MacRumors

Apple announced the new Apple Watch lineup earlier this week, including the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. If you're planning to pre-order the Ultra 3, Best Buy is offering a $50 discount to its members this week.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

To get this deal, you need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, and when you add the smartwatch to your cart you'll automatically see the $50 discount applied. This knocks the price of the brand new device down to $749.00, from $799.00.

This offer is available for many models of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, including the Titanium Milanese Loop model. Earlier this week, we highlighted other pre-order deals on new Apple devices, including $20 in Best Buy credit when purchasing the AirPods Pro 3.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 all set to launch on Friday, September 19.

Apple is not finished on the year, though, with rumors claiming that the company might release up to six more products before 2025 ends.

Here are the rumored products — many of which are likely to be announced in October:

• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model.
• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and potentially new color options like Red.
• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.
• iPad Pro: M5 chip and two front cameras, allowing for photos and video calls in both portrait and landscape orientations.
• Vision Pro: A faster M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option.
• Studio Display 2: A new version of the Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.

Multiple reports have indicated that MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips might not launch until early 2026, and it is unclear if any other Macs with M5 chips like an iMac or Mac mini would debut this year as a result. If new Macs are not arriving until next year, the Studio Display might not be updated until 2026 too.

It is not yet known if Apple plans to host another event this year, or if these products would be announced with press releases on the Apple Newsroom website only.

In an interview this week with The Wall Street Journal's Sam Schube, Apple's software design chief Alan Dye said the iPhone Air represents another step "towards that singular piece of glass that Steve Jobs talked about back in the day."

Apple's former design chief Jony Ive and Jobs both dreamed of an all-glass iPhone with a seamless, low-profile design. Apple has made progress towards this goal over the years, with the iPhone X doing away with thick bezels in favor of a notch in 2017, the iPhone 14 Pro models introducing a smaller Dynamic Island cutout in the screen in 2022, and now the iPhone Air topping the iPhone 6 as the thinnest iPhone ever.

Rumors suggest that Apple might finally achieve its long-sought vision for the iPhone in two years from now. Earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was planning a 20th-anniversary iPhone for 2027 with "curved glass edges," "extraordinarily slim bezels," and "no cutout section in the screen." Inside Apple, he said the device was known as the "Glasswing," in reference to a type of butterfly that has transparent wings.

The rest of the interview contains typical marketing speak from Apple executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook saying he will decide when to use the iPhone Air or another model based on "whether I want to float through the air."

iPhone Air can be pre-ordered starting this Friday, and it launches September 19.

In the environment section of its iPhone Air press release this week, Apple revealed that the device is equipped with a 3D-printed titanium USB-C port.

Apple said the 3D-printed titanium USB-C port offers three benefits compared to one manufactured with a conventional forging process: it is thinner, stronger, and uses 33% less material to be more environmentally friendly.

3D printing for metal is also known as metal additive manufacturing, a process that involves creating objects layer by layer with powdered metal, based on a CAD model.

Despite this manufacturing innovation, the iPhone Air's USB-C port is limited to outdated USB 2 speeds of up to 480 Mb/s for wired data transfer.

Titanium cases for Apple Watch Ultra 3 and higher-end Apple Watch Series 11 models are also made with a 3D-printing process that uses half the raw material as previous generations of each device, according to Apple's announcements.

iPhone Air can be pre-ordered starting this Friday at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, while the new Apple Watch models are available to pre-order now, in the U.S. and many other countries. All of the devices are set to launch Friday, September 19.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 17, ‌iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max are set to begin on Friday, September 12 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with the new devices set to become available for pre-order in multiple countries around the world simultaneously.

We've compiled pre-order times for various countries to help MacRumors readers be among the first to order. This list isn't exhaustive, so please verify the exact time for your specific location.

U.S. customers can prepare for the iPhone 17 launch using the "Get Ready" pre-order setup. This process allows you to select your iPhone model, confirm your carrier, and enter payment and shipping details in advance.

For those wanting a device on launch day, immediate pre-ordering is recommended. Supply availability is uncertain, and popular models or colors may sell out within minutes or hours.

The iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the iPhone Air begins at $999. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. U.S. carriers are offering various discounts. Apple also provides the iPhone Upgrade Program and trade-in options to reduce costs.

Pre-orders open on September 12. The first iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro orders will be delivered to customers on Friday, September 19.

Apple's new Live Translation feature for AirPods will be off-limits to millions of European users when it arrives next week, with strict EU regulations likely holding back its rollout.

Apple says on its feature availability webpage that "Apple Intelligence: Live Translation with AirPods" won't be available if both the user is physically in the EU and their Apple Account region is in the EU. Apple doesn't give a reason for the restriction, but legal and regulatory pressures seem the most plausible culprits.

In particular, the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) both impose strict requirements for how speech and translation services are offered. Regulators may want to study how Live Translation works, and how that impacts privacy, consent, data-flows, and user rights. Apple will also want to ensure its system fully complies with these rules before enabling the feature across EU accounts.

Apple's Live Translation feature, unveiled during its AirPods Pro 3 announcement, is also coming to older models including AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Pro 2.

Live Translation enables hands-free communication by allowing users to speak naturally while wearing AirPods. For conversations with non-AirPods users, the iPhone can display live transcriptions horizontally, showing translations in the other person's preferred language.

The feature becomes more powerful when both conversation participants wear compatible AirPods with Live Translation enabled. Active Noise Cancellation automatically lowers the volume of the other speaker, helping users focus on translated audio while maintaining natural interaction flow.

The new Live Translation functionality requires AirPods updated with the latest firmware to pair with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 26 or later, so iPhone 15 Pro and newer models are supported. Apple has been beta testing firmware in concert with iOS 26 beta updates, and we expect the firmware to drop the same day that iOS 26 is officially released on September 15.

The feature supports real-time translation between English (UK and U.S.), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish. Apple plans to add Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) support later this year. When the EU/Apple Account restriction will be lifted remains unclear, but we've reached out to Apple to see if they're willing to provide more details.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Following the debut of the iPhone 17 lineup on Tuesday, Apple quietly updated its iPhone 16 lineup so that the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ is now sold only in a 128GB configuration for $699. The previous storage tiers of 256GB and 512GB for the base ‌iPhone 16‌ have been discontinued.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus retains slightly more flexibility by remaining available in both 128GB and 256GB versions, although its 512GB tier has also been removed.

The change makes sense for Apple's marketing strategy. Given that all ‌iPhone 17‌ models now start at 256GB, maintaining a 256GB ‌iPhone 16‌ tier would have created product overlap and potentially impacted sales of the newer model.

It also streamlines Apple's manufacturing and inventory management, and will likely encourage customers who need more storage to either choose the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus or upgrade directly to the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup.

Apple opens pre-orders for ‌iPhone 17‌ models, including the ultra-thin iPhone Air, on Friday, September 12, with availability starting Friday, September 19.

Before Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, there were rumors suggesting that some features like the upgraded Telephoto camera could be exclusive to the Pro Max. In the past, Apple has limited some capabilities to the Pro Max, so it was a possibility, but the two devices have the same general feature set this year.

There are a few things that are different, of course, but that comes down to size.

Display

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max has a 6.9-inch display, while the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ has a smaller 6.3-inch display. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ is smaller and lighter weight than the Pro Max, and easier to use one-handed.

Battery

Since there's more room in the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max for the battery, it lasts longer. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ offers up to 33 hours of video playback, while the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max offers up to 39 hours of video playback. It's the longest battery life in an iPhone to date.

Storage

With the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, you can get up to 2TB of storage, which is a new upper limit for the ‌iPhone‌. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ is limited to 1TB. The difference may be due to size and the space inside for storage components.

The 2TB ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max costs $2,000.

There are no other differences between the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, so if you opt for the smaller Pro model, you're only missing out on a larger display size, a longer battery, and the option to upgrade to 2TB of storage.

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models will be available for pre-order this Friday.

With the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, Apple introduced a new design for the rear of the device. Instead of a camera bump, we now have a camera plateau that spans almost the entire back of the iPhone. The camera plateau houses an upgraded camera system that includes a revamped Telephoto lens.

All three of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and Pro Max cameras are 48 megapixels, and there are five zoom options across the lenses.

Telephoto Lens

The 48-megapixel Fusion Telephoto lens is new, and an upgrade over the 12-megapixel Telephoto lens in the iPhone 16 Pro models. It supports 4x zoom, or a 100mm focal length equivalent. At 4x zoom, you can capture 48-megapixel images.

It also supports 8x zoom, or a 200mm focal length equivalent. 8x zoom images are limited to 12 megapixels. Apple says that the Telephoto sensor is 56 percent larger, allowing for improved performance in poor lighting conditions.

The Telephoto lens supports Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization and autofocus, and it has the tetraprism design that Apple introduced last year.

The 8x optical zoom can be expanded to 40x digital zoom. It doesn't quite match the 100x zoom that Samsung's smartphones are known for, but it does expand the zoom range compared to prior iPhones.

Wide Lens

The 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, or Fusion Main lens as Apple refers to it, hasn't changed much compared to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌.

You can take 24-megapixel or 48-megapixel images at the standard 24mm focal length, or 12-megapixel 2x Telephoto images at a 48mm focal length.

Features include second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100 percent Focus Pixels, and an f/1.78 aperture.

Ultra Wide-Angle Lens

Apple calls the 48-megapixel ultra wide lens the Fusion Ultra Wide. It has a 13mm focal length, an f/2.2 aperture, and a 120 degree field of view. It supports taking close-up 48-megapixel macro shots, and has support for what Apple calls Hybrid Focus Pixels.

LiDAR and Flash

At the right side of the camera plateau, there's an Adaptive True Tone Flash and LiDAR Scanner.

Other Camera Features

Other camera technology that Apple has introduced over the years is included.

• Photonic Engine - Combines the best pixels from a high-resolution image and an image optimized for light capture, producing a 24-megapixel image with detail sourced from an image twice the resolution. The Photonic Engine kicks in for low light images.
• Deep Fusion - Works in mid to low lighting conditions and brings out the texture and detail in the image. It improves images with medium lighting.
• Smart HDR 5 - Recognizes one or more people in a scene and optimizes contrast, lighting, and skin tones so everyone looks their best.
• Portrait images with Focus and Depth Control - You don't need to choose Portrait mode before capturing an image to get a portrait shot. You can just snap a photo, and if there's a person or a pet, depth information is collected and Portrait mode is enabled automatically with a blurred background. It works for Night mode, too.
• Portrait Lighting - Changes the lighting of Portrait mode photos with effects that include Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono.
• Night mode - Takes a series of images over a few seconds and aggregates them to allow for photography in extreme low lighting situations.
• Panorama - Captures panoramic shots that are up to 63 megapixels in size.
• Photographic Styles (including a new Bright option this year) - Photographic Styles are filters that you can apply before an image is captured, previewing them as you take a shot.
• Spatial photos and videos - Videos and photos captured in spatial mode can be viewed in 3D on the Vision Pro.
• ProRAW - A pro video recording option.
• Lens correction (for the Ultra Wide) - Eliminates distortion.
• Auto image stabilization - Corrects for camera shake.
• Burst mode - Allows a series of images to be captured all at once, which is good for high-action shots.

Video Capabilities

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models support recording 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 120 frames per second.

4K 120fps ProRes video recording is available with an external storage device attached, and the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models support ProRes RAW recording, a new feature this year. There's also support for Apple Log 2 and Genlock video synchronization, pro features aimed at filmmakers.

Apple added a Dual Capture feature that records from the front and back cameras at the same time. Dual Capture supports up to 4K Dolby Vision recording at 30 frames per second.

Other video features that Apple has added over the years are also available.

• Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps for keeping the focus on the main subject while you move
• Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps for enhancing stabilization to reduce shake
• Spatial video recording at 1080p at 30 fps, with spatial audio
• Academy Color Encoding System
• Macro video recording, including slo-mo and time-lapse
• 1080p Slo-mo support at up to 240 fps, or 4K Dolby Vision at 120 fps
• Time-lapse
• QuickTake
• Digital zoom up to 15x
• Cinematic video stabilization
• Continuous autofocus video
• Audio Mix and wind noise reduction

Front Camera

Apple added a new 18-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. It has an f/1.8 aperture, and as the name suggests, it supports Center Stage. Center Stage is the feature that keeps you in frame during video calls as you move around.

The updated front camera sensor is larger and it is square-shaped, which means more can fit in the frame than before. You can even take front-facing cameras in landscape or portrait mode without rotating your phone. Apple also improved stabilization when capturing video.

Dual Capture video works with both the front and rear cameras, so you can record a scene and your reaction at the same time.

Other iPhones

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models are the only devices that have the three-camera setup. The standard iPhone 17 has a dual-lens camera setup with wide and ultra-wide lenses, while the iPhone Air has a single-lens camera that's equivalent to the Main camera on the 17 Pro.

Apple introduced the iPhone 17 Pro and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max yesterday and gave members of the media some hands-on time with them. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera was able to take a look to check out the new design and share his first impressions.

Rather than using titanium and glass, the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models have a unibody aluminum frame. There's aluminum around the camera plateau and at the back except for where there's a Ceramic Shield insert for MagSafe charging. The camera plateau is much bigger, and there's a two-tone look thanks to the aluminum and Ceramic Shield design.

The updated iPhones feel solid and well built, and Apple promises that durability and scratch resistance have improved. Apple added a new anti-reflective coating, and while it's not a dramatic change, it does cut down on glare.

The new dark blue and orange color options are attention grabbing, but Apple didn't provide a space black or space gray kind of option. It's silver, orange, or dark blue only this year.

There's a new Telephoto lens that supports up to 8x zoom, and an upgraded front-facing camera that lets you take selfies in portrait or landscape mode without rotating your phone.

Apple is launching the new iPhones on September 19, and we'll have a more comprehensive review then. We also took a look at the iPhone Air if you want to check out that video.

Apple today announced that its retail store at the South Coast Plaza shopping mall, in Costa Mesa, California, has temporarily relocated.

Apple has opened a temporary store in the mall, just down the hall from its original location, which will presumably be renovated. The company has not indicated when the original store will reopen, but its renovations often take months.

Opened in 2001, Apple South Coast Plaza was one of the company's first retail locations, in the heart of Orange County. The mall is the largest in California.

Apple already alerted some customers about the store relocation via email last week, and today it posted a notice on the store's page on its website.

Update: Apple has shared a photo of the temporary store — see below.

The Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 all feature an upgraded 5G modem and antenna architecture, but 5G connectivity won't be available in some countries.

5G is not listed as a supported feature for the new Apple Watch models in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and several other countries in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.

The upgraded connectivity is available in the United States, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, UAE, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore, India, and more.

It is not clear why 5G connectivity isn't an option in some countries, but it could be due to a lack of regulatory approval or carriers that simply haven't added support. During yesterday's event, Apple showed a slide with carriers that are supporting 5G on the Apple Watch at launch. These were the carriers depicted:

• Verizon (US)
• AT&T (US)
• T-Mobile (US)
• Orange (Europe/Global)
• EE (UK)
• Three/3 (UK/International)
• Sunrise (Switzerland)
• AIS (Thailand)
• SoftBank (Japan)
• NTT Docomo (Japan)
• au (Japan)
• SmarTone (Hong Kong)
• CSL (Hong Kong)
• CTM (Macau)
• Singtel (Singapore)
• M1 (Singapore)
• Zain (Middle East/Africa)
• du (UAE)
• Boost Mobile (US)
• US Cellular (US)
• Metro by T-Mobile (US)
• China Unicom
• China Mobile
• China Telecom
• Jio (India)

Canada's major carriers like Telus, Bell, and Rogers were not included, nor were Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus, which are the three main carriers in Australia.

You can go to the technical specifications page for the Apple Watch Series 11, ‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌, or ‌Apple Watch SE 3‌ in your country to see if 5G will be available. In areas where 5G is not listed as a feature, the new Apple Watch models will rely on LTE.

Apple does not have separate Apple Watch models for different countries (except for China), so there is a good chance that the Apple Watches being sold in countries where 5G is currently unavailable do have the same 5G modem as Apple Watches in the U.S. and other locations where 5G is available. If that's the case, 5G connectivity could be enabled later when carriers begin offering support.

Apple this week released a new version of its MagSafe Charger with Qi2 25W certification. It is available to order now with a one-meter or two-meter USB-C cable attached to it, with pricing ranging from $39 to $49 in the United States.

As far as we can tell, the only change with the new MagSafe Charger is support for Qi2 25W, also known as Qi 2.2. With this certification, the new MagSafe Charger can wirelessly charge Google's new Pixel 10 smartphones and other compatible devices at up to 25W speeds, whereas the previous version of the MagSafe Charger only offers 25W charging speeds for all iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models, excluding the iPhone 16e.

This is the third version of Apple's MagSafe Charger to date.

With iOS 26, all iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models support Qi2 25W, excluding the iPhone 16e. After being updated to iOS 26, those devices can be wirelessly charged with any Qi2 25W charger, including recent options from Belkin and Aukey.

With the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3, Apple announced support for a new Sleep Score feature that's designed to provide you with an actionable overview of your sleep quality.

It turns out that Sleep Score is a watchOS 26 feature, so it is also available on older Apple Watch models. If you have the ‌watchOS 26‌ release candidate installed, you can see your Sleep Score in the Health app already.

Open up the Health app, choose the Sleep category from the Search interface, and tap on Sleep Score to see your personalized readout.

Apple will rate your sleep as Excellent, High, OK, Low, or Very Low. Scores are calculated based on sleep duration, the time you went to bed, and how many times your sleep was interrupted during the night. Duration is worth 50 points, bedtime is worth 30 points, and interruptions is worth 20 points. Points are deducted for low sleep times, a late bedtime, or multiple sleep interruptions.

According to Apple, an "Excellent" score means that your body and mind have received the rest and restorative sleep needed for the day. High means you got the sleep you need, even though you might not have slept perfectly. OK means you probably didn't get all the sleep you need, while Low means that you didn't get enough time to rest and restore. Very Low means you didn't get enough sleep and your rest level was low enough that it can have a mental and physical impact over time.

Sleep Score is calculated from sleep data collected by the Apple Watch during sleep, or from a third-party device that reports results to the Health app. You technically don't need an Apple Watch to get a Sleep Score, but you do need some kind of device that records sleep and logs the results in the Health app.

‌watchOS 26‌ with the Sleep Score, Liquid Glass, and other features will launch to the public on Monday, September 15.

The new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max continue to offer mmWave 5G connectivity in the United States, but the faster 5G speeds have not yet expanded to other countries. Outside of the U.S., the new iPhone models are limited to sub-6GHz 5G.

mmWave 5G has been exclusive to the United States since 5G connectivity launched in the ‌iPhone‌ 12. Other countries have been slower to adopt mmWave 5G, but it is becoming more widely available in countries like Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Europe. The higher frequency mmWave spectrum is not as practical as lower and mid-band 5G spectrum because of its limited range.

It's expensive for carriers to build mmWave networks, and it is expensive for Apple to offer the hardware to connect to those networks. Carriers don't have motivation for faster 5G when devices don't support it, and Apple doesn't see the need to roll out mmWave support in countries where adoption is low.

mmWave offers the fastest 5G speeds, but it primarily makes sense for big cities and crowded locations like concert venues, stadiums, and airports. It is short range, and cannot penetrate obstacles like sub-6GHz 5G can. Sub-6GHz is more widely adopted because it works in cities, suburban areas, and rural locations.

Unless something changes with 5G adoption and rollout, it's not likely that Apple's stance on mmWave 5G availability is going to change. In fact, the M4 iPad Pro models eliminated mmWave 5G support entirely, and Apple opted for 5G modems that only support sub-6GHz spectrum.

Because the iPhone Air has Apple's custom-designed C1X modem, it also does not support mmWave 5G. Like the C1, the C1X is only compatible with sub-6GHz 5G. The other ‌iPhone 17‌ models use Qualcomm modems and in the U.S., can use mmWave spectrum on networks that offer it.

Apple has introduced the AirPods Pro 3, and they are a major upgrade over the AirPods Pro 2.

Below, we have recapped eight new features coming with the AirPods Pro 3, which are available to pre-order now, ahead of a Friday, September 19 launch.

1. 2× more active noise cancellation: Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 2× more active noise cancellation than the AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4× more than the original AirPods Pro. In fact, the AirPods Pro 3 offer the best active noise cancellation of any in-ear wireless headphones, according to Apple.
2. Improved sound quality: AirPods Pro 3 feature a new acoustic architecture, with next-generation Adaptive EQ, that "transforms the bass response, widens the soundstage so users hear every instrument, and brings vivid vocal clarity to higher frequencies across music, shows, and calls," according to Apple.
3. Longer battery life per charge: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 3 charging case offers up to 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, whereas the AirPods Pro 2 case provides up to 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.
4. Heart rate monitoring during workouts: Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 feature a heart rate sensor that shines pulsating infrared light to measure light absorption in blood flow. AirPods Pro 3 users can track their heart rate and calories burned, close their Move ring, and earn awards for 50 different workout types in the Fitness app on an iPhone, with no Apple Watch required.
5. Improved fit: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 are the "most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever." The earbuds are slightly smaller, and the external design of each ear tip was "aligned to the center of the body for increased stability."
6. Improved water resistance: AirPods Pro 3 have IP57-rated sweat and water resistance, up from IP54 for the AirPods Pro 2. By definition, an IP57 rating means the AirPods Pro 3 could withstand temporary immersion in up to one meter of water, but Apple's marketing only promises that they "can handle the sweatiest workouts and even a sudden downpour."
7. U2 chip: No, the AirPods Pro 3 do not come with a free U2 album, but the charging case does feature Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, allowing the Precision Finding feature to work at a 1.5× longer distance in the Find My app. You will need an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air for this.
8. XXS ear tip option: AirPods Pro 3 come with new XXS silicone ear tips, along with the same XS, S, M, L sizes included with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple says the tips are now infused with foam for greater passive noise isolation.

To learn more, read our stories about the AirPods Pro 3's new design with foam-infused ear tips. Also know that AirPods Pro 3 do not come with a charging cable.

The AirPods Pro 3 have an updated design that Apple says is more ergonomic, and new ear tips that are supposed to be better at eliminating ambient sound.

Apple included new ear tips that fuse a thin layer of soft foam microspheres to a silicone shell for better passive noise isolation.

The ear tips come in five sizes, including XXS, XS, S, M, and L, The smaller XXS size wasn't available with the AirPods Pro 2.

The new foam ear tips, the wider range of size options, improved computational audio, and the design changes to make the earbuds fit more ergonomically in the ear all help to make the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ 2x better at Active Noise Cancellation than the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple is still selling the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ for $249, but there is no longer a USB-C charging cable inside, so the company is saving a bit of cash with this model. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are available for pre-order and will launch on Friday, September 19.

The new Apple Watch lineup is now available to pre-order. With more feature parity than ever before across the models, understanding the differences is more important ever before.

All three of the new Apple Watches feature the S10 chip, always-on displays, sleep score, and media playback, but there are still some significant differences between the two devices.

The Apple Watch SE is designed to be a low-cost option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, while the Apple Watch Series 11 offers a more feature-rich experience with additional health monitoring capabilities. The Apple Watch Ultra focuses on withstanding extreme environments, a high level of durability, extended battery life, and additional features to aid activities like diving and exploration.

With as little as $50 between the 46mm titanium Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, some prospective customers will be weighing up whether it is worth spending a little extra to get the 49mm Ultra model. While there is a $400 difference between the GPS-only 42mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the high-end model offers a set of features to address specific challenges, so it may even be worth it for some of these buyers.

This guide outlines all of the differences between the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌ to help you decide which is best for you.

Sizes and Weights

	‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
Height	44mm (44mm case) 40mm (40mm case)	46mm (46mm case) 42mm (42mm case)	49mm
Width	38mm (44mm case) 34mm (40mm case)	39mm (46mm case) 36mm (42mm case)	44mm
Depth	10.7mm	9.7mm	12mm
Weight	32.9g (GPS, 44mm) 33.0g (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) 26.3g (GPS, 40mm) 26.4g (GPS + Cellular, 40mm)	37.8g (aluminum, GPS, 46mm) 36.9g (aluminum, GPS + Cellular, 46mm) 43.1g (titanium, 46mm) 30.3g (aluminum, GPS, 42mm) 29.7g (aluminum, GPS + Cellular, 42mm) 34.6g (titanium, 42mm)	61.6g (natural titanium) 61.8g (black titanium)

Designs

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
40mm or 44mm case size	42mm or 46mm case size	49mm case size
Anodized aluminum case	Anodized or polished aluminum and polished titanium casing options	Blasted titanium case
Curved display	Curved display with refractive edge	Flat display
		80% recycled steel in the speaker and Taptic Engine
	Apple Watch Hermès edition available	Apple Watch Hermès edition available
Available in Starlight and Midnight	Aluminum: Available in Rose Gold, Space Gray, and polished Jet Black	Titanium: Available in Natural, Gold, and Slate

Durability

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
Design based on Apple Watch Series 4	Design based on Apple Watch Series 10, including a thinner casing, more rounded edges, and a wider aspect ratio	Same design as previous Apple Watch Ultra models
Front crystal curves at edges onto shaped casing	Front crystal curves at edges onto shaped casing	Corrosion resistant case with raised edges to protect the flat sapphire front crystal
Nylon composite and sapphire crystal back	Metal and sapphire crystal back	Ceramic and sapphire crystal back
Water resistant up to 50m	Water resistant up to 50m	Water resistant up to 100m
		EN13319 certification
	Certified IP6X dust resistance	Certified IP6X dust resistance
		Tested to MIL-STD 810H

Displays

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
Up to 1,000 nits brightness	Up to 2,000 nits brightness	Up to 3,000 nits brightness
2 nits minimum brightness	1 nit minimum brightness	1 nit minimum brightness
OLED	Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle)	Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle)
LTPO	LTPO3 for faster refresh rate in always-on mode	LTPO3 for faster refresh rate in always-on mode

Health Features

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
Second-generation optical heart sensor	Third-generation optical heart sensor	Third-generation optical heart sensor
	Hypertension notifications	Hypertension notifications
	Electrical heart sensor	Electrical heart sensor
	ECG app	ECG app
	Blood Oxygen app	Blood Oxygen app

Battery Life and Charging

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
Up to 18-hour battery life	Up to 24-hour battery life	Up to 42-hour battery life
Up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode	Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode	Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode
Charge 0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours	Charge 0–80% in about 30 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours	Charge 0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 12 hours

Other Differences

‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
		Customizable Action button
		Night Mode for low-visibility conditions
		Exclusive Wayfinder and Modular Ultra faces
Swim	Swim, snorkel	Swim, snorkel, scuba, high-speed water sports
	Depth gauge to 6m	Depth gauge to 40m
	Water temperature sensor	Water temperature sensor
	Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip	Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Find iPhone	Precision Finding for ‌iPhone‌	Precision Finding for ‌iPhone‌
GPS (L1)	GPS (L1)	Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
Always-on altimeter	Always-on altimeter	Always-on altimeter with expanded operating range from –500m to 9000m
		Satellite connectivity
		Emergency SOS via satellite
Single microphone with voice isolation	Single microphone with voice isolation	Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Single speaker	Single speaker	Dual speakers
		86-decibel Siren to attract attention

Prices

	‌Apple Watch SE 3‌	Apple Watch Series 11 (Aluminum)	Apple Watch Series 11 (Titanium)	‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌
GPS	$249 (40mm) $279 (44mm)	$399 (42mm) $429 (46mm)
GPS + Cellular	$299 (40mm) $329 (44mm)	$499 (42mm) $529 (46mm)	$699 (42mm) $749 (46mm)	$799

Which One Should You Choose?

SE 3 vs. Series 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 is a minor improvement over the previous Series 10 model, offering a 5G connectivity and longer battery life. Yet compared to the ‌Apple Watch SE 3‌, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a noticeably more feature-rich device with advanced capabilities.

With its larger display, additional health monitoring features, and range of colors and finishes, the Apple Watch Series 11 will be the model of choice for those who want more out of their smartwatch. If you feel that the added health monitoring features or longer battery life would be particularly beneficial to you, or simply like a specific casing and color combination not available with the ‌Apple Watch SE 3‌, the Apple Watch Series 11 will be the best model for you.

If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 11, the ‌Apple Watch SE 3‌ is still a compelling option. As it shares many key features with the Apple Watch Series 11, many customers will be happy choosing the more inexpensive model, unless you particularly value features such as the larger display or advanced health monitoring and can justify the added cost.

The ‌Apple Watch SE 3‌ is an ideal device for kids and senior citizens who do not have an ‌iPhone‌ thanks to Family Setup, but it is also the go-to model for most customers who are new to the Apple Watch and those who are upgrading from an older device due to its competitive pricing and generous feature set, allowing users to get a balanced Apple Watch experience at a low price.

Series 11 vs. Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra offers specific capabilities to address the requirements of those who need their Apple Watch to provide assistance in challenging environments. If you need a more durable Apple Watch with features like a brighter display, louder speakers, a more reliable GPS, better water resistance, and more, the Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the best choice. The Apple Watch Ultra is clearly better equipped to handle tasks like hiking, diving, and navigation.

The Apple Watch Ultra is also biggest and most feature-rich Apple Watch option available, not to mention that it offers the first true redesign of the device since its introduction in 2015. For technology enthusiasts, Apple Watch Ultra represents a way to get a new Apple Watch experience with top specifications in several key areas. Features like longer battery life, a brighter display, and the Action button are also highly accessible, and will be beneficial to all users. As such, some customers may still be inclined to choose the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌ over the Apple Watch Series 11, even if they do not need it for use in challenging environments.

As the largest Apple Watch model to date, the size of the Apple Watch Ultra will not be for everyone. If you already prefer the 41mm or 42mm Apple Watch casing size, the Apple Watch Ultra may be far too large for you. If in doubt, it may be worth heading to an Apple Store and trying on the Apple Watch Ultra in person to get to grips with the size and determine if it is too big and bulky for you.

Similarly, the Apple Watch Ultra's look may not appeal to some buyers. If you prefer the idea of a polished finish and are looking for a more fashion-focused smartwatch that pairs well with premium bands, the more aggressive, rugged design of the Apple Watch Ultra may not be for you.

If the Apple Watch Ultra is out of your price range but you still want to use your Apple Watch in challenging environments, it is worth bearing in mind that the Series 11 still offers a durable design with a strong front crystal, water resistance, and many of the Apple Watch Ultra's software features like waypoint marking.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra 3‌ has a lot to offer, especially for the subset of users who can take advantage of all of its capabilities, so it is certainly worth considering when purchasing a new model, but the Apple Watch Series 11 is still a compelling all-around option that comes in at a lower price point with a subtler design.