Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS+Cellular) 49mm Titanium Case with Titanium Milanese Loop - Small - Black (Verizon) - (2025)

I had a terrible experience purchasing an Apple Watch from Best Buy online. On June 23, 2026, I purchased an Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Open Box – Excellent Condition). I received the package on June 26, 2026. After opening the box, I discovered that Best Buy had sent me a demo watch instead of a functional Apple Watch. A demo watch is a display unit and does not function as a normal watch. I immediately took the package to my local Best Buy store to return it and request a refund. The store manager refused to accept the return because the serial number on the watch did not match the serial number associated with the package. He advised me to contact Best Buy Customer Service. While I was still in the store, I called Customer Service and spent nearly two hours explaining that Best Buy had sent me a demo watch rather than the Apple Watch I had purchased. The store manager also spoke directly with the customer service representative and confirmed that the watch I received was a demo unit and that the store could not process the return because of the serial number mismatch. After nearly two hours, the customer service representative finally issued me a prepaid return shipping label, and I returned the watch that same day. On July 9, 2026, I received the package back from Best Buy along with an email stating that my refund request had been denied because the returned watch did not match the serial number associated with the original shipment. I contacted Best Buy Customer Service again and spoke with a manager named Inran. I explained once more that the watch I had received from Best Buy was a demo display unit and that Best Buy was refusing my refund because the serial numbers did not match—even though the mismatch resulted from Best Buy sending me the wrong item. After more than an hour of discussion, Inran told me that FedEx would pick up the returned package, which remained unopened, the following day. FedEx never arrived. When I called Customer Service again, I was informed that although Inran had submitted a request for a FedEx pickup, Best Buy headquarters had canceled the request. I then wrote to Best Buy Executive customer support and was contacted by Kanisha, an Executive Resolution Specialist. She requested the serial number of the product. I provided the serial number from the box and explained that the demo watch itself had no serial number visible. Despite this, Kanisha later emailed me stating that my refund request was denied because the serial number did not match. At this point, Best Buy continues to refuse responsibility for sending me a demo display watch instead of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 that I purchased. I am currently disputing the charge with my credit card company and have also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I am pursuing all available remedies to recover my payment for a product that Best Buy failed to deliver as advertised.

I was due for an upgrade on my watch and I thought this one would look too big but I love how it looks!

Love this watch, the features and battery life are as advertised. It is bulkier than my previous series 9, but worth it for the battery life itself. I hate the wrist band and regret paying an extra $100 for it. It is very difficult to snap it on and off and I am now wearing a 3rd party band.

Like many of its features, the Apple Watch has its drawbacks. The battery life is still terrible. For instance, on the fitness front, the Apple Watch doesn’t compare well to other fitness-focused watches. It’s primarily a tech watch, not a fitness watch, so in comparison, my Garmin, which prioritizes fitness over technology, outperforms it in battery performance in every aspect. I’m not currently in fitness mode, but I’ll be soon. I already have to charge my watch every three days. So, if I use it for anything with GPS, I’ll need to charge it daily. This means I’ll lose a lot of my metrics and health data. Where in comparison I’ve only charged my Garmin watch once every two weeks during the off-season. When my fitness season starts, I usually only need to charge it once or twice a week, depending on how much I use the GPS. However, there are times when I go on 1.5-3 hr. long rides or hikes.

Very good product. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is widely considered the most capable and feature-rich Apple Watch yet — balancing ruggedness, battery life, display quality, health & safety features, and outdoors readiness. For people who’ll use those capabilities, it’s among the best smartwatches on the market today. But for everyday or casual users, many reviews caution it can feel like “too much watch” — bulky, pricey, and potentially over-engineered for simple daily needs.