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Apple Watch Ultra 3: Everything We Know So Far
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None of these things.
More battery. AND thinner. Larger display. NO camera. NO safari. More watch faces - like - a lot more.
Though if they put safari on there, fine. I just won’t use it.
Sounds like an upgrade from Ultra 1 next year....But please Apple do away with the colour of the side button
Absolutely nothing to get excited about, unless they do a polished graphite colour, that may just push me over the edge, because of the battery life
The Apple Watch Ultra 3, likely to be announced on September 9 at Apple's "It's Glowtime" event alongside the iPhone 16, is expected to offer fewer upgrades compared to its predecessor. Keep reading to learn what the rumored changes are.
When Apple Watch Ultra 2 debuted last year, key new features included a 50% brighter display, a faster S9 chip, a "Double Tap" gesture for interacting with the watch without touching the screen, on-device Siri, and increased internal storage. Unfortunately, the next version of the device is unlikely to reach those lofty heights. Here's what the rumors say.
Display Technology
Initially, it was believed that Apple was working on an Apple Watch Ultra with a microLED display, which would provide increased brightness, better contrast, and improved battery efficiency. However, these plans appear to have been postponed indefinitely. Apple worked on microLED display technology for several years, but the project was scrapped in 2024 and there are no current plans for a microLED Apple Watch in the near future.
On the flip side, Apple is rumored to be adopting new low-energy OLED panel technology in new Apple Watch models to further reduce the power consumption of its always-on display. If that's the case, it's unlikely that Apple would use the technology in its latest Series model without also bringing it to its latest Apple Watch Ultra model.
Design
The design of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is likely to remain largely unchanged. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently said that this year's third-generation Apple Watch Ultra will have "roughly the same look as the original." He has previously suggested a totally redesigned "Apple Watch X" with a thinner case and magnetic bands is coming, but this is likely to be a different model to the Ultra, and he said it would be released "in 2024 or 2025."
Notably, this year the larger of the two standard Apple Watch casing sizes in the Apple Watch Series models, the 45mm size, is rumored to become the smallest option. An all-new 49mm casing size, matching the current Apple Watch Ultra, is expected to be introduced as the new larger option. Given that the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with bands designed for the 45mm Apple Watch Series models, it is possible that Apple Watch bands could be compatible across both Series 10 models and the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time.
New Features
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 was expected to include improved health tracking capabilities such as blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection, aligning with the rumored features of the Apple Watch Series 10 / X.
The blood pressure monitoring featuring will let users know if their blood pressure is trending upward, and will provide an option for users to note what they were doing when hypertension occurred. Specific blood pressure numbers will not be provided, though. Meanwhile, sleep apnea detection will use sleep history and breathing patterns to estimate whether someone suffers from sleep apnea, with the watch suggesting that users contact a doctor if so.
However, the development of these features has reportedly encountered significant challenges. The hypertension detection feature has proven to be insufficiently reliable during testing, raising concerns about its integration into the refreshed design, which may delay its release until the following year.
Similarly, the sleep apnea detection feature faces issues as it depends on blood oxygen saturation measurements. Currently, Apple Watches in the United States cannot measure blood oxygen saturation due to a legal dispute with Masimo. This dispute could potentially be resolved by September, or Apple might argue that the blood oxygen sensor serves purposes unrelated to blood oxygen levels. Alternatively, Apple could announce the sleep apnea detection feature and delay its release until a resolution is achieved.
Hardware Updates
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to have "almost no" new hardware upgrades compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. His phrasing would seem to suggest that the rumored blood pressure and sleep apnea detection features will be machine learning / software-based, relying on existing sensors. However, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will feature a new processor that succeeds last year's S9 chip, and that this could "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road."
Colors
Apple currently offers the Apple Watch Ultra 2, released in September 2023, in the same natural titanium color as the first-generation model. Prior to launch of the second-generation model, some rumors suggested Apple could release a new darker color option. It didn't happen.
However, we know that Apple originally designed a first-generation Apple Watch Ultra with a... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra 3: Everything We Know So Far
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A camera in a watch makes no sense from a privacy perspective.
With the first Apple Watch Ultra they offered 0% interest payments for 2 years on the Apple Card so I’m still paying mine off and have worn the heck out of it!
So wait until the 3 hits and grab a 2 to save $$$ if you don’t have an Apple Watch Ultra yet but have been eying one?
I definitely want the larger display but if we’re not getting additional sensors for hypertension detection, etc. until 2025 I’ll probably stand pat with my cellular Series 7 for another year.
In a perfect world we’d be getting an Apple Watch 10 this year with the larger display and new sensors for less than the Ultra line since I don’t primarily use the device for fitness tracking in extreme environments.
I mostly use it for light fitness tracking like walking, light running and swimming but I really like it for notifications without picking up my phone and for a way to respond to texts or take or make a call if I’ve locked my phone in the car or forgot it at home which is rare but those couple of times it’s happened it’s been nice! It’s also a nice way to ping my iPhone when I’ve set it down but can’t remember where. Again it’s rare but handy as hell when you need it. That and the tap on the wrist for reminders and when it’s time to take my meds is great as well!
I definitely want the larger display but if we’re not getting additional sensors for hypertension detection, etc. until 2025 I’ll probably stand pat with my cellular Series 7 for another year.
In a perfect world we’d be getting an Apple Watch 10 this year with the larger display and new sensors for less than the Ultra line since I don’t primarily use the device for fitness tracking in extreme environments.
I mostly use it for light fitness tracking like walking, light running and swimming but I really like it for notifications without picking up my phone and for a way to respond to texts or take or make a call if I’ve locked my phone in the car or forgot it at home which is rare but those couple of times it’s happened it’s been nice! It’s also a nice way to ping my iPhone when I’ve set it down but can’t remember where. Again it’s rare but handy as hell when you need it. That and the tap on the wrist for reminders and when it’s time to take my meds is great as well!
I already have someone at the gym ready to buy my Ultra 2 but the graphite color is the only thing to interest me. Half tempted to go back to Gshock and be done with all this.
the first Samsung product I’ve ever thought…. ‘oh that’s nice’…Samsung's rumoured 'Ultra' certainly is taking cues from the Ultra.
Honestly, I can't say I hate it given my preference to round watch faces.
Will see. Hopefully a nice spec bump to make it futureproof a full extra year over the 2. If not, probably worth picking up the 2 on discount.
Also really like the natural titanium color so hope that stays.
Also really like the natural titanium color so hope that stays.
Introducing WU3:
The biggest advancement
in any Watch Ultra Model №. Ever.
Because we at Apple, know that sometimes, the biggest advancements are the ones you can’t see.
WU3: Think Less. Imagine More.
The biggest advancement
in any Watch Ultra Model №. Ever.
Because we at Apple, know that sometimes, the biggest advancements are the ones you can’t see.
WU3: Think Less. Imagine More.
Apple should put a tiny screen into that button and have users change the color at will. /s
I don't get people being upset with minor improvements. Really, you don't need to have a new device every year. I understand people want new toys and apple is trying to comply by releasing new hardware and software every year. But to be honest, I don't think it is needed. You would be perfectly fine with older hardware and 2-3 year gap between updates. And I would argue that only tiny minority of users push their deceives to the limit. And the ones that do, probably knows that AWU is not a device for that. I would also and an exception, when tech is new and developing extremely fast, then ok, more often releases would make sense just to keep up. But now, most of the line up peaked some time ago. You do not need a mac pro in your pocket or on your wrist. Not with the software we have now. 
We need to give it 10 more years.
ps: would be fun to see apple announcing that no new products or software will be released for few years. How much would the stock dip?
We need to give it 10 more years. ps: would be fun to see apple announcing that no new products or software will be released for few years. How much would the stock dip?
People should be happy with minor improvements as it means your Apple Watch stays fairly up-to-date for much longer. I am still using a Series 5 and it is only now that it is starting to show its age and in need of replacement. You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it what model it is and this means its provided much better value for money I would say. Winner.
That’s how different people are: I like the orange as a bit of color in a portfolio, which is usually defined by a boring, subdued color palette.
