Apple’s latest smartwatch family launched in September 2025, introducing the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the luxury-labeled Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3. Each model brings upgrades in health tracking, durability, connectivity, and battery life, offering new choices for casual users, adventurers, and luxury buyers alike. Below is a detailed look at what each model offers, along with guidance on which watch is best suited for today's smartwatch buyer.
Product Overview & Key Features
Apple Watch Series 11
Apple Watch Series 11Apple
- Health & Wellness Enhancements: Adds hypertension (high blood pressure) notifications using data from its optical heart sensor over time. Comes with a new Sleep Score metric to assess sleep quality.
- Durability & Build: Thinnest Apple Watch yet, with aluminum and titanium finishes. New Ion-X front glass with a ceramic coating that makes the aluminum-model glass twice as scratch-resistant as previous generations.
- Connectivity: 5G cellular support is now built in, improving responsiveness, call/data use, and allowing more independence from the iPhone.
- Battery Life: Up to 24 hours for normal use; faster charging so that in 15 minutes, you can get up to 8 hours of battery life. Also supports an improved low-power mode.
Apple Watch SE 3
Apple Watch SE 3Apple
- Feature Upgrades: SE 3 now includes many features once reserved for higher-end models: Always-On Display, temperature sensing, wrist-gesture interaction (one-handed gestures), Sleep Score, and hypertension detection.
- Processor & Performance: Powered by the new S10 chip, offering better speed and efficiency.
- Design & Durability: Improved front glass (Ion-X) and build consistency; two size options.
- Battery Life: Offers around 18 hours under regular use.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple Watch Ultra 3Apple
- Adventure & Extreme Use: Built for rugged conditions. Titanium case, sapphire crystal display.
- Display & Sensors: Largest screen among Apple Watches; uses LTPO3 OLED with always-on refresh down to 1Hz under some conditions to conserve battery.
- Connectivity: Full cellular (5G), improved GPS (dual-frequency), and satellite communications for emergency usage when off the grid.
- Battery Life: Up to 42 hours of normal use; can stretch to 72 hours in low-power mode.
- Health & Safety Features: Includes all the health tracking upgrades of Series 11 (hypertension notifications, sleep score), plus durability for sports, diving, workouts, etc.
Apple Watch Hermès Series 11
Apple Watch Hermès Series 11Apple
The Hermès Series 11 model shares all the key features of Apple Watch 11 series — same hardware, battery, display, and connectivity — but adds a luxury design touch:
- Design & Style: Premium bands and Hermès-branded materials, such as knit bands with wave patterns (En Mer), special colors (Gris Meyer, Noir/Ecru, Blue, Bordeaux, Orange, Blanc, Satine, etc.).
- Finish & Presentation: Natural titanium case with Hermès aesthetic detailing; often comes in special band options for those wanting both function and high fashion.
Price & Availability
Price & Availability for Apple Watch 11 SeriesApple
- All models (Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3, Hermès Ultra 3) are available for pre-order starting September 2025, shipping shortly thereafter.
- Starting prices:
• SE 3: around $249
• Series 11: starting at $399 for the base model
• Ultra 3: starting at $799
• Hermès Ultra 3: premium pricing above the Ultra 3 base (starting at $1,249), reflecting the luxury materials and branding.
Smart Home Integration & Connectivity
Defining “Works With” and “Compatible” with Apple HomeKit Apple
- All watches run watchOS 26 and require iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.
- Connectivity includes 5G cellular on Series 11 and Ultra 3, enabling more independence from the phone for calls, streaming, and notifications.
- Wireless features include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and improved GPS (especially on Ultra 3 with dual-frequency).
- Health signal features like hypertension detection and sleep scoring are common across Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3. Hermès Ultra 3 shares all Ultra 3 features.
What This Means for Buyers
- Series 11 is the best all-around choice for most people who want the latest health features, a decent battery, and stronger durability.
- SE 3 offers great value: those who want a lot of new health and usability features without the premium price tag.
- Ultra 3 is built for outdoors, adventure, and tougher conditions — ideal if you do a lot of sports, outdoor work, or need extended battery life.
- Hermès Series 11 is for those who want the Apple Watch 11 capabilities but also consider style, prestige, and premium materials part of the purchase.
Final Recommendation
If you're upgrading from an older Apple Watch or buying your first, Apple Watch Series 11 may hit the sweet spot — you get major new health-centric features, stronger materials, better connectivity, and decent battery life. If your budget is limited but you still want modern health tracking, SE 3 delivers strong value. If you're an adventurer or need stamina and ruggedness, Ultra 3 is clearly the standout. And if you want high style with those Apple Watch 11 features, Hermès Series 11 is the luxury model to go for.
Check out GearBrain's smart home compatibility find engine. It can help you find, buy, and connect any smart device. It can even help you find other smart devices or systems compatible with your existing smart devices, such as Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
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