Technologies

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 Could See Its Biggest Upgrade Yet

Clues in the iOS 26 public beta point to a larger display, expanded emergency features, and a few more surprises for Apple’s rugged smartwatch.

With Apple’s September 9 event officially in the books and rumors about its fall lineup gaining traction, the biggest clue yet about the new Apple Watches comes straight from the source. The notoriously secretive company may have tipped its hand regarding a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 in the public beta of iOS 26 (first spotted by MacRumors), where imagery reveals new screen specs that don’t match any current Apple Watch model on the market.

While Apple has yet to confirm the existence of the watch (and likely won’t until the event), the Ultra 3’s absence at last year’s launch along with its two-year upgrade cadence, make 2025 a prime candidate for its debut. Here’s everything we’re expecting for the Ultra 3 at Apple’s September event based on the latest reports, leaks and usual upgrade patterns.

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Apple Watch Ultra 3 design and display

If the leaked iOS 26 imagery holds true, the Ultra 3 will feature a slightly larger screen with a 422×514-pixel resolution (up from the Ultra 2’s 410×502 pixels). In keeping with Apple’s tradition of maximizing screen real estate without adding bulk to the already giant Ultra, the upgraded screen size wouldn’t increase the actual footprint and could be achieved by reducing the bezel size.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 performance

The Ultra is due for a performance bump to at least keep up with the S10 chip on the current Series 10 (the Ultra 2 runs on the S9 chip). The more likely scenario is that both the Ultra 3 and Series 11 get a new S11 chip that would typically bring faster performance and greater efficiency. The bump up in processing power could support new features such as enhanced GPS tracking, satellite connectivity, more advanced health monitoring and potentially some additional Apple Intelligence integrations like Workout Buddy which Apple announced in WatchOS 26 (and which I’ve started to think might be a bigger deal that it first appeared).

Apple Watch Ultra 3 satellite connectivity

One of the more intriguing Ultra 3 rumors comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has reported that Apple is exploring satellite connectivity for the next Apple Watch Ultra model. This would enable emergency messaging and location sharing even in areas without cellular coverage.

If implemented, it could build on the Apple Watch’s existing lineup of potentially life-saving features like emergency SOS, fall detection and car crash detection to outdoor enthusiasts going off the grid or even people who live in remote areas.

Gurman’s report also suggests the Ultra may gain 5G connectivity, a step up from its current LTE-only support.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 health and fitness

Several rumored health upgrades for the Series 11 could also make their way to the Ultra 3, the most anticipated being blood pressure tracking. According to Gurman, Apple is already testing the feature, though accuracy challenges could delay a public release this year.

Blood glucose monitoring is another long-rumored addition, but it’s expected to be even further out than blood pressure tracking, making it highly unlikely for 2025.

In another Bloomberg report, Gurman says Apple is developing a broader AI health initiative, code-named «Project Mulberry,» aimed at bringing personalized health and fitness insights to the Apple Watch. This would build on Apple’s recently announced AI powered Workout Buddy which delivers personalized motivation for certain workouts with Watch OS 26. The Ultra’s durability and long battery life could make it an ideal platform for round-the-clock training guidance, though based on current rumors, the rollout may be better aligned with a 2026 release.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 battery life

The Ultra already boasts the longest battery life of any Apple device (save for the Airtag of course), with up to two full days or 72 hours in low-power mode. While there are no concrete leaks about changes in battery capacity, pairing an S11 chip with a more efficient display could result in significant gains — potentially approaching three days or up to four days in low-power mode. The faster charging Apple introduced with the Series 10 could also make its way to the Ultra line, reducing the amount of time the watch spends off your wrist.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 price and release date

Barring unexpected price hikes from tariffs or component costs, the Ultra 3 is expected to keep the same $799 starting price as the Ultra 2.

Apple typically unveils its new watches at the same event as the iPhone, which this year is expected in early September (date not yet announced). If the pattern holds, preorders should begin a few days after the keynote and arrive in stores (or at your doorstep) one to two weeks after that.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, March 15

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 15.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Today’s wasn’t terribly tough, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: On-call doctor’s device
Answer: PAGER

6A clue: Amazon virtual assistant
Answer: ALEXA

7A clue: Host of the 2026 Oscars
Answer: CONAN

8A clue: Stumped on a puzzle, say
Answer: STUCK

9A clue: Aves. and blvds.
Answer: STS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Election-influencing groups, for short
Answer: PACS

2D clue: Quite a few
Answer: ALOT

3D clue: The «Tyrannosaurus» of Tyrannosaurus rex
Answer: GENUS

4D clue: Right on
Answer: EXACT

5D clue: Puts in order from best to worst, maybe
Answer: RANKS

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for March 15, #1008

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for March 15, No. 1,008

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough, but the yellow category has some fun options in it. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Mine, all mine!

Green group hint: A part you might use to build something.

Blue group hint: Blended words.

Purple group hint: Not a cow, but close.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Greedily control.

Green group: Toothed wheels.

Blue group: Portmanteaux.

Purple group: Bull ____.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is greedily control. The four answers are bogart, corner, hog and monopolize.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is toothed wheels. The four answers are cog, gear, pinion and sprocket.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is portmanteaux. The four answers are blog, motel, smog and spork.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is bull ____. The four answers are dog, doze, frog and horn.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for March 15, #742

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for March 15, No. 742.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is fun and timely, relating to a certain big ceremony held this weekend. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Best of all

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: The envelope, please.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

RATE, RATED, DATE, DOTE, DATED, DOTED, GATE, GATES, TROD, TRODS

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: