Apple Watch Ultra 3, Series 11 launch with satellite SOS

New Delhi, September 10: Apple’s September event had its usual showmanship, but this year the spotlight fell squarely on the wrist. The company introduced three new watches the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Series 11, and the entry-level SE 3 each aimed at a different slice of the market. What tied them together wasn’t just new features, but Apple’s increasingly loud promise that its devices aren’t just for telling time or tracking steps. They’re edging closer to being companions for health, safety, and survival.

Ultra 3 Rugged, Connected, And Built To Last

The star of the lineup, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, has been designed for people who push the limits mountaineers, divers, or simply those who hate charging every night. Apple says the watch now runs for 42 hours on a full charge, stretching to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. That’s almost double what most smartwatches manage.

But the real leap is in connectivity. The Ultra 3 comes with 5G and, for the first time, satellite messaging. That means if you’re trekking in Ladakh or lost off-grid, the watch can send SOS alerts, share your location, or even allow brief texts without relying on a phone signal. It’s a safety net Apple has hinted at before, now made real.

Visually, the Ultra 3 feels more refined than its bulky predecessors. The new LTPO 3 OLED display has slimmer bezels, making the screen pop brighter and wider. On the health side, Apple added two features it has been working toward for years: hypertension notifications and a Sleep Score tracker. Both reflect Apple’s long-standing goal of turning its watch into something closer to a personal health monitor than a fitness gadget.

The Ultra 3 starts at $799 in the US and will ship from September 19. Expect it to land in India at well above ₹80,000, given import duties and Apple’s usual pricing structure.

A Push On Sustainability

Equally important, at least for Apple’s image, is how the watch is built. The Ultra 3’s casing is 100% recycled titanium, and its battery uses fully recycled cobalt. Across the lineup, Apple says 40% of materials are recycled. It’s not the first time the company has made this claim, but the tone was sharper this year, almost as if it knows that flashy launches without green credentials won’t cut it anymore.

For Apple, sustainability is no longer an afterthought it’s part of the sales pitch. Competitors like Samsung are talking the same talk, but Apple’s numbers on recycled metals are among the highest in the industry right now.

Series 11 Slimmer And Everyday Ready

If the Ultra 3 is for explorers, the Series 11 is for everyone else. Apple calls it its thinnest watch ever, and it shows. It sits flatter on the wrist, less of a statement piece and more of a daily driver.

Battery life clocks in at 24 hours, modest compared to the Ultra, but paired with scratch-resistant glass, 5G connectivity, and the same hypertension and Sleep Score features, it’s a solid step forward. This is the model most users will likely gravitate toward.

At $399, the Series 11 will ship the same day as the Ultra. In India, the expected price sits around ₹45,000–₹50,000.

SE 3 The Accessible Option

Then there’s the Apple Watch SE 3 Apple’s most affordable smartwatch but no longer just a stripped-down version. Powered by the new S10 chip, it now comes with an Always-On Display, gesture controls, and temperature tracking. These are features that, just a few years ago, were exclusive to the higher-end models.

It still has its limits the battery runs for about 18 hours, and you don’t get the rugged design or all the premium health tools. But at $249 (likely ₹25,000–₹30,000 here), it lowers the barrier for first-time buyers, especially younger users who want in on the Apple ecosystem without breaking the bank.

Old Watches Get A Lifeline

In what might be the most consequential part of the event for current users, Apple confirmed that hypertension detection will roll out as a free software update to Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches. It’s rare in tech for cutting-edge features to trickle down so quickly, but it makes sense here. Hypertension often called the “silent killer” affects over 220 million adults in India alone, and Apple knows the feature could be a genuine life-saver.

What It All Means

Apple’s watch announcements were about more than shiny new hardware. Three things stood out.

First, Apple is clearly doubling down on healthcare. Hypertension monitoring and sleep tracking aren’t gimmicks; they reflect real medical needs, especially in countries like India where lifestyle diseases are rampant.

Second, the company wants its watches to stand on their own. With 5G and satellite connectivity, the Ultra 3 is no longer just a phone accessory. It’s closer to being an independent device one that could keep you safe in places where your phone is useless.

And third, Apple wants credit for its green credentials. Recycled titanium, recycled cobalt, 40% reused materials these numbers are as much about Wall Street and regulators as they are about customers.

Still, a question lingers is the Apple Watch now edging into the role of a medical device? Regulators in different countries will have a say in that. But for now, Apple has once again managed to make a wristwatch launch feel like a statement about the future of technology itself.

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Neeraj Kapoor

Technology Correspondent – [email protected] – Web

Tech writer passionate about AI, startups, and the digital economy, blending industry insights with storytelling.

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Apple Watch Ultra 3 & Series 11 Launched With Satellite SOS and Hypertension Detection