Apple Watch Series 11 & Ultra 3: Apple’s best fitness stack yet

If you live in Apple’s ecosystem and care about training, recovery, and safety, the 2025 Apple Watch lineup is the most compelling it’s ever been. Series 11 brings Sleep Score, longer battery life, tougher glass, and watchOS 26’s smarter coaching. Ultra 3 layers on a bigger, brighter screen, built‑in satellite communications for off‑grid SOS and messaging, and marathon‑friendly endurance.

Why this year’s Watches matter

Two things shift the experience from “step counter” to “true coach + safety net”: Sleep Score and satellite. Sleep Score finally gives an at‑a‑glance grade with transparent drivers (duration, consistency, interruptions) so you can change habits and actually see results the next morning. And Ultra 3’s satellite features mean help—and check‑ins—still work when your phone service doesn’t. Add Workout Buddy (Apple Intelligence voice motivation), the Liquid Glass UI refresh, and small quality‑of‑life gains like wrist‑flick and faster setup, and this feels like a whole platform step, not just a speed bump.

“With a powerful new sleep score, plus longer battery life, a more scratch‑resistant glass display, all in a thin and comfortable design users love, Apple Watch Series 11 is an indispensable companion that supports users’ health, fitness, safety, and connectivity throughout the day and night,” said Stan Ng, VP of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing.

Sleep Score: the feedback loop that sticks

After a week of sleeping with Series 11, the new Sleep Score turned into a mini game I wanted to win. Seeing the nightly breakdown pushed me to tighten my bedtime window and cut late‑night screens; nudge those, and your score (and how you feel) follow. The best part: battery life finally supports true 24‑hour wear, so you can capture days and nights without the charge‑anxiety shuffle.

What you see:

• A single score plus a plain‑language classification.
• Drivers you can act on: total sleep, time in REM/Deep, bedtime consistency, and interruptions.
• Long‑term trends in the Health app and a complication for quick glances.

Why it helps training: Recovery quality influences readiness. Having a consistent, legible score next to your weekly mileage, pace, and heart‑rate zones closes the loop between effort and recovery.

Training: Watch + AirPods is the move

Pairing Watch with AirPods Pro 3 is the fitness combo to beat. AirPods’ heart‑rate sensing means even if you forget your watch (or vice versa), you still log workouts with HR and close your rings. Fit and ANC upgrades make long runs, lifts, and flights calmer and more focused. (For our full AirPods Pro 3 review with testing notes, read it here.)

On‑wrist, Workout Buddy now gives timely, spoken nudges tied to your history—pace calls when you’re slipping, zone cues during intervals, and a concise rundown at the finish. Cyclists get power/FTP and Power Zones (with compatible sensors), runners get Precision Start, track detection, Race Route, Pacer, and deep running‑form metrics, and swimmers get WR‑ready tracking with custom interval sets and an “Up Next” view.

“Apple Watch Ultra is our most advanced Apple Watch, designed to take users from sports and adventure to the rest of their life, and help them stay active, healthy, connected, and safe, wherever they are.” 

— Eugene Kim, VP of Apple Watch Hardware Engineering

Battery, durability, and the everyday stuff

• Series 11: up to 24 hours on a charge with fast‑charge top‑ups that make true wear‑all‑day‑and‑night realistic. New Ion‑X front glass (aluminum models) with a ceramic coating is 2x more scratch‑resistant than before; titanium options retain sapphire.
• Ultra 3: up to 42 hours (72 in Low Power Mode), plus a brighter, wider‑angle display with thinner borders that’s easier to read outdoors. Case options in Natural or Black titanium; band lineup covers trail, ocean, alpine—and dressier titanium Milanese.
• watchOS 26: the Liquid Glass redesign modernizes faces (Flow, Exactograph) and Smart Stack; wrist‑flick joins double‑tap; on‑device Siri is quicker for timers, sets, and logging health data.

Satellite on Ultra 3: off‑grid, still connected

Ultra 3 bakes in two‑way satellite capabilities. That unlocks:

• Emergency SOS via satellite with guided prompts and automatic location sharing.
• Find My via satellite location pings to pre‑selected contacts when you’re off the grid.
• Messages via satellite (text/emoji/Tapbacks) to recent contacts.

In testing, initiating a connection and sending a check‑in felt straightforward—the UI walks you through aiming at the sky, then it just works. Peace of mind for solo trail runs, backcountry, cottage country dead zones, and race support crews.

“Apple Watch Ultra 3 debuts innovative satellite communications that will offer users more safety and connectivity when they’re off the grid, plus longer battery life, powerful health insights, and all the advanced fitness features our users love.” — Eugene Kim

Safety stack that travels: add Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Compass Backtrack, an 86 dB siren, and international emergency calling, and Ultra 3 is as much a safety device as it is a sports watch.

Which Watch should you buy?

Apple Watch Ultra 3 — For adventurers, endurance athletes, and anyone who trains outdoors a lot. 42‑hour battery, the largest/clearest screen, dual‑frequency GPS, Action button for Precision Start and lap marks, WR100 swim credentials, and built‑in satellite for SOS and off‑grid messages.

Apple Watch Series 11 — For most people who want the best balance. New Sleep Score, longer battery (realistically 24‑hour wear), tougher glass, and all the watchOS 26 smarts. Choose aluminum for value and lightness; titanium for premium feel and sapphire glass.

Apple Watch SE 3 — For starters, students, or a “family setup”/kids watch. Now with Always‑On display, fast charging, and Sleep Score at a lower price. You still get core safety features, Activity, and the new UI.

Key details at a glance (Canada)

• Availability: pre‑order now; in stores September 19.
• Series 11: starts at $549 CAD (42mm aluminum); multiple case sizes/finishes.
• Ultra 3: starts at $1,099 CAD (49mm titanium, GPS + Cellular).
• SE 3: starts at $329 CAD.

The Gent’s Post take

Apple’s 2025 watches finally align daily training with nightly recovery and add real‑world safety for the gaps between. Series 11 is the new default recommendation for iPhone users. Ultra 3 is the one‑watch quiver for big days outside. And if you’re price‑sensitive or buying for a teen, SE 3 no longer feels like you’re giving up the good stuff.

Pro tip: Complete the stack with AirPods Pro 3. The fit, ANC, and in‑ear heart rate make your runs, rides, and strength sessions cleaner and your data better—plus you get hands‑free coaching cues from Workout Buddy.

Editor’s note: We tested Series 11 and Ultra 3 with watchOS 26 over multiple days of workouts, commutes, and sleep tracking. For settings and training‑plan tips (zones, Pacer, custom intervals, FTP), look for our upcoming how‑to. Images/photos, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of Apple, or shot on location at Apple Park.