It’s the most wonderful time of the year… if you’re a smartwatch reviewer. Hot on the heels of new Google Pixel Watches and Samsung Galaxy Watches, Apple is gearing up to release (potentially) a whole new slate of smartwatches, including an Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
With less than 24 hours to go before the Apple Sept 9th event officially kicks off, my expectations are high. As someone who tests smartwatches for a living, here are the five biggest Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 upgrades I’ll be looking out for come launch time.
1. Sateliite SOS messaging
Rumors about an SOS satellite messaging feature coming to the Ultra 3 — and maybe the Series 11 — are numerous. With Google being the first to launch emergency satellite messaging in the Pixel Watch 4, and then Garmin debuting something similar in the Fenix 8 Pro, it sort of feels like this is the new high-end smartwatch feature to have in 2025.
For outdoor enthusiasts, satellite SOS messaging offers peace of mind in knowing that you’ll be able to call for help, even when off-the-grid and out of cellphone range. Similar to Apple’s fall and crash detection, this feature will likely connect you directly with emergency responders who can coordinate a rescue, if needed, along with alerting your emergency contacts that you’re in trouble.
2. High blood pressure warnings
Similar to SOS messaging, rumors of high blood pressure warnings coming to the new Apple Watches have been circulating for quite some time.
So, will Apple officially be the first major smartwatch brand to put this potentially lifesaving feature in a wearable device? I’m hopeful. If that does happen, it will be a big deal. Not only has Apple been hard at work on hypertension monitoring, but it’s also rumored that numerous other brands are too, from the makers of the best smartwatches to those behind the best smart ring models.
With high blood pressure being a silent killer, responsible for as many as 10.8 million avoidable deaths per year worldwide according to the World Health Organization, this would be a huge addition to Apple’s already impressive on-wrist wellness monitoring tool kit.
3. Battery life that lasts 24 hours or more (Series 11)
The original Apple Watch that launched all the way back in 2014 offered 18 hours of battery per charge. In 2025, the latest Apple Watch Series 10 is also rated for just 18 hours per charge, though you can push that to 36 hours by switching to low-power mode. Will the Apple Watch Series 11 finally be the non-Ultra model that breaks the 18-hour barrier? I sure hope so.
With the new Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) rated 40 hours per charge, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 models lasting between 30 and 40 hours, Apple will be seriously behind the competition if the Series 11 offers the same, dismal (for 2025) 18-hour rating.
4. A major screen update
Garmin is officially the first brand to stick a next-generation MicroLED panel in a smartwatch via the new Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED model, which costs a wallet-busting $2,000. Could Apple be second?
With several rumors pointing to engineers at Apple at least entertaining the idea of MicroLED in an Apple Watch, the advantages over OLED are numerous and include superior efficiency and brighter maximum output. MicroLED panels are also generally longer-lasting than OLED ones.
Unfortunately, the latest insider reports seem to put the kibosh on MicroLED coming to the Apple Watch in 2025, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman sighting cost as the primary factor for the technology’s shelving.
More likely, the Ultra 3 will sport some form of LTPO wide-angle OLED screen, similar to what was introduced on the Apple Watch Series 10 this time last year. If Apple goes that route, an increase in brightness to 4,000 nits or beyond is possible.
5. Anything AI
When it comes to onboard AI features, Apple is lagging behind the competition, most notably, the best smartwatches for Android. Both the new Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 ship with Google’s handy Gemini AI voice assistant built in. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch 10, Ultra 2, and SE (2022) are all stuck with a non-Apple Intelligence version of Siri, which feels downright dated by comparison.
Beyond the Apple Intelligence features we already know are coming via watchOS 26, like Workout Buddy and live message translations, rumors about fancy new Apple Watch AI goodies are few and far between. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any AI surprises. Unfortunately, an AI-overhauled Siri will almost certainly not be one of them.
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