugged design we love but supercharges the internals. With the addition of Blood Pressure Monitoring and Sleep Apnea detection, it has crossed the line from "fitness tracker" to "medical device." If you care about your health metrics, this is the ultimate tool.
The Big Picture
For two years, the "Ultra" was all about diving and hiking. The Ultra 3 pivots to "Wellness." While it still retains the titanium armor and 100m water resistance, the real magic is the new sensor array on the back. It can now detect trends in your blood pressure (hypertension) without an inflatable cuff, alerting you before a silent problem becomes a crisis.
🩸 Blood Pressure Trends
The Breakthrough: No cuff needed.
How it works: It doesn't give you exact numbers (like 120/80) but tracks the variance. If your BP spikes due to stress or diet, the watch gently nudges you to check it properly. It’s a passive guardian that is always watching.
☀️ 4000 Nits Display
Brighter than the sun.
Performance: The new display technology pushes brightness to an insane 4000 nits. Whether you are running in the direct desert sun or diving into a dark cavern, the screen is perfectly legible. It also dims down to 1 nit for cinema modes.
✅ The Pros
- Health Sensors: Hypertension and Sleep Apnea detection are game-changers.
- Battery Life: Improved efficiency allows for 3 full days of normal use.
- Action Button: Now customizable with double-tap gestures for more controls.
- Durability: Still the toughest smartwatch on the market.
❌ The Cons
- Size: Still huge (49mm). It looks ridiculous on small wrists.
- Price: $799 is a steep entry price.
- Recovery Metrics: Still lags behind Garmin/Whoop in telling you "how much" to train.
🤔 Should you buy it?
YES if you want the most advanced health tracking available for iPhone users.
NO if you are an athlete who prioritizes recovery data and 2-week battery life (get the Garmin Fenix 8).
See the showdown: Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Garmin Fenix 8 Comparison