Budget Apple Watch Ultra–style smartwatches are more popular than ever, and two models dominate the discussion right now: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 and HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2.
Both promise premium design, AMOLED displays, smooth UI, always-on display support, and advanced smart features — all at a fraction of the cost of the Apple Watch Ultra.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ll break down design, display quality, UI smoothness, watch faces, storage, apps, battery life, and real-world usability to help you decide which smartwatch is the better option for your needs.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Design, Body Type & Accessories
- Display Type, Size & Colours
- Always-On Display Performance
- OS26 UI & Smoothness
- Watch Faces & Customization
- Screen Timeout & Display Behavior
- Health Sensors Overview
- Local Storage & Media Support
- Network Sharing & Smart Apps
- NFC Capabilities
- Utility Applications
- Battery Capacity & Battery Life
- Final Verdict
Introduction
The DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 and HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 both take heavy inspiration from Apple’s Ultra lineup, offering rugged design, large displays, and feature-rich software. While they look similar on the surface, the real differences appear in display behavior, always-on brightness, storage capacity, battery life, and overall usability.
This comparison focuses on real-world usage rather than just specs, helping you choose the watch that best fits your priorities.
Design, Body Type & Accessories
Both smartwatches feature a 49 mm case size, closely matching the Apple Watch Ultra dimensions. Build quality feels solid on both, and they look premium for their price category.
- Rugged Apple Watch Ultra–inspired design
- Compatible with Apple Watch Ultra cases
- Compatible with Apple Watch straps and strap tools
Crown & Button Design
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 is widely appreciated for its clean and modern crown design.
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 is often criticized for its crown key, which hasn’t changed across multiple generations. While functional, it feels slightly outdated.
Design Verdict: Tie, with a slight edge to DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26.
Display Type, Size & Colours
Both watches use an AMOLED display, offering deep blacks, vibrant colours, and excellent contrast.
Display Smoothness
The HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 stands out for UI smoothness. HK models are known for fluid animations, and this watch continues that tradition.
The DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 is also smooth and polished, though slightly behind HK11 in animation fluidity.
Display Size & Bezels
- DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26: Larger display, thinner bezels
- HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2: Smaller display, thicker bezels
Display Size Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
Smoothness Winner: HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
Always-On Display Performance
This is one of the biggest differences between the two smartwatches.
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
- Brighter always-on display
- Clearly visible indoors
- Better AOD readability overall
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
- Always-on display is noticeably dim
- Sometimes difficult to see in room lighting
AOD Winner: HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
OS26 UI, Smoothness & Navigation
Both watches run an OS inspired by Apple’s latest watchOS design language, commonly referred to as OS26 UI.
- Smooth app icons
- Fast widget scrolling
- Liquid-glass style control center
The notification center is cleaner and more refined on the HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2, while the DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 still performs very well.
UI Experience Winner: HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
Watch Faces & Customization
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
- 8 built-in watch faces
- Each face has its own always-on display
- Colour change requires tap-and-hold (prevents accidental changes)
- Global version: 6 downloadable faces
- Chinese version: 10 downloadable faces
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
- Large number of built-in watch faces
- Offline dial market on the watch
- Dynamic animated watch faces
- Custom AOD available only on first 15 faces
Watch Face Variety Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
AOD Customization Winner: HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
Screen Timeout & Display Behavior
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
- 20-second timeout that behaves like AOD
- Display can stay on until battery drains
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
- Screen-on time up to 30 seconds
- Constant light mode up to 20 minutes
Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
Health Sensors Overview
Both smartwatches include a pedometer and blood oxygen (SpO₂) monitoring. Performance is comparable for casual health tracking, and both are suitable for everyday use rather than medical purposes.
Local Storage & Media Support
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2
- Very limited internal storage
- Slow file transfer via app
- 10–15 songs (Global), 30–35 songs (Chinese)
- Supports music, 6 images, audio recording, e-books
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
- Real 4 GB internal storage
- Fast transfer via OTG and magnetic cable
- Supports music, images, long audio recordings
- Supports video playback (AVI format)
Storage Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
Network Sharing & Smart Apps
DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 includes Google Maps, WhatsApp, and a translator, making it more practical for daily use.
HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 focuses on AI apps, game market, and additional utilities, though some features require network sharing.
NFC Capabilities
- NFC door unlocking
- NFC shortcuts
Neither smartwatch supports NFC payments.
Utility Applications
- Timers: DT keeps vibrating until stopped; HK11 vibrates once
- Stopwatch: DT can run in background; HK11 resets on exit
- Alarms: Both are loud; DT is slightly louder
- Weather: HK11 is slightly more accurate
- Calculator: Percentage calculations are inaccurate on both
Battery Capacity & Battery Life
- DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26: 400 mAh
- HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2: 270 mAh
With Always-On Display Enabled:
- DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26: 3–4 days
- HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2: 1.5–2 days
Battery Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26
Final Verdict
Choose HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 if your priority is a bright always-on display, smoother UI animations, and refined watch face design.
Choose DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 if you want significantly better battery life, massive internal storage, offline media playback, and stronger utility features.
Overall Winner: DT Ultra 4 Pro OS26 offers better value for most users, while HK11 Ultra 3 Generation 2 remains the better choice for display-focused users.
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