One thing I love about my Apple Watch Series 9 is how independent it is. I often leave my iPhone behind when heading out for my morning runs, as carrying a phone while exercising can slow me down. Even without cellular, I can still listen to downloaded music, record the workout, view real-time metrics, and pay for water on my way back home. 

Even so, it’s still a far cry from my iPhone. Ever since Apple added cellular to the Apple Watch with the Series 3, the dream has been a device that lets us leave our iPhones behind for longer than a short run, but even the just-announced Series 11 doesn’t really get us any closer to that reality. But the Apple Watch Ultra 3 just might.

Putting the ‘cell’ in cellular

If you’re serious about using your Apple Watch as a basic smartphone, you’ll want all the latest and greatest connectivity features. The Apple Watch Ultra has long supported LTE cellular, but the latest generation takes it to the next level.

With the 3rd-gen model, Apple is boosting its high-end watch with 5G and satellite connectivity. So, you’ll get to load maps even faster, enjoy smoother FaceTime audio calls, and listen to radio stations without interruption. And by bringing the Emergency SOS via satellite feature to watchOS, adventurers no longer need to worry about getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, even if their iPhone is miles away.

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The Apple Watch Ultra has enough features to leave your iPhone behind for a weekend.

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Apple

However, the biggest problem with using cellular capabilities on such a tiny device is how small the battery is compared to that of an iPhone. Apple itself warns that battery life varies based on cellular coverage, and anyone who has experience with one will testify that the battery drains more quickly when connected to a cellular network.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 tackles this issue by extending the battery life. Now, you can get up to 42 hours of battery life without using Low Power Mode, a notable bump from the Ultra 2’s 36 hours. Similarly, charging it from 0 to 80 percent now takes around 45 minutes instead of an hour. So, if you’ve got limited access to power during your trip, you’ll get to store more juice in less time.

Everything you need on full display

If you’re avoiding using your iPhone, you’ll want a watch with a large screen that can stand out in all conditions. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 maintains its 49mm design but stretches the display a bit. More importantly, it switches from an LTPO2 OLED panel to an LTPO3 wide-angle OLED one with 3,000 nits of brightness. This contributes to a superior viewing experience at an angle or in direct sunlight and makes the display more energy efficient. You still probably won’t be watching too many videos on the tiny screen, but a little more screen makes a big difference—especially without increasing the size of the watch.

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The Apple Watch Ultra isn’t just for athletes.

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Apple

While setting up an Apple Watch still requires an iPhone, the smartwatch can operate independently beyond that point. So, even if you’ve left your iPhone behind, you can still connect to 5G or Wi-Fi networks, download watchOS apps, stream music, audiobooks, and podcasts, communicate with others, use Apple Pay, collect health data, etc. In fact, you can have a family member set up your Apple Watch using their iPhone if you don’t have one.

As in the old iPhone and iPad days, I can see the company eventually letting users set up Apple Watches without a companion device. At this point, there seemingly aren’t any technological challenges barring Apple from completely untethering the smartwatch and letting it operate as a fully standalone device—setup and all. Such a move could boost Apple Watch sales by luring interested Android users—and maybe even turn them into iPhone switchers.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3, like the iPhone 17, starts at $799 with 5G connectivity standard. While the wearable isn’t as capable as the flagship phone, it can perform many of its main actions.  

If someone is truly looking to disconnect from social media and doesn’t care about snapping photos with a mobile device, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 can realistically double as a basic phone, even if they aren’t an extreme athlete. And it will likely get more practical in the coming years, as Apple continues to boost the accessory with hardware and software upgrades.