Apple has released new versions of the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3. I've previously recommended the Apple Watch line as a helpful tool for cyclists in training. Let's take a look at what the new Watch line does, and doesn't include, and whether cyclists should consider them.
Apple Watch Series 11 for cyclists
You can think of the Series 11 as the "standard" Apple Watch line, not luxury, not entry-level. Notably, it's the same chip as the previous Series 10 watch, but with the addition of 5G.
MacRumors calls the change from the Series 10 to the Series 11 "perhaps the smallest generational upgrade in the device's history", reflecting a product that includes incremental, rather than revolutionary changes. With Watch Series 11, as a result you're getting primarily the same feature set as the previous Series 10, with these notable changes:
- 5G connectivity. While watches don't need huge bandwidth this could improve coverage and reduce latency.
- a display that's more scratch resistant, nice for active use
- marginally improved battery life. The Watch Series 11 should last about one day for regular use including a workout, but you're going to need to charge daily, and may need to time charging to coincide with your riding plans. Fortunately charging is pretty quick (charging while showering and dressing will work for most users)
- Updated sleep score metrics
- Workout Buddy - monitors your effort, pace, heart rate, and provides "motivation" via a spoken AI agent via your Bluetooth headphones.
As with previous models, the Series 11 Watch comes in Wi-Fi only and cellular models. While cellular is more expensive and requires a monthly plan with your mobile provider, clearly the cellular version of the Watch 11 is the way to go for cyclists, offering an additional measure of safety and convenience without carrying a mobile phone - just make sure you're charged up before departing on your workout to ensure that the limited battery life will be enough.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 for cyclists
The Ultra Apple Watch has incredible features for cyclists, save for one drawback - it's quite expensive. The "Ultra" line sells for roughly double the standard line. While it's ideal for athletes and backcountry explorers, riders must think carefully about whether the features and capabilities justify the expense.
Here are some of the key features of the new Ultra 3:
- satellite connectivity - users are able to send text messages to contacts, and most importantly emergency services, even when away from cellular or Wi-Fi connections.
- the longest battery life of any Apple Watch, Ultra 3 is ideal for triathletes, adventure riders, and may even accommodate overnight usage without charging with careful battery management
- Ultra 3 has the largest screen, ideal for cyclists and runners who want to quickly glance at their wrist for stats
- There's also an updated "Find My" feature that sends your location to contacts every 15 minutes, using the satellite feature.
- Improved sleep tracking and scoring
- Workout Buddy, as previously mentioned
Downsides? The Ultra 3 is a very expensive device (starting price is $799), and although the watch includes 2 years of satellite service, users will have to pay up afterward. That said, these features might be worth it for cyclists who are frequently off-grid. It's worth nothing all Ultra 3 watches are cellular, there is no Wi-Fi only model - but you don't have to activate the cellular part unless you want to.
Apple Watch SE 3 for cyclists
"SE" is the budget or value line of the Apple Watch. Despite this, the SE 3 is still full-featured - it just lags behind a bit on the timeline, i.e. SE 3 features are similar to the flagship line from a few years ago, including:
- Like the other new devices, the SE 3 picks up optional 5G connectivity, or riders who want to continue to carry a mobile phone everywhere can opt for a cheaper Wi-Fi only model that still has the vary fitness and workout tracking tools
- Updated sleep score metrics could be useful for athletes in training
- Workout Buddy
So what are you missing choosing the SE 3 for cycling instead of the more advanced Series 11 or Ultra 3 watches?
- Battery life is slightly lower (more like the old Watch 10) than the Series 11 watch, and significantly lower than the Ultra 3
- Lacks ECG, blood oxygen, and hypertension monitoring features
- Smaller, dimmer display compared with the Series 11 model
Cellular features
Cellular versions of the Apple Watch allow some basic connectivity like phone calls and text messaging while you're away from WiFi and away from you mobile phone. This allows cyclists who would otherwise carry a mobile phone on rides to leave the phone at home, relying only on the Watch for safety purposes.
- On the Series 11 and SE 3, the cellular feature is optional and costs extra - you need both a more expensive compatible watch as well as a monthly cellular plan
- The Ultra, in contrast, all have cellular inside, there is no non-cellular model (you don't have to activate a monthly plan if you don't want to)
Apple Watch for bicycle racing and training
For serious athletes, the Apple Watch won't replace a handlebar GPS cycle computer like a Garmin, Wahoo, or Hammerhead, due to significantly less battery life and missing features.
However, an Apple Watch is still ideal for some cyclists for two key reasons:
- Cyclocross riders can use Apple Watch for tracking time, distance, heart rater, and power during racing and training sessions, which are short and intense. A wrist-worn watch is common in elite cyclocross, because riders often switch between multiple bikes, with no time to change out a handlebar-mounted GPS.
- As a safety complement. Cellular versions of the Apple Watch allow cyclists to leave heavy, bulky and easily damaged mobile phones at home while using a Garmin or Wahoo for metric tracking.
Note the key limitations of this approach:
- While the Apple Watch can track heart rate, it does not natively broadcast your heart rate via ANT+ or Bluetooth to other devices like Garmin or Wahoo head units, without a 3rd party app. As a result, you'll still need an ANT+ compatible strap, like the Wahoo TICKR for that purpose.
Apple Watch fall detection for cyclists
Any recent model of Apple Watch includes fall detection features, with some limitations. If you crash your bike, fall detection can connect you to emergency services and/or notify a contact. The notification to your contact can include location information, subject to the limitations and capabilities of the specific Watch you're wearing.
How emergency services and/or your contact is notified can vary depending on Watch model and whether an iPhone is also present. Some iPhone 14 and later devices can use satellite connectivity for emergency purposes when cellular or WiFi is not available. If you plan to use an Apple Watch alone, without carrying a mobile phone, this might be a reason to opt for a cellular model, but note it's possible, not guaranteed for fall detection and emergency services contacts to work. You might be out of cellular range, for example, or damage the watch itself during a crash. Still, these are nice features to enable.
To use this feature, read Apple's documentation and make sure enable all the required settings, notably, "wrist detection" must be turned on, and you'll also want to have "Share During Emergency Call" enabled for Medical ID. You'll also need to explicitly enable fall detection during setup.