I tried every new Apple Watch released in 2025 - here's why the Ultra 3 deserves your attention

• Apple's rugged smartwatch is now available to preorder.
• The watch gets an additional six hours of battery life for a total of 42 hours of wear.
• Sleeping with the smartwatch is difficult.

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If the new Apple Watch Series 11, Apple's baseline smartwatch, is the girl next door, then Apple's Ultra 3 is the Mt. Kilimanjaro-scaling, rugged neighbor. People might be using the Series 11 to train for their first marathon, but people are certainly using the Ultra 3 to record their fifth Ironman.

Apple unveiled its latest rugged smartwatch last week at the annual September iPhone event. The Ultra 3 arrives alongside two Apple Watch options - the affordable SE 3 and the baseline Series 11. Its biggest upgrades come in small but meaningful packages, like a wide-angle display for quicker viewability, longer battery ...