Apple
Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm
S11 SiP · Aluminum 45mm · 2025
92
/ 100
From $399
VS
Apple Watch Ultra 3 wins by 2
Apple
Apple Watch Ultra 3
S10 chip · 49 mm titanium · 3000 nits
94
/ 100
From $799
Specdex verdict
Apple Watch Ultra 3 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm lands at 92 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 at 94. That puts Apple Watch Ultra 3 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm if…
- ✓Satellite connectivity (Ultra 3)
- ✓Blood pressure trends (Series 11)
- ✓watchOS 12
Pick Apple Watch Ultra 3 if…
- ✓49 mm titanium chassis
- ✓3000 nit peak display
- ✓Up to 42 hours normal use
Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm 92
vs 94 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Score breakdown
Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm
92 battery 72
display 95
fitness 94
health 96
durability 88
Apple Watch Ultra 3
94 battery 84
display 96
fitness 96
health 96
durability 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm | Apple Watch Ultra 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S11 SiP | Apple S10 chip |
| Case | Aluminum 45mm | 49 mm titanium |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| Display | — | Up to 3000 nits |
| Water resistance | — | 100 m (ISO 22810:2010) |
| Battery | — | Up to 42 hours; up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode |
| Starting price | — | $799 |
Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm
Pros
- +Satellite connectivity (Ultra 3)
- +Blood pressure trends (Series 11)
- +watchOS 12
Cons
- −iPhone-required
- −Battery ~18 h on Series, ~48 h on Ultra
- −Premium pricing
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Pros
- +49 mm titanium chassis
- +3000 nit peak display
- +Up to 42 hours normal use
Cons
- −Same chassis as Ultra 2
- −Expensive at $799
- −Battery only extends to 72 h in low-power
FAQ: Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
Which is better, Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm or Apple Watch Ultra 3? +
Apple Watch Ultra 3 scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm worth the price? +
At $399, Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in health.
Is Apple Watch Ultra 3 worth the price? +
At $799, Apple Watch Ultra 3 delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in display.
Does Apple Watch Series 11 Aluminum 45mm or Apple Watch Ultra 3 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.