Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4
Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are 2025 and 2026 smartwatches from the same product line. This comparison separates the catalog's listed specifications from missing information and approximate values. It covers 18 fields, including 4 exact differences; it does not choose a winner.
Specifications side by side
| Field | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Case sizes | 49 mm | 49 mm (approx.) |
| Display | Wide-angle LTPO3 OLED, Always-On | Flat LTPO OLED, Always-On |
| Brightness | 3000 nits | 3000 nits (approx.) |
| Battery, as listed | Up to 42 hours · 72 hours saver | Up to 50 hours · 84 hours saver |
| Operating system | watchOS 26 (upgradable to 27) | watchOS 27 |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone | iPhone |
| Cellular connection | eSIM · 5G | eSIM · 5G |
| Water rating | 10ATM · EN13319 (diving) | 10ATM · EN13319 (diving) |
| Glass | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| Case material | Titanium (natural/black) | Titanium (natural/black) |
| GPS | Dual-frequency GNSS | Dual-frequency GNSS |
| Maps | Yes | Yes |
| Payment system | Apple Pay | Apple Pay |
| Plan requirement | Not required | Not required |
| Listed sensors and features | Sleep apnea, ECG, HRV, Readiness score, SpO2, Skin temperature | Sleep apnea, ECG, HRV, Readiness score, SpO2, Skin temperature |
| Safety features | Crash detection, depth, Fall detection, Satellite SOS, siren, SOS calling | Crash detection, depth, Fall detection, Satellite SOS, siren, SOS calling |
| Hardware flashlight | No | No |
"Not listed" means the catalog has no usable value for that field. It does not mean the watch lacks the feature. Approximate values stay visible but do not support the difference count or numeric deltas.
Where they differ
- Release year: Apple Watch Ultra 3 lists 2025; Apple Watch Ultra 4 lists 2026. The listed values are 1 years apart.
- Display: Apple Watch Ultra 3 lists Wide-angle LTPO3 OLED, Always-On; Apple Watch Ultra 4 lists Flat LTPO OLED, Always-On.
- Battery, as listed: Apple Watch Ultra 3 lists Up to 42 hours · 72 hours saver; Apple Watch Ultra 4 lists Up to 50 hours · 84 hours saver. These are the full listed battery descriptions. Different modes or case variants prevent a single numeric battery-life delta.
- Operating system: Apple Watch Ultra 3 lists watchOS 26 (upgradable to 27); Apple Watch Ultra 4 lists watchOS 27. The listed software descriptions are not a guarantee of the software version currently installed on an individual watch.
Where they are the same
- Both list phone compatibility: iPhone.
- Both list cellular connection: eSIM · 5G.
- Both list water rating: 10ATM · EN13319 (diving).
- Both list glass: Sapphire.
- Both list case material: Titanium (natural/black).
- Both list gps: Dual-frequency GNSS.
- Both list maps: Yes.
- Both list payment system: Apple Pay.
- Both list plan requirement: Not required.
- Both list listed sensors and features: Sleep apnea, ECG, HRV, Readiness score, SpO2, Skin temperature.
- Both list safety features: Crash detection, depth, Fall detection, Satellite SOS, siren, SOS calling.
- Both list hardware flashlight: No.
Which one fits you
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is listed as a smartwatch compatible with iPhone. Start with that phone requirement before comparing the other rows. The exact differences above are a way to identify which listed specifications matter to your use, not evidence that the later generation is better in every respect.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 is listed as a smartwatch compatible with iPhone. Start with that phone requirement before comparing the other rows. The exact differences above are a way to identify which listed specifications matter to your use, not evidence that the later generation is better in every respect.
Related pages
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 specifications
- Apple watches
- Apple Watch Ultra 4 specifications
- Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Series 11
- Apple Watch Series 11 vs Apple Watch Series 12
- Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) vs Apple Watch SE 3
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
- Galaxy Watch Ultra2 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)
- All pair comparisons