Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3 Review: A Comprehensive Look at Apple’s New Wearables
Apple unveiled its latest smartwatch lineup on September 9, launching the Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, and Watch SE 3 alongside the iPhone 17 series. With upgrades in health, fitness, safety, durability, and connectivity, the new models mark an important step in Apple’s long-term vision of making the smartwatch a central hub for personal well-being and everyday productivity.
The watches are now available for pre-order in India, with sales beginning September 19 across online and offline channels. Here’s a detailed review covering features, specifications, performance, comparisons, and market impact.
Apple Watch Series 11: Smarter Health and Fitness
Starting at ₹46,900, the Series 11 introduces several noteworthy upgrades.
Key Features and Specs
- Sizes: 42mm and 46mm
- Materials: Aluminium (Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray), Titanium (Natural, Gold, Slate), Hermès Titanium edition
- Display: New Ion-X strengthened glass, 2x scratch resistance; sapphire crystal on titanium
- Battery: Up to 24 hours; 15-min fast charge for 8 hours
- Connectivity: 5G support, redesigned antenna for better coverage
- Software: watchOS 26 with new faces, Liquid Glass design, one-handed flick gestures, Smart Stack hints
- Health: Sleep score (based on HR, SpO2, sleep stages)
- Fitness: AI-powered Workout Buddy, redesigned Workout app, music/podcast sync
Performance Analysis
Apple positions the Series 11 as a mainstream watch balancing style, durability, and intelligence. The sleep score feature adds a meaningful metric for health-conscious users, while the faster charging addresses long-standing user complaints. The addition of Workout Buddy, powered by AI, brings Apple closer to becoming a personalized fitness coach rather than just a passive tracker.
In real-world scenarios, early reviewers note smoother animations thanks to watchOS 26 and stronger glass that resists scratches from daily wear. However, battery life—while slightly improved—remains behind rivals like Garmin and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Rugged Powerhouse for Professionals
Starting at ₹89,900, the Watch Ultra 3 builds on Apple’s rugged, adventure-focused line.
Key Features and Specs
- Display: Largest ever Apple Watch screen, LTPO3 OLED, always-on
- Battery: 42 hours, 72 in Low Power Mode; 15-min fast charge gives 12 hours
- Connectivity: 5G cellular, satellite messaging and SOS, advanced GPS
- Health: HR, ECG, Blood Oxygen, Sleep score, Hypertension alerts
- Fitness: Workout Buddy, Race Route, Workout Views
- Emergency: SOS and Find My via satellite
- Durability: Titanium casing, water- and dust-resistance
Performance Analysis
The satellite connectivity feature sets the Ultra 3 apart, making it an essential tool for athletes, hikers, and explorers in remote areas. The combination of precision GPS and rugged build enhances Apple’s positioning against Garmin’s Fenix series and Polar’s endurance watches.
Health monitoring is also expanding with hypertension alerts, a feature few competitors currently match. While the watch is bulkier, professionals and outdoor users will likely appreciate the trade-off for extended functionality and durability.
Apple Watch SE 3: Affordable Yet Capable
The SE 3 starts at ₹25,900, targeting budget-conscious users and first-time Apple Watch buyers.
Key Features and Specs
- Sizes: 40mm, 44mm
- Colours: Midnight, Starlight
- Chipset: New S10 processor with on-device Siri
- Display: Always-on with Ion-X strengthened glass
- Battery: 18 hours, fast charging
- Health: Sleep score, wrist temperature sensing, ovulation estimates, HR, ECG, Blood Oxygen
- Fitness: Workout Buddy, custom workouts
- Durability: Crack-resistant glass, water resistance
Performance Analysis
The SE 3 delivers premium features at a lower price point, including always-on display and AI-powered fitness coaching. It also introduces on-device Siri, enabling faster voice commands without relying on the iPhone.
While the battery is shorter compared to the Series 11 and Ultra 3, the SE 3 covers the essentials, making it attractive to students, young professionals, and casual users.
Expert Opinions and Early User Feedback
Tech analysts highlight that Apple’s focus on AI-driven fitness coaching and expanded health monitoring could position the company at the forefront of digital health. Experts also note the significance of satellite communication, which transforms the Apple Watch Ultra 3 from a luxury accessory into a potential lifesaving device.
Early user impressions from tech reviewers praise the new watch faces, scratch resistance, and workout features. However, some users still criticize Apple’s decision to keep battery improvements incremental rather than transformative.
Comparisons with Rivals
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024): Offers longer battery (60+ hours) and lower price, but lacks Apple’s deep ecosystem and AI coaching.
- Garmin Fenix 7 Pro: Superior endurance and outdoor tracking, but limited smart features compared to Apple Watch Ultra 3.
- Fitbit Sense 2: More affordable health tracker but lacks the premium build, satellite features, and Apple ecosystem integration.
Apple’s ecosystem advantage, seamless integration with iPhone, and continued innovation in AI and health monitoring help it maintain leadership despite strong competition.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
With the Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3, Apple is refining its three-tier smartwatch strategy:
- SE 3 for entry-level buyers
- Series 11 for mainstream users
- Ultra 3 for professionals and outdoor adventurers
This segmentation strengthens Apple’s market dominance and caters to a wider audience. Analysts predict strong sales, especially in India, where smartwatch adoption is growing rapidly. The satellite SOS feature in Ultra 3 may set a new industry benchmark, pushing rivals to follow.
Looking ahead, Apple may expand into more advanced medical diagnostics such as non-invasive blood glucose monitoring—long rumored but yet to arrive. AI-driven health insights are also expected to deepen, turning the watch into a proactive health advisor.
Conclusion
The new Apple Watch lineup underscores the company’s strategy to merge lifestyle, health, and technology. The Series 11 refines the user experience with better durability and smarter workouts, the Ultra 3 redefines safety and outdoor tracking with satellite connectivity, and the SE 3 delivers flagship features at a budget price.
While battery life still lags behind rivals, Apple’s strong ecosystem and AI-driven health features keep its watches at the top of the smartwatch market. With these updates, the Apple Watch remains not just a timepiece but a comprehensive health, safety, and productivity companion.
