Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: The verdict is pretty clear

As usual with Apple, there aren't any major changes with the design language of either of these wearables.

Given that the Watch Series 10 scored a pretty solid redesign that made the wearable that much thinner than its predecessors, we wouldn't expect another similar redesign for at least a few years, as Apple has found its happy place with the design language and doesn't seem to be keen on changing it too much. As a result, the Apple Watch Series 11 is pretty much identical to the Apple Watch Series 10 in terms of looks, with most of the differences on the inside.

The aluminum and titanium options persist with this generation as well, and we are happy campers, as it's great to have these two options. That's not the case with the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is available in a single titanium option, with pretty much zero options for customization. It's still employing the same rugged and more premium design language that still feels on point.

Size-wise, the Watch Series 11 is available in two flavors: a more compact 42mm one and a larger 46mm with slightly better battery life. The Watch Ultra 3 uses the standard 49mm size that has become synonymous with the model. The thickness is definitely an area in which the Watch Series 11 easily beats the larger and more rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Here's how the two compare:

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 keeps its flat display and more rugged style with an oversized digital crown and a customizable Action Button, while sleekness will continue its reign on the regular Watch Series 11. 

Water resistance and overall endurance continue to be a forte of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is water-resistant up to 100 meters, while the regular Watch Series 11 can be dunked only up to 50 meters thanks to its 5ATM water resistance, just like its predecessor. 

In terms of brightness, not much has changed, as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is listed at 3,000 nits peak, just like its predecessor. The regular Apple Watch 11 tops at 2,000 nits.

However, both devices have scored LTPO 3.0 screens, which can refresh at only 1Hz, which allows for a more feature-rich always-on display functionality that also saves more energy than before. Both watches have scored watch faces that can properly display every second change while in always-on display mode. 

Despite rumors that Apple would be changing the band connection mechanism with the Apple Watch Series 10, those rumors turned out to be false. The Watch Series 10 featured just the same one-button latch mechanism that all previous Apple Watch devices have utilized. 

And that's great, as it means you can use the vast collection of Apple Watch bands you've accrued through the years. Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Watch Ultra 3 continue the tradition and continue using the well-established band-attachment mechanism.

That was not the case with Samsung's recent band mechanism change, which rendered older Galaxy Watch bands incompatible with the newest Samsung wearables. 

Apple has a number of new color options for its base Apple Watch Ultra bands, the Trail Loop, the Ocean Band, and the Alpine Loop. They all match the new watch perfectly,

Both wearables come with the latest watchOS 26. This wearable OS features a visual redesign that brings glass-like UI elements, styled after the visionOS aesthetics.

One of the cool new features that can be found on both the Watch 11 and the Watch Ultra 3 include blood pressure monitoring. However, don't expect it to provide you with the standard systolic and diastolic readings that regular blood-pressure monitors do; Apple's wearables only monitor for signs of hypertension and alert you if your blood pressure stays high over a long period of time. That's still a mighty useful feature, though!

Either new Apple Watch supports a new, rather useful gesture, which dismisses the on-screen notifications, gets back to your home screen, or cancels activities. That's somewhat similar to the iPhone's shake-to-undo feature.

Both watches come with a refreshed fitness app and some cool new workout features. The layout is slightly different but still familiar and lets you access features like Pacer, Race Route, and Custom Workout more easily than before.

Both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the regular Apple Watch 11 now feature 5G connectivity, and you can use satellite messaging in emergencies.

We get a new Sleep Score functionality on either device, which awards your sleeps or naps a score based on their longevity, the different types of sleep, and your bedtime. That's a bit late to the party, as most other smartwatch makers have been providing a similar functionality for years now.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also the only Apple wearable to feature an 85dB emergency siren.