Fact Checked by 
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have satellite service that lets you send texts, according to Bloomberg sources.
Much like recent iPhones, the toughened smartwatch will use this as a backup for when cellular service or Wi-Fi isn’t available. That would fit the Ultra’s target demographic of hikers, divers, and others who can’t count on terrestrial wireless networks.
Apple might also move beyond LTE data with the Watch Ultra 3, the insiders say. The new wearable supposedly drops the Intel cellular modem in favor of a MediaTek part that supports 5G RedCap (aka 5G NR-Light). The technology that isn’t as fast as regular 5G, but is power-efficient and offers higher peak speeds than LTE.
Health might also play an important role. Blood pressure monitoring is said to be coming to all 2025 Apple Watch models. While it wouldn’t offer precise measurements, it would warn you if your pressure is climbing and shows signs of hypertension.
The Apple Watch line can already alert you to possible atrial fibrillation (AFib), and still monitors blood oxygen levels for users outside of the US. That last feature is disabled in the country in response to a patent dispute with Masimo.
Why satellite service in the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Apple didn’t significantly refresh its higher-end timepiece in 2024; it only gave the Watch Ultra 2 a new black finish and band options. Satellite data (along with 5G and blood pressure monitoring) might give you an incentive to buy the new model if you’d previously put off an upgrade.
There are also competitive motivations. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 might rival not just the latest version of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, but other rugged smartwatches and dedicated satellite communicators from brands like Garmin.
It’s not clear if any of these features will come to the Apple Watch Series 11. The Ultra series typically has.a much larger battery that’s better-suited to satellite and 5G. The company might also reserve some features for the Ultra to encourage purchases of the premium version.
