Apple - Apple Watch Ultra 3

I’m not as hardcore as you. Doing fairly intense, compared to the average 71 year old, but I do exercise very rigorously for over an hour everyday. I’m tracking what is happening especially for endurance in improving general health and stamina. I do pool exercise and needed to have a watch that could last 6 to 8 hours per week every week. I went through my Series 6 with 5 replaced watches (I kept AppleCare) every year. So the Ultra Series has better water redistance and battery life. In can appreciate your comment about heart rate. I have seen problems with outlier measurements. There are one or two times, very intermittent. I’ll get a recorded heart rate reading about double the rest of the recorded HR. My anecdotal observation is it tends to happen in the pool. If I see the reading I will tighten the bad a bit and it doesn’t seem to continue. This happened on my old Series 6 and it has happened on my Ultra 3. It probably comes down to the intent of the design combined with the use case. If I go to my doctor every office visit begins with vitals being taken. It’s a snapshot in time. If a reading is about of whack they may repeat it in a few minutes once or twice, another slice of time. All Apple Watch products are really good at monitoring trends over time. You can setup alerts snd there are apps that can do additional analysis using the collected data. I look at trends events there too low and too high. The outliers do not really impact trend data. The other thing about trend data is knowing when your trend data occurs. I had a heart rate that would go below 40 bps in the 15 to 30 minutes before I wake-up in the morning. I got an alert that I was able to tell that to my Primary doc and Cardiologist. They suggested a change that needed to monitor for another couple of weeks. In my use case, the heart rate monitoring capability is 100% effective. It’s so effective I have the entire days HR data displaying in a compilation a full view of yesterday’s data and to date of the current day. Tap the graph and I can drill into the data, even the outline events. I’m not sure if the watch face comes from the heart health app I have or it’s in the Apple Watch stock watch faces. I have been enrolled the multi-year Apple Heart & Movement Study. The study has found that the Apple Watch sensor is accurate to within 5 bpm (beats per minute) for 98% of the time when users are in sedentary (or resting) mode, and reaches 99.7% accuracy with an error margin of 10bpm. The sensor’s heart rate accuracy varies: * 96% for outdoor cycling, * 87% while walking, * 88% while running, and * 91% during high-intensity workouts, with a 5 bpm error margin when recording in the foreground. Starting with the Apple Watch Series 6, accuracy has improved significantly. * Data from 480 participants logging 21,000 hours shows 89% accuracy (within a 5 bpm error margin) in the background, compared to 72% in older models.

I got the Apple Ultra 3 . And not impressed. When i have to start a run i need to do three taps. Is Garmin going to be better. I also play tennis . And walk. I need something thst wint need me to be constantly tapping etc . Am I expecting too much.

I’ve been using the Ultra 3 for about a week now, mainly for running (1–2 hours a day, roughly 10h/week, 120km/week) plus strength training or yoga for about an hour daily. I’m very routine-driven: I work from home, never travel much, always home by 6PM, runs in the morning, workouts in the afternoon. So my habits are pretty consistent. # 🔧 Settings * Always-On Display: **ON** * Cellular: **ON** (outdoors only) * Low Power Mode: **OFF** * Background Refresh: **ON** (disabled a few irrelevant apps) * Wake on Wrist Raise: **OFF** * Wake on Crown Rotation: **OFF** * Always On: **ON** # ⚡ Charging & Battery I keep it between 20–80% charge, and it tops up super fast — basically full again after my post-run shower. On average, I’m getting about **1.5 days per charge**. I typically charge it every other day: once in the evening and then again after my morning run two days later. It’s nowhere near Garmin-level battery life, but I honestly don’t mind the shorter cycle. A single 1–2h run eats up about **7%**, regardless of whether cellular is on or off. I don’t play music from the watch since I usually have my work phone on me and stream to my Shokz from there anyway. # ❤️ Heart Rate Accuracy This is where the Ultra still lags behind Garmin. * For walking, strength, or yoga — it’s great, very close to chest HRM accuracy. * For running — not so much. I get frequent dropouts and it often locks to cadence (hello, 180 bpm “steady state”). I’ve tried all the usual fixes — moving it higher up my wrist, tightening/loosening, different bands — no real improvement. I have a pretty bony wrist, so that might be part of the issue. My Garmin’s optical sensor wasn’t perfect either, but at least it didn’t constantly confuse cadence for HR. I’ve switched to a chest strap again for running sessions. # 📊 Metrics & Health Data Coming from Garmin, this is the weakest point. Apple’s HRV, stress, and recovery data are nowhere near as consistent or detailed. HR and HRV aren’t continuously measured, so you lose that nice rolling insight Garmin gives you. That said, after three years with Garmin I’ve learned my own recovery cues pretty well — so I’m less reliant on the watch’s “readiness” metrics now. There are third-party apps that try to replicate Garmin’s body battery / training load data, but without continuous measurement, it’s just not the same. # 🍏 Ecosystem & Everyday Use This is where the Ultra wins easily. * The UI is smooth and snappy. * Being able to respond to messages and notifications without my phone is huge. * Integration with the rest of Apple’s ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, AirPods) is seamless. If you’re already deep into Apple’s world, the watch feels like an extension of your digital life. # 🆚 Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Garmin is still **the better athlete’s watch**, no question — especially for long-distance runners or anyone training for ultras. Battery life, GPS tracking, and data depth are all superior. This is why I will still keep my garmin - for any 50k+ mountain runs. I am just not this kind of guy who would turn all the settings off, making the watch essentially pointless (I like looking up metrics during run a lot). But if you’re like me — training \~20 hours a week (which is still only about 18% of my waking time) — the other 82% of your life is where the Apple Watch shines. For everything outside pure training, the Ultra 3 is just **a better all-around smartwatch**.

Thanks for the input on this - makes me wonder whether I have a faulty model :) But again - works quite well when I don't move a lot.

I love Apple and Garmin products, and I’ve been waiting for the Ultra 3 release to replace my Apple Watch Series 9. Here’s where my AWS9 falls short for me: camping and hiking because of battery, maps and navigation while biking and hiking, and the dynamic running workout suggestions that Garmin has. I can get Fenix 8 Solar for $880 through a discount with my health insurance which makes it comparable to AWU3. Things I like about Fenix 8 Solar: maps, battery, daily suggested workout, Garmin coach, MIP screen doesn’t look like a mini phone on my wrist. Things I like about AWU3: being reachable by my wife and kids while running and cycling, running errands sans phone, love the design, my watch bands will fit, my Apple Music subscription works, etc. I feel like the AWU3 fits my actual day to day better than the Fenix; although, when I do make it out for that couple times a year backpacking trip, Fenix is the clear winner. But on the day to day I mostly am tracking running and weightlifting. And a weekend gravel bike ride. Anybody have both?

> Satellite SOS are pretty big sellers for me. This is what I want it for. I drive in a lot of areas where cellphone service does not exist and I need the ability to contact someone if shit goes down. Got the U1 now but I am moving to the U3 because of this.

I took the same path, to take advantage of the connected functions of the Apple Watch and a better silent morning alarm. I miss Garmin's running features, including routable dynamic mapping (WOD makes up for it a bit) and Garmin Coach. Runna is less good (much less adaptive) but it gets the job done. For everyday functions, I am happy with my new AWU3 even if I still have the reflex to blindly look for my button to turn on the LED lamp :)

I received the AWU3 and I remain in doubt. For running it is very inferior. Runna is okay but it’s an additional subscription. I expect from the AWU a better silent morning alarm and perhaps help to better organize my days with Structured for example.

The Apple Watch is the choice of compromise between daily life and running. I find it very inferior to the Garmins for running and hiking, but it is still acceptable considering the advantages for everything else.

This. I’m going on my third day without charging. This means less battery cycles and longer life of device.

I have both AWU 3 and Garmin 970 I switch between watches depending on what’s happening. I sometimes just wear both 😙

I have full sleeves, and my Apple Watch works fine

I just switched to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 from the fenix 8. I use an app called WorkOutDoors. That was a one time purchase of nine dollars totally worth it. It does off-line maps and everything. Lots of good data in there. I guess what drove me away from the Garmin line is it’s just so clunky. The Apple Watch is extremely smooth. The other thing I like is when I’m jogging I can use my AirPods with it and stream, Spotify or Apple Music. That’s just me overall. It’s been a pleasant experience. I’m getting about 70 hours of battery life, which is plenty for me.

My Apple Watch Ultra is outstanding for pool swimming. If you’re doing freestyle laps or kickboard it’s dead accurate, unlike Garmin. To be fair, my Garmin was pretty good, but was very sensitive to adding extra laps if I moved my arm too much at the end of an interval. And the Garmin has Drill Mode so if you’re really neurotic about capturing your non-kickboard drills, it’s better for that. Apple Watch never captures side kick, 6-kick-switch, fist drill, etc. I think I’m going to upgrade to AWU3, as I’m also a trail runner and hiker who spends a ton of time in the mountains. The satellite/SOS is kind of a big deal for my use case.

Dude it’s so easy to mange notifications on iOS. You have incredibly fine-grained controls over every single app. You have focus modes. You have Do Not Disturb. Get a whole other watch if you want. But if you’re happy with the AWU as a fitness tracker and can live with the battery life, just stay with it. I will say that you’re likely not managing your watch properly if it’s dying after a 14 mile run. My AWU has plenty of battery left after 50 mile runs.

I had it in Low Power Mode, starting at 85% and ending at 70%. Pretty happy with that! Total distance was almost dead on with my bike computer. At that rate, it would last about 22 hours, which is awesome for me as I am planning on running a bunch of ultras this year.

You're asking the wrong man, haha. I went AWU1 > AWU2 > (skipped AWU2b) > AWU3. The upgrade from AWU1 to 2 was definitely unnecessary, but I got it at a discount, and on-device Siri was actually a nice upgrade for me because I often dictate texts while riding my road bike. Small thing, and not completely necessary, but I appreciated it. I got the AWU3 because I go trail running a few times a month in areas with no cell coverage. I've had a few nasty falls and having satellite SOS on the watch is huge for piece of mind. I was waiting to see what the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro would offer, and that would have been a good option too. But holy shit it's $1,299 and the implementation is somewhat worse imo.

I just had a revelation about apps like Bevel and HealthFit; they only allow you to view wellness and training metrics up to a year back. This has absolutely eliminated my ability to use them for wellness and training trackers. I want to be able to look into the past, like 2, 3, 5 years ago and see how my body responded to illness or training builds or races or life events. For me, intervals.icu or Garmin Connect are the only options. This might not affect you at all, but it’s something to consider. Bevel can never be the “app/service of record” for me because historical data is constantly vanishing into the past. Garmin Connect and intervals.icu keep all training and wellness info forever. The latter is much nicer, and works with both Apple Watch and Garmin, so that’s nice. Anyway, long rant. I’ve used a Fenix/Epix and an AWU combo since 2022. The AWU is a great daily watch, but it’s honestly kind of a bummer for high volume endurance training. Battery life is good, 36-48+ hours when it’s new, but my 2-year-old AWU2 has actually managed to die in less than 18 hours on two occasions: once during a ski trip and once at the beach when I was using it in bright sunlight all day. Even after the Garmin loses 50% of its battery health in like 5 years, it will still last over a week. And if I use it at the beach or on the ski slopes all day, the battery drains *less!* Garmin does everything for you, for free, by default. Want to take up rock climbing? It’ll track your climbs, allow you to log tick types, falls, etc. On Apple Watch you’ll need to find a 3rd party app for that. People complain about Garmin sleep tracking but honestly it works great for me. Tracks quite closely to Bevel’s scores, fwiw. In fact, if you let Garmin write sleep into Apple Health and let Bevel score the sleep, the scores will be essentially identical. Bevel is a rather shameless ripoff of Whoop and Garmin, right down to the color schemes for endurance metrics. My vote? Go Garmin. The watch will last longer in both senses of the word, help guide your recovery and training if you want, and store all your wellness and training data for free, forever. The Garmin Connect+ features are lame for now and not worth it. But the base product is excellent. Oh, and the LED flashlight rules.

Last Sunday I did a 3h20m ride with AWU3 and was impressed with the battery life. Today it was time to take WorkOutDoors out into the trails and see how the watch fared. I’m quite impressed, actually! The watch used 18% of its charge in 2h10m active time with WOD and AOD. The last 9 miles were without my phone with cellular active. That part surprised me the most: I’ve done activities in areas with terrible LTE coverage (like this one) with my AWU1 and it destroyed the battery. Normally when I do these runs I activate Airplane Mode on the watch, which works well as I can simply toggle it back on if I need data or messaging. I’ll give that a go next time. So far, quite happy with AWU3 and it’s even more likely I’ll be selling the Fenix 8. Happy to answer any questions! (Here’s the [post about the bike ride](https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/1nnl22s/first_day_with_the_apple_watch_ultra_3/), if you’re curious.)

If I were following a route in WOD and had LPM activated, I would count on it to last 12-14 hours for sure. This was true of my AWU2 on an ultra I did earlier this year. I had a few more settings disabled for optimization: Listen for Siri, Airplane Mode on, etc. With the AWU3 at 100% battery health? I don't think I would be surprised if it made it to 17 hours or more, which is a massive improvement. It might even do more! The [Apple Support page](https://www.apple.com/watch/battery/) says: >Up to 20 hours outdoor workout using Low Power Mode, cellular, and full GPS and heart rate readings This is fairly bananas, actually. If I enable LPM and disable cellular (and probably also use Airplane Mode), then the AWU3 might actually be able to do a full 100 miler with the native Workouts app (24-26 hours for me). Not that I would count on it without a lot more testing.

This is going to sound complicated, but it's just a small amount of setup and then easy from there. The best way is to use WorkOutDoors. With WOD, you can configure button combinations as Shortcut Gestures. Here are mine: 1. Crown + Side Button: End Workout 2. Action Button: New Interval 3. Action + Side Button: Pause/Resume Additionally, I have Rotate Crown Up set to Next Screen and Rotate Crown Down set to Previous Screen regardless of whether a map is visible. **This is different from the default settings**, as by default crown rotation zooms the map in or out on any map page. This way, I can do all essential commands with the physical interfaces on the watch. Now, when you start a new workout, tap the screen four times to engage the WOD Screen Lock. This is different from the OS-wide Water Lock, which disables pressing the Digital Crown (can't switch apps) and the Side Button (can't view Control Center). You also can't activate Siri with the Digital Crown, only with a wake word (if you have that enabled) So, now I'm running along in my ultra. It's mile 55 and I'm covered in sweat and mud and all the various things I eat and slather onto my body. Ultras are gross. There's no way I'm going to be able to use the touchscreen interface * I can make a new interval if I want * I can pause and resume * If I want a different data screen, I scroll with the Digital Crown * At any point, I can use the Side Button to mess with LTE settings or try to use the flashlight or whatever. I can navigate to the Home Screen to check weather conditions. When I make it to the end, I use my final button combo to end the run. Hooray! Again, I know this sounds like a lot but it's not too bad. If you don't want to use WOD, you can honestly do most of that in the native workouts app and just rely on Siri to end the workout at the end. I.e. activate Siri with Digital Crown, say to end the workout, and it's fine."

I usually ride with a bike computer, and just run the native workouts app in parallel on the watch.