Subj : I was ready to buy an Apple Watch Ultra 3 heres why Im getting a To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Nov 01 2025 15:15:10 I was ready to buy an Apple Watch Ultra 3 heres why Im getting a Series 11 instead, for a fraction of the cost Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Description: I'm going to save myself hundreds by downgrading to an Apple Watch Series 11 instead of upgrading to an Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year FULL STORY ====================================================================== As Apple released the Apple Watch Series 11 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 , and Apple Watch SE 3 in September, I felt certain I was going to upgrade my Apple Watch Ultra this year to an Ultra 3. With two generations of processor improvements, a brighter display, and high blood pressure detection, I was ready. My current devices response time is becoming a tad sluggish (and thats before adding all the new AI features with watchOS 26), and the battery has dipped considerably in longevity. I was ready to buy an Ultra 3. And then, I looked at the Apple Watch Series 11, I saw the review scores, and all of that desire to buy an Apple Watch Ultra 3 vanished. Apple Watch Series 11s battery life improvements are perfect for me (Image credit: Future) While I certainly dont need another watch thats likely to cost $799 / 799 / AU$1,399, I do prefer Apple Watch over rivals for its adherence to the Apple ecosystem, I said in September . It really does just work for me, and while Im not running any marathons or competing in triathlons, I do need the longer battery life afforded by the Ultra line to monitor an ongoing heart condition overnight. Except, uh, now I dont. The heart condition is still there (sadly), but the Apple Watch Series 11 being bumped up to 24 hours of battery life pretty much takes the wind out of the Ultra 3s sails for me. In truth, 36 hours was never a huge requirement for me. I just needed to be able to work, work out, and track my heart rate overnight. Thanks to this boost, its just enough to get me through the day without needing to wear a feature-stuffed smartwatch which, lets be honest, is overkill for most people. Add in the fact that they share a processor, both have the new hypertension detection, the Series 11 looks sleeker, and its cheaper itd be a hard sell to justify going for the Ultra 3, especially as I wouldnt consider myself an Ultra athlete. (Image credit: Future) Am I going to run an ultramarathon, or head into the hills for a hike without taking my phone with me? Its highly unlikely. If Im honest, I bought the original Ultra for that improved battery life. Prior to that, I was using my Series 7 daily and needing to charge it before bed, which just felt like a solution that would never last. Now that the Series 11 has better battery life to help with sleep tracking, I wont have to worry about bludgeoning myself with the heavy titanium Ultra in my sleep, either. My final concern was durability. I love my Ultra, because when Im playing with my son I dont feel like itll crack against a wall, or a climbing frame, or anything else. Its comforting to know that Apple Watch Series 11s display is 2x more scratch-resistant than its predecessor: I just hope the reality lives up to the claims. After spending some time tooling around with Apples preorder system and adding a trade-in, I could end up getting an Apple Watch for under 180 (around $240) because the Ultra 1 seemingly holds its value. I don't need an Ultra model after all (Image credit: Apple) If all of this sounds like Im really down on the Ultra 3, I should stress that had it not been for the 24-hour battery life boost on the Series 11, Id be locked in to buy the Ultra 3. The slightly larger display on the Ultra 3 is also nice, and I appreciate that its apparently better to view at an angle. Im also not ignoring the fact that its battery life just climbed to a massive 42 hours, but I think one whole day is the sweet spot for me, since I can charge the Series 11 at my desk. Its interesting to see the Series 11 encroach on its Ultra 3 cousin just a little, in the same way the gap between MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models is blurring. For a long time, I used a MacBook Pro because Id had such poor experiences with early MacBook Air models. Now? Im writing this on an M3 MacBook Air connected to all sorts of peripherals and a monitor as my main work machine. Thats something that simply wasnt possible all that long ago. The Ultra 1 debuted in 2022, the same year as the Apple Watch Series 8 and the SE 2, alongside the iPhone 14. A lot can change in a timeframe of three years, and Im excited to see what an Apple Watch Series 11 can do over the next three. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/i-was-ready-to-buy-an-ap ple-watch-ultra-3-heres-why-im-getting-a-series-11-instead-for-a-fraction-of-t he-cost --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .