The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is now available for pre-order, bringing a new health detection system, more memory and longer battery life than its predecessor. Here’s everything new.
Last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 introduced a larger, more efficient display, satellite connectivity, 5G, and improved battery life. The Ultra 4 maintains the same basic design and display, but focuses on more detailed health and fitness information, new Audio Intelligence features, and new battery life improvements.
It launches on Friday, September 18 at the same starting price of $799 as the Ultra 3. The comparison below highlights the differences between the two generations:
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 4 |
|---|---|
| S10 chip (2024) | S11 chip (2026) |
| 2 GB of RAM | 4 GB of RAM |
| Electric heart sensor | “Health Sensing System” with second generation electrical heart sensor |
| Third generation optical heart sensor | Always-on optical heart sensor |
| Background heart rate tracking | Background heart rate tracking at high frequency every five seconds, 60 times more frequently |
| HRV | Recovery HRV and overall HRV, measured up to 24 times more often |
| Vitals app with heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature and sleep duration | Heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, HRV and daytime vitals view in the Vitals app |
| Prep app | |
| Real-time heart rate complication | |
| Tracking steps | More accurate step tracking and indoor workout distance measurements |
| Complication of steps | |
| Audio intelligence (Live Rewind, Siri Recap, sound recognition and automatic music identification with Shazam) | |
| Up to 42 hours of normal use | Up to 50 hours of normal use |
| Up to 72 hours in low power mode | Up to 84 hours in low power mode |
| Up to 14 hours of outdoor workout tracking with full GPS and heart rate readings | Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking |
| Up to 20 hours of outdoor workout tracking in low power mode with full GPS and heart rate readings | Up to 25 hours in extended training mode with full GPS and heart rate readings |
| Up to 35 hours of outdoor workout tracking in low power mode with fewer GPS and heart rate readings enabled | Up to 45 hours in maximum extended training mode, retaining GPS readings every second |
| 15 minutes charge for up to 12 hours of normal use | 15 minutes charge for up to 18 hours of normal use |
| 5 minutes of charging for up to 8 hours of sleep tracking | 5 minutes of charging for up to 10 hours of sleep tracking |
| Natural titanium: 61.6 grams Black titanium: 61.8 grams |
Natural titanium: 63.0 grams Black titanium: 63.1 grams |
| GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou | GPS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou |
| 40% recycled content | 45% recycled content |
| Now abandoned | From $799 |
Is it worth upgrading from Ultra 3 to Ultra 4?
For the vast majority of Apple Watch Ultra 3 owners, the Ultra 4 isn’t worth upgrading. The Ultra 3 already offers all the main displays, durability, satellite connectivity and established health features. If it lasts comfortably between your usual charging sessions and records your longest workouts, the new model is unlikely to significantly change the way you use your watch.
The main reason to upgrade is if you want recovery tracking to play a bigger role in your training. The Ultra 4’s more frequent measurements feed into Readiness and Recovery HRV, making it easier to gauge when to push harder or take a lighter day. These features are best if you use them regularly to adjust your workout, rather than just checking another set of health metrics.
Battery life is a more practical reason for endurance athletes. If you’re currently changing settings to complete long events or recharge during an extended ride, the Ultra 4 gives you a little more flexibility. However, for shorter daily workouts, the improvement mostly means less frequent charging, which is hard to justify replacing a year-old $799 watch.
Audio Intelligence may also warrant an upgrade for specific users, particularly deaf or hard of hearing users who would benefit from wrist-based sound recognition. Live Rewind and Siri Recap are less compelling reasons to upgrade immediately, as they arrive in beta later this year and require a newer compatible iPhone.
Should you buy Ultra 3 or Ultra 4?
For new buyers, the Ultra 4 should be the default choice when the price difference is modest. If you plan to wear it for several years, it’s easier to justify paying a little more for the new chip, more memory, better battery life, and health tracking improvements than replacing an Ultra 3 you already own.
The Ultra 3 becomes the best value when heavily discounted. If you primarily want a “rugged” style Apple Watch with a large screen, satellite connectivity, and enough battery life for everyday use and regular workouts, it offers much of the same experience. Buyers interested in readiness and recovery information, or who regularly log very long activities, have good reason to pay more for the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
For used or refurbished Ultra 3 models, consider battery condition and warranty coverage in savings. A cheaper watch with a degraded battery is less appealing if endurance is your main reason for buying an Ultra.
