Apple unveils new smart watches, AirPods with built-in heart rate monitor

Apple's fall 2025 lineup goes beyond the new iPhones — including the fancy-new iPhone Air — it also includes new wearable devices, namely the new Watch Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3 — all showing Apple doubling down on health, fitness, and real-world usability.

For those of us who've seen sensors go from novelty to necessity, these devices mark a turning point. They're not merely telling time or counting steps — they want to tell you something about your heart, your sleep, your blood pressure. And that matters.

Apple Watch Series 11

The Series 11 is the new baseline for Apple's health ambitions. With its upgraded optical heart sensors, wrist temperature sensors, and more durable display (Ion-X glass with a ceramic coating that's twice as scratch-resistant), Apple wants you to wear this all day... and all night. The battery stretches to about 24 hours under typical use, just enough to make sleep tracking realistic without charging every minute. It also gains 5G cellular, which helps keep you connected even when your iPhone is elsewhere.

What stands out is the new "hypertension notifications" feature. By observing how your blood vessels respond to heartbeats over 30 days via the optical sensor, the watch can alert you to signs of chronic high blood pressure. Pair that with the new Sleep Score (which tracks stages, awakenings, consistency), ECG, and irregular rhythm detection, and this watch starts to feel less like a convenience and more like a guard watching over your wellbeing.

Apple Watch SE 3

SE 3 is the "health features for more people" model. It borrows from its more expensive siblings: an Always-On display so you don't have to raise your wrist just to check your vitals, a temperature sensor, faster charging so you can slip in a quick boost before bed, and tougher glass. The battery lasts about 18 hours, which isn't game-changing, but acceptable for its price range.

On the health front, SE 3 adds Sleep Score, sleep apnea notifications, and retrospective ovulation estimates. So if you care about your sleep or menstrual cycle, you get a lot more data without needing the top-tier model. SE 3 doesn't include all sensors of Series 11 or Ultra 3 (for example, more advanced GPS, or possibly the same blood-oxygen sampling fidelity), but for many users, the trade-offs feel fair.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

If you live outdoors or push your body hard, Ultra 3 is the big tool. The screen is larger than before (thanks to thinner bezels), visibility is improved with wide-angle OLEDs, and the Always-On mode can refresh every second thanks to LTPO3. Battery life jumps to about 42 hours in normal use, and up to 72 hours in low-power mode. That kind of endurance means you can go on long hikes or multi-day adventures without dragging a charger everywhere. Satellite communications and upgraded GPS help when you're off the grid.

Health features for Ultra 3 include all the new stuff: hypertension alerts, sleep score (tracking respiratory rate, blood oxygen, wrist temperature, etc.), heart rate notifications (too high, too low, irregular). And there's a new feature called Workout Buddy — an audible coach powered by Apple Intelligence — to give you prompts or motivation during workouts. For athletes, that could be the difference between training smart & overdoing it.

AirPods Pro 3

Surprisingly, health isn't just on the wrist anymore — it reaches into your ears. AirPods Pro 3 introduce a custom heart rate sensor (shines invisible infrared light, pulses 256×/sec) so when you're working out, the buds themselves can track heart rate, calories burned, Move ring progress — all without needing the watch to fill in every detail. They have improved Active Noise Cancellation, IP57 sweat & water resistance, and a better fit (five ear tip sizes, foam-infused tips) so the app sensor data is more reliable.

They also enable real-time workout metrics on screen if you're using Fitness+, giving you motivation and context in the moment. For many, that might lessen the dependence on a smartwatch during certain workouts. A clever move.

Why does it matter?

Because health is no longer secondary. These devices are closing the gap between casual wellness tracking and something more serious, more actionable.

For one, detecting hypertension early could save lives. High blood pressure often shows no symptoms until damage accumulates. A wearable that can gently warn you about trends (even before you visit a doctor) is a big leap. The FDA clearance for the hypertension notification feature adds credence — these are not just experimental decorations.

Sleep matters too. We know that bad sleep affects mood, cognition, recovery from exercise, and even long-term health, such as cardiovascular disease. By improving how sleep is tracked (not just how long, but stages, breathing, awakenings, consistency), Apple makes it more useful. And battery improvements make it possible to wear overnight without constantly recharging.

Then there's access. SE 3 brings many of these insights at a lower price. AirPods Pro 3 giving heart rate tracking in the ears means another tool in the toolbox. This widens who can participate in this kind of health data feedback — not just those with top-tier gear.

Also, the push for safety. Ultra 3's satellite messaging, emergency features, more durable build — these aren't flashy; they matter if you're far from help or pushing beyond comfort zones.

Finally, the integration: sensors, algorithms, UX (garments, displays, cues), and regulatory oversight. Apple isn't just piling on features — they're trying to make them useful, credible, and woven into daily life.

The context

It helps to see what Apple is reacting to, and where else the field is going.

Wearables have shifted in the past few years from counting steps to trying to predict illness, manage chronic conditions, and give early warnings. Competitors like Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, and Whoop have introduced features such as blood oxygen, sleep staging, and resting heart rate variability. Apple's always been in that race; this year, they (yet again) appear ready to lead.

Battery life has long been a sticking point. A watch that dies before sleep tracking or a multi-day hike is less useful. Ultra 3's 42/72 hour range, SE 3's fast charge, Series 11's increased durability — these are attempts to fix friction, make sensors more reliable by being worn more often.

Regulatory trust is a big deal. Health claims without oversight invite skepticism. When you have FDA clearance (or equivalent), credible algorithms, transparency about what is being measured versus what is inferred, then users, and potentially even clinicians, can take data more seriously.

There are limitations though. Optical sensors are good, but not perfect: motion, skin tone, fit, hydration, ambient temperature — all influence readings. Predicting hypertension is not the same as diagnosing hypertension. Users must still see doctors; wearables augment but do not replace clinical care. And many features are only helpful if people actually wear the devices consistently, charge them reliably, accept notifications, and act on them.

In the broader landscape, this is Apple hedging toward preventive health. Society's costs of chronic disease, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease are rising. People want tools — not just numbers — to help them live healthier lives. Apple's moves align with that demand.