Apple's September 2025 keynote happened on 9 September (depending on which time zone you're in), and in addition to some impressive updates to iPhone, we also learned what's coming for Apple Watch and Airpods.
Echoing broader trends across the zeitgeist, Apple Watch is zeroing in on wellness, with updates to health tracking metrics following on from the sleep apnoea update we received earlier in 2025.
AirPods see a new research-backed design, Live Translation and better sweat and rain resistance so you can wear them while exercising without worrying.
Here's exactly what's been updated and what's changing.
Apple Watch Series 11: the wearable for everyone got tougher and better at managing your health
A similar look, but a friendlier footprint
The Series 11 looks and feels similar to the Series 10 with either an aluminium or titanium case option. However, both the titanium and aluminium models for Series 11 are nicer to the earth, being made up of 40 per cent recycled content in total. That includes 100 per cent recycled cobalt in the battery, 100 per cent recycled titanium and aluminium in the case, and the titanium models in particular use half the raw material they used to so it goes even further.
Longer battery life for all-day and all-night tracking
You'll get 24 hours of battery life (up from 18 hours on the Watch Series 10), designed for around-the-clock health monitoring. From your morning commute, lunchtime Pilates, evening activities right through to tracking your sleep through to the next morning.
Shower-length fast charging
You get the most out of it by wearing it, so taking it off to charge it is a bit of a drag. Thankfully, it recharges even faster now. Just 15 minutes on the fast-charger gets you eight extra hours of battery life. Great if you just need to throw it on the power while you shower.
Even tougher, so it can stand up to life
It will still feature the tough Ion-X glass we saw on the Aluminium-cased Series 10, but now it's even tougher. Aluminium models will now feature Ion-X glass that Apple says is twice as scratch-resistant. Titanium model glass is unchanged, kept secure by the already very scratch- and crack-resistant Sapphire Front Crystal.
More actionable data on your sleep with Sleep Score
The Watch collects a tonne of data from you whenever it's on your wrist, but Apple has been working furiously recently to try and turn it into actionable insights. The latest foray is to summarise your sleep data not so much into hours slept versus awake but to give you a Sleep Score out of 100. It pulls it together by looking at your heart rate, wrist temp, blood oxygen levels and how long you spent in the land of nod. It still features the same sleep apnoea features that were recently introduced into Australia.
A better Workout app
The Workout app is arguably the cornerstone of the Watch experience and now it's getting smarter with "Workout Buddy": an AI trainer that's powered by Apple Intelligence. It uses your data and history to deliver personalised motivation and other info throughout your workout. That is provided an Apple Intelligence-supported device is nearby, it doesn't seem to work standalone.
Apple Intelligence and Workout Buddy can also automatically kick off podcasts or music playlists based on your workouts
Elsewhere, you get more granular access to how you're working out. Runners for example get Pacer, Race Route views on the Watch while training, others get new and different data on their quick-glance Workout Views and new custom workouts that you can program yourself on your phone.
Apple Watch SE: everything you need, nothing you don't
New Always-On Display
Watch Series 10 from last year and the Apple Watch Ultra family always keep their displays on so you can keep an eye on the right info even without raising your wrist. Now the SE 3 has Always On Display as well.
It's built tougher
The SE 3 now features the same Ion-X glass that's on the Apple Watch Series 11 aluminium models. Apple says the SE 3 as a result is now 4x more resistant to cracks than the SE 2.
Faster charging
Need to get some quick juice before you start your day or track your sleep? Fast charging on the SE 3 means you get eight hours of life out of 15 minutes on the charger. 45 minutes on the charger will send it up to around 80 per cent. Battery life is unchanged at 18 hours.
New S10 chip
The S10 chip powers the previous generation Apple Watch – Series 10 – as well as the current Series 11. Now it's featured in the Apple Watch SE 3, as opposed to the old S8 chip that was in the previous SE 2 model.
This new chip brings improvements thanks to the added smarts of the S10 processor. Siri asks are now processed on the device rather than having to be beamed out to the cloud to figure out what you asked for. Gesture-based control – introduced on the Apple Watch Series 10 – is now supported.
And of course, the added power makes it faster to use.
A new mode specifically for your kids
It's called Apple Watch For Your Kids and it's designed to turn the Watch into a standalone device that doesn't need a dedicated iPhone to be set up. A parent or carer can just set it up via their device and they're away. That way you don't have to get your child an iPhone if you (or they) want a wearable device.
It's designed for added peace of mind for parents, allowing them to access Find My to keep track of little ones when they're out and about. There are also safety features for kids, like Emergency SOS that allows them to ping an emergency contact or even 000 when they're in strife.
The kids mode allows for Health and Workout features to be enabled, and gives them services like Siri, Maps and Alarms.
While Apple Watch For Your Kids is supported on the Series 11 as well as on this model, the SE is more accessible.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: ultra by name, ultra by nature
When the Ultra 3 first came out it was quite literally designed to be able to summit Mount Everest with you. Now, two generations later, it seems tough can get tougher.
Design: bigger screen, slightly slimmer design, sits lower on the wrist
The previous display was 48mm. It's now 50mm. Despite a bigger, better, brighter screen, longer-lasting battery, new processor (S10 like the above Watches) and satellite communications, it actually sits lower on the wrist than the Ultra 1 and 2. It's a change that makes the Ultra feel more nimble for daily use, despite screen and tech improvements.
It's built from same grade 5 titanium as Watch Ultra 2. The new design makes the Ultra mMore viewable from different angles thanks to a new screen: LTPO3, a type of OLED.
42 hours of battery life
Up from 32 hours of "normal use" on Ultra 2, Ultra 3 now has 42 hours rated.
Long battery life is a nice-to-have Apple Watch, but it's an essential on the Ultra models. These watches are designed for extreme sports and hobbies like remote hiking and mountaineering. If you get into strife during these activities, it's important to have the gear you need so emergency crews can find you.
Satellite communications
Speaking of getting help in an emergency, the Ultra 3 now has two-way communication with literal satellites in space to support you when you can't get cellular or Wi-Fi coverage anywhere. Such as on top of Everest, for example. You can use it to send a text to emergency services as well as your location when in line-of-sight of a satellite.
Sleep Score, plus more advanced fitness tracking for serious athletes
Sleep Score and Workout Buddy from Series 11 are here, but they've been tailored for advanced athletes. The larger watch allows for more sensors and therefore enhanced tracking.
Apple is promising runners the "most accurate GPS in a sports watch". Swimmers get more accurate stroke detection and a SWOLF score; a swimming metric that measures a swimmer's efficiency by adding the time it takes to swim a length of the pool to the number of strokes used to swim that length, according to Google. This actually doubles as a tool for golfers. There are also fringe benefits for cyclists, divers and hikers.
New bands
Trail Loop band now has reflective yarn on the edges, Ocean Band and Alpine Loop get new colours. The Ultra Hermès gets two new colours for En Mer band and a new Sub'H diving band in rubber with titanium buckle.
Pre-order and pricing
Pre-orders are open already and will be on your wrist by 19 September. Prices start at $1399.
AirPods Pro 3
AirPods 2 are widely-regarded and reviewed as some of the best, small, in-ear noise-cancelling headphones on the market. There's a reason it makes billions every year selling them. So, how can they be improved upon? AirPods Pro 3 are here to tell you.
New design to fit in your ears better
Apple scanned over 10,000 ears to make AirPods Pro 3 fit better than the previous models. As a result of this research, AirPods themselves were made smaller. The ear tips were moved to better centre them around the body's geometry. They also now have foam built into the design so they're more comfortable.
Previously there were three sizes of interchangeable ear tips with the AirPods Pro 2, but now now there are five, including an XXS size if you've got really tiny ears.
Heart-rate tracking and sweat-resistance for your workouts and trips in the rain
AirPods Pro 3 now have IP57 sweat and water resistance so you can wear them when it's raining or when you're sweating.
New custom sensor built-into the headphones measure your heart rate via infrared. It combines that data with how the headphones move while you wear them to calculate heart rate, and calories burned, and your progress contributes to your move ring on either Watch or iPhone. Workouts can even be started via the headphones themselves. AirPods also supports Workout Buddy.
Better noise-cancellation
Apple says the noise cancellation is now 2x better than the previous models. It's thanks to Adaptive EQ, a feature that allows you to hear more of the music thanks to some clever changes to the actual architecture of the headphones. Plus, there's an improved Transparency Mode. AirPods Pro 3 understand what your voice sounds like better when you're speaking so they can automatically duck between Noise Cancellation mode and Transparency Mode when you start talking.
Live Translation
As the other person speaks, AirPods Pro 3 translates in real time. Apple currently labels this as a beta feature but it works on AirPods Pro 2 as well. Note that it only works when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 or later.
Currently supports English (UK, U.S.), French (France), German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain). Later this year, Live Translation on AirPods and in Phone and FaceTime will add language support for Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified).
Greener sound with more recycled material
AirPods Pro 3 have 40 per cent recycled material in the build, including 65 per cent recycled plastic in the case and 100 per cent recycled cobalt in the batteries. The packaging is also 100 per cent fibre-based for easier recycling.
Pricing and release date
Starting at $429, pre-orders are already open and these can be in your ears by Friday 19 September.
