Reprinted from TidBITS by permission; reuse governed by Creative Commons license BY-NC-ND 3.0. TidBITS has offered years of thoughtful commentary on Apple and Internet topics. For free email subscriptions and access to the entire TidBITS archive, visit http://www.tidbits.com/ Apple Releases New Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Adam Engst At its September 2025 event, Apple unveiled three new Apple Watch models that emphasize health monitoring, durability, and connectivity. The cellular-capable models all now feature 5G cellular capabilities, while the flagship Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 introduce hypertension detection and sleep quality measurements. The Ultra 3 can also communicate with satellites, and the Apple Watch SE 3 adds several features previously missing from the SE line. The new lineup maintains Apple's familiar pricing structure, with the Apple Watch SE 3 starting at $249 (cellular adds $50), Apple Watch Series 11 at $399 (cellular adds $100), and Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $799 (including cellular). All models can be pre-ordered today and will be available beginning 19 September 2025. Apple Watch Series 11 The [1]Apple Watch Series 11 retains the design of last year's Apple Watch Series 10 while adding a new ceramic coating to improve scratch resistance. A more noticeable change is 5G connectivity in the cellular models, which should provide better performance with reduced battery drain. Apple also touts improved battery life of up to 24 hours. Apple highlighted two prominent health-related features: hypertension detection and a sleep score. The hypertension detection uses optical heart sensor data to identify patterns associated with high blood pressure, and Apple expects to notify over one million people with undiagnosed hypertension in the first year alone. The sleep score builds on the existing sleep monitoring in the Apple Watch to analyze sleep quality based on multiple factors, including duration, consistency, and sleep stages. Neither feature is unique to this year's models, with the hypertension feature working back to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the sleep score is available on the Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models. Upgrade to watchOS 26 to get these features on supported watches. The Apple Watch Series 11 is available in aluminum (jet black, silver, rose gold, and space gray) and titanium (natural, gold, and slate) finishes, all made from 100% recycled materials. Apple Watch SE 3 You can evaluate the Apple Watch SE 3 in two ways: how it differs from the standard Apple Watch models and what improvements it offers over the previous SE generation. Despite sharing the S10 chip and many new features with the Apple Watch Series 11, the [2]Apple Watch SE 3 still lacks several premium capabilities. There's no ECG app or blood oxygen monitoring, no hypertension detection, and it uses a standard optical heart sensor rather than the Series 11's more advanced electrical and optical sensor combination. The SE 3's display, while now always-on, is smaller and less bright than the Series 11's. The SE 3 also has shorter battery life (18 vs 24 hours) and comes in fewer colors, with just midnight and starlight aluminum options. Compared to the Apple Watch SE 2, however, the Apple Watch SE 3 brings significant improvements. The addition of an always-on display addresses one of the most significant limitations of previous SE models. The new S10 chip enables features like the double-tap and wrist flick gestures, plus on-device Siri processing. It offers sleep apnea notifications, and the addition of temperature sensing enables cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates. Fast charging and the ability to play media through the built-in speaker round out the major upgrades, along with 5G cellular capabilities for better connectivity. Apple Watch Ultra 3 While last year's Apple Watch Ultra 2 only added a new color option, the [3]Apple Watch Ultra 3 brings several meaningful improvements to Apple's adventure-focused design. The most technologically impressive change is support for Messages, Find My, and Emergency SOS via satellite, much like the iPhone 14 and later. It's astonishing enough to communicate with a satellite from an iPhone, but from a watch? There are some limitations: all Apple Watch Ultra models are cellular-capable, but to use Messages and Find My, even via satellite, [4]you'll need a cellular plan. (Emergency SOS does not require a plan, though [5]Apple says it might not work on all cellular networks.) Plus, to send and receive SMS/MMs messages, the paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, though it doesn't need to be nearby. Apple also increased the size of the display, relying on thinner borders to keep the case size the same. It's also brighter and more visible from off-axis viewing angles. The always-on display can now update once per second rather than once per minute, enabling a ticking seconds hand, with numerous watch faces taking advantage of this update. Despite the faster screen refresh rate, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 now boasts up to 42 hours of battery life, 20 hours of continuous outdoor tracking (GPS plus heart rate) in Low Power Mode, and up to 72 hours of general use in Low Power Mode. Upgrade Considerations For current Apple Watch users, the decision to upgrade depends on which model you currently own and what features matter most to you. Most people with an Apple Watch Series 9 or Series 10 won't see enough of an improvement to bother upgrading to a Series 11. (My Series 9 has no limitations that would encourage me to upgrade, for instance.) Apple Watch Ultra owners may be in the same boat, although Ultra 3's satellite connectivity could be appealing to those who frequently spend time in the wilderness. However, if you have a significantly older Apple Watch, particularly one with a weak battery, it's a fine time to upgrade. The decision comes down to the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Apple Watch Series 11. While you won't go wrong with a Series 11, if you aren't interested in the ECG app, blood oxygen monitoring, or hypertension detection, the SE 3 might be a good way to save $150 without compromising on key features. References Visible links 1. https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-11/ 2. https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-se-3/ 3. https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra-3/ 4. https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra-3/#:~:text=find%20my%20and%20messages%20via%20satellite%20require%20a%20carrier%20plan 5. https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-ultra-3/#:~:text=some%20cellular%20networks%20may%20not%20accept%20an%20emergency%20call%20from%20your%20apple%20watch Hidden links: 6. https://tidbits.com/uploads/2025/09/Apple-Watch-Series-11-spec-card-scaled.jpg 7. https://tidbits.com/uploads/2025/09/Apple-Watch-SE-3-spec-card-scaled.jpg 8. https://tidbits.com/uploads/2025/09/Apple-Watch-Ultra-3-spec-card-scaled.jpg .