Early in release cycle
Best for: Serious athletes, trail runners, triathletes, and outdoor adventurers who need the most durable, most accurate GPS watch Apple makes. Also for iPhone users who simply want the best Apple Watch regardless of sport, and value the extra battery life over the Series 11.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Android or iPhone users who want a balanced smartwatch with solid Fitbit health tracking, multi-day battery, and a clean square watch design — without the premium price of a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.
Full details →| Apple Watch Ultra | Fitbit Versa | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Sports GPS | Smartwatch |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 1.75 days | 6 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, blood pressure | spo2, hr, hrv, eda stress |
| Released | Sep 19, 2025 | Sep 25, 2022 |
| Cycle length | 727 days | 730 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Apple Watch Ultra 4 (Expected fall 2026) | — |
The Ultra 3 nearly doubles the Series 11 battery life, and satellite emergency SOS works even without cellular or WiFi coverage.
More precise GPS tracking in urban canyons and dense forests — critical for trail running, mountaineering, and triathlon.
The 49mm titanium case and 3000-nit display make this watch usable in full direct sunlight and water depths up to 100m (EN13319 certified for diving).
Rare for a smartwatch with real GPS and health sensors to work fully on both platforms — Versa 4 does.
Turn-by-turn navigation and NFC payments without needing your phone in hand.
Sleep stages, daily readiness score, Active Zone Minutes, and SpO2 — all on a 6-day charge.