IntroducingApple Announces The Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, And Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Live Pics)

Last year brought a significant update in terms of proportions for the tenth-anniversary Apple Watch Series 10. Larger and significantly improved screens, a much thinner profile, and a softened silhouette were just a few of the changes introduced last September. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 remained unchanged, except for a new rugged DLC-coated variant and a brand-new Milanese bracelet.

The company kicked off the Watch portion of the keynote with a sobering yet heartwarming montage of several people who have had an incredible impact with the watch, setting the stage for significant health feature expansions and its importance to everyday life. As the health features get more and more sophisticated every year, outside of the mechanical watch die-hard, it's the reason why more and more people I know swear by the Apple Watch.

The health tracking capabilities see two significant additions: hypertension (high blood pressure) detection, based on the heart rate sensor, and sleep scoring. For those who enjoy gamifying their sleep data through other health devices, Apple has introduced a sleep score through the watch's sleep tracking capabilities that shows you tips every morning on how to improve your score. To help support the new emphasis on sleep tracking, battery life has increased to 24 hours.

From a dial perspective, the two new watch faces introduced are a new Liquid Glass design and a nod for the watch nerds, a new "Exactograph" face serving as an homage to the regulator dial. It's designs like the Exactograph and last year's guilloche homage that remind us that Apple still looks to the traditional watch space for inspiration.

Perhaps the most significant update is for the entry-level Apple Watch SE, which receives substantial feature upgrades, bringing it closer to the Series 11. The new SE generation includes an always-on display and the latest S10 chip, bringing performance improvements across the board. More importantly, the SE now includes temperature sensing, one-handed interaction capabilities, and both new health features: hypertension detection and sleep scoring. This represents a significant shift in value proposition, introducing premium health tracking features to Apple's most affordable smartwatch option.

After skipping a refresh last year, the Apple Watch Ultra line returns with the Ultra 3, featuring substantial improvements designed for outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports athletes. The display receives wide-angle OLED technology borrowed from the Series 10, combined with reduced bezels that allow for a larger screen without increasing the overall watch dimensions.

Connectivity represents the Ultra 3's most significant advancement. Beyond 5G cellular support, Apple has introduced satellite connectivity—a game-changing feature for those who venture beyond cellular coverage and want some peace of mind while doing so. Emergency SOS functionality comes included free for two years, and battery life sees a dramatic improvement, reaching an impressive 42 hours of usage, addressing one of the primary concerns of multi-day outdoor activities where charging opportunities are limited.

Curiously, the recycled Titanium cases are made through a new 3D printing process, which Apple says saves a significant amount of material used for each case. I'm curious to see these in person to see if the body feels any different. According to Apple, this method significantly reduces material waste in production, though the tactile differences, if any, remain to be experienced firsthand.

Given today's launch, I've only had a few brief moments to take a look at the new generation of Apple Watch in the metal. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for our hands-on with these watches. 

All three models are available for pre-order starting today, with general availability beginning September 19th. 

Brand: Apple
Model: Apple Watch - Series 11

Diameter: 46mm or 42mm
Width: 39mm or 36mm
Thickness: 9.7mm
Case Material: Titanium (gold, natural, or slate) or aluminum (rose gold, silver, space gray, jet black)
Weight: 46mm [37.8 grams (aluminum, GPS), 36.9 grams (aluminum, GPS + Cellular), 43.1 grams (titanium)]
42mm [30.3 grams (aluminum, GPS), 29.7 grams(aluminum, GPS + Cellular): 29.7 grams, 34.6 grams (titanium): 34.6 grams]
Battery Life: Up to 24 hours of normal use, Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Multiple, metal (matched), and a variety of other materials, including designs from Nike and Hermes

Model: Apple Watch SE 3

Diameter: 44mm or 40mm
Width: 38mm or 34mm
Thickness: 10.7mm
Case Material: Aluminum (starlight, midnight)
Weight: 44mm [32.9 grams (GPS), 33.0 grams (GPS + Cellular)]
40mm [26.3 grams (GPS), 26.4 grams(GPS + Cellular)]
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of normal use, Up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Multiple, metal (matched), and a variety of other materials, including designs from Nike and Hermes

Model: Apple Watch Ultra 3

Diameter: 49mm
Width: 44mm
Thickness: 12mm
Case Material: Titanium (natural, black)
Weight: 61.6 grams (natural), 61.8 (black)
Battery Life: Up to 42 hours of normal use, Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Multiple, metal (matched), and a variety of other materials, including designs from Nike and Hermes

Price: Apple Watch Series 11 ($399+ GPS, $499+ GPS and Cellular), Apple Watch SE 3 ($249+ GPS, $299 GPS and Cellular), Apple Watch Ultra 3 ($799 GPS and Cellular)
Availability: All three models are available for pre-order starting today, with general availability beginning September 19th.

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