New Apple Watch rumors: The lowdown on the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and new SE

People have high hopes for the Apple Watch in 2025 after the Apple Watch Series 10 disappointed in 2024. Despite rumors of major design changes, the Apple Watch 10 turned out to be more or less identical to every Apple Watch sold over the last few years. The display was just a tad larger and the body was slightly thinner, but overall it was very similar to the Series 9.

At this point you might look to the old adage: “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. Apple’s Watch follows a proven formula that has brought a lot of success. It should be no surprise that the company isn’t rocking the boat.

That might be forgivable, but Apple didn’t even update the Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch SE in 2024, leaving both with an older processor generation.

Luckily in 2025 it looks like Apple will deliver some long awaited Apple Watch features. Read on to find out what’s in store for Apple Watch Series 11, the Ultra 3, and the SE 3 in the fall of 2025. Here’s what we’ve heard so far about the 2025 Apple Watch.

We’ll run though what’s expected for each Apple Watch model below.

Apple Watch Series 11 release date: When is the next Apple Watch coming out?

• Launch at September iPhone event: Tuesday September 9 (probable)
• Pre-order from September 12
• On sale from September 19

For years now, Apple has announced the new Apple Watch together with the new iPhone at a September event, with both products going on sale the following week. We haven’t heard anything to make us think that won’t be the case again this year.

The most likely date is the second Tuesday of September, which is September 9. Pre-orders for the Apple Watch Series 11 will probably begin that Friday (September 12) with general availability in stores a week later (September 19).

Apple Watch Ultra 3 release date: Will there be a new Apple Watch Ultra in 2025?

• Launch at September iPhone event: Tuesday September 9 (probable)
• Pre-order from September 12
• On sale from September 19

Surprisingly Apple didn’t update the Apple Watch Ultra in 2024, so the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has remained on sale despite the Apple Watch Series 11 having an updated chip (S9 vs S10). Will the lower spec have resulted in fewer sales for the so called “ultra” watch, or will it’s features targeted at extreme sports enthusiasts been enough to keep stock moving? We don’t know, but Apple can’t have been concerned about how the older chip would be perceived and perhaps we should take that as evidence that when it comes to the Apple Watch the chip doesn’t really matter?

We expect Apple to rectify this in 2025 with the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 alongside the Apple Watch Series 11.

Apple Watch SE 3 release date: Will there be a new Apple Watch SE in 2025?

• Launch at September iPhone event: Tuesday September 9 (probable)
• Pre-order from September 12
• On sale from September 19

Apple hasn’t updated the Apple Watch SE since 2022 and that update was an extremely minor one, bringing a new chip and crash detection with a lower price of $249. It was initially rumored that 2024 would bring a substantial update to the budget watch with a plastic redesign, but that didn’t happen. Will it happen in 2025? Possibly.

However, a rumor in March 2025 claimed that the new Apple Watch SE had run into production issues and was in “serious jeopardy.” So Apple may stick with the current model for another year.

New Apple Watch 2025 prices: How much will the new Apple Watch cost?

• Apple Watch Ultra 3: From $799/£799 – based on current price
• Apple Watch Series 11: From $399/£399 – based on current price
• Apple Watch SE 3: From $249/£219 – based on current price

Ever since the Apple Watch Series 3, Apple has kept starting prices the same for the aluminum Apple Watch and, on that basis, we don’t expect a price hike this year. This means that the Series 11 should start at $399 for the 42mm model, and the larger 46mm version will cost $429, with an extra $100 for cellular capability and higher prices for various bands.

With the Series 10, Apple also offered a titanium case for $699/$699 or $749/£749 depending on the size. This model includes LTE Cellular as standard. Rumors suggest Apple will keep that option around with the Series 11, likely at the same price.

For the 49mm Ultra version, which also features a titanium case, pricing is $799/£799, so not all that more expensive than the titanium variant of the Series 10 really.

The SE 3 is likely to start at $249, as the SE 2 does, although the price may rise in the U.K. where it is currently £219.

However, no discussion of future Apple product pricing is complete without mentioning U.S. tariffs, which are could have a big impact on pricing. It’s simply too difficult to predict whether tariffs will increase the Apple Watch’s price, but the odds are significant.

New Apple Watch 2025 design: Will Apple update the design of the Series 11, Ultra or SE?

The newly announced watchOS 26 will itself bring a new design to the Apple Watch software in the form of a new more glass-like interface dubbed “Liquid Glass” that will be unified across all Apple devices. But what of the hardware?

Rumors throughout 2024 told us to expect more significant changes to the Apple Watch design last year, and then the Series 10 debuted and it looked like a very slightly flattened Series 9.

This year, there aren’t even any rumors of big design changes. Currently, all signs point to an Apple Watch that is identical in appearance to the Series 10, with the possible exception of new colors, possibly sky blue to match the MacBook Air and iPhone 17.

As for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, it might be slimmer. And yes, the display might be even larger.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported in September 2024 that a plastic SE redesign would arrive in 2025 alongside the Series 11. So the Apple Watch SE 3 might have a whole new look.

However, in March 2025 Gurman claimed that the new Apple Watch SE had run into production issues and was in “serious jeopardy.” So Apple may need to stick to the aluminum design for the new SE in order to get the update out.

New Apple Watch 2025 features: What are the new features?

There have been rumors that Apple is trying to get features like blood pressure monitoring and blood sugar monitoring onto the Apple Watch, but these capabilities seem to still be a long way off in the future. What can we expect from the new Apple Watches in 2025?

Health & Fitness

We’re not expecting any new health sensors. Apple’s blood glucose monitoring initiative is still years from ending up in a watch, it seems, and while there have been rumors of high blood pressure monitoring, that’s apparently not quite ready to appear this year, either.

A report in July 2025 found that the Apple Watch is best at measuring calorific usage, according to tests, although most smart watches, including Apple’s, tend to underestimate calories burned. Perhaps Apple will estimate calories burned a even more accurately in future Apple Watches.

watchOS 26, which is coming to recent Apple Watches (SE2, Series 6 and newer), will bring some health and fitness related features, including a Workout Buddy that analyzes your usage data and fitness metrics to create personalized insights and pep talks and customization options that let you set up suitable playlists and podcasts to play during workouts.

This “Workout Buddy” will add a new dimension to Apple Watch fitness routines. Choose a voice for your Workout Buddy and it will coach you through workouts, using your personal health metrics and goals, and cheer you on with motivational messages.

5G and Satelite

It’s also rumored that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will support 5G cellular and satellite messaging, which could also come to the Series 11.

Apple debuted a wireless chip in the iPhone 16e, but it’s not clear whether it’s small or efficient enough for the Apple Watch yet.

Apple Intelligence

AI is a key aspect of almost every new Apple product now, and rumors suggest Apple is working on bringing some AI features to the Apple Watch. The actual AI models probably won’t be able to run on the watch; rather, the watch will gather data, the processing will be done on your iPhone, and then the watch will display results or notifications.

The new AI related features include Live Listen transcription and Live Translation, whereby your iPhone is used as a microphone to pick up the conversations around you that you might struggle to hear, or understand, and your device then transcribes what is said and displays it on your screen. These transcriptions or translations can then be sent to your Apple Watch for you to reference in real time.

Other features coming in watchOS 26 include automatic volume adjustment, so that notifications are adjusted depending on where you are – there won’t be a loud alarm if you are in the library, for example. And new Smart Actions that will make suggestions based on incoming texts and other elements, for example, if a friend texts to asks where you are, you’ll see a prompt to share your location using the Find My app.

Many of the new AI features will debut as part of watchOS 26, so they will be available on all compatible Watches, but some might be kept as Series 11 exclusives in order to help differentiate the hardware.

New Apple Watch 2025 specs & hardware

So what hardware will be new? You can bet on a new S11 SiP (system in package), offering somewhat better performance.

Battery life

Don’t expect a big boost in battery life for the Apple Watch 11—that has been a near constant 18 hours for nearly the entire lifespan of the watch.

Battery life of the Ultra and SE are also unlikely to change.

microLED screen

Apple has been working on incorporating a microLED display on the Apple Watch for several years, according to various leaks and rumors, but it’s not expected to debut on the Series 11 this year. It could, however arrive on the Apple Watch Ultra in 2025.

Learn more in our watchOS 26 superguide.