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Kuo: Apple Watch Ultra to Get 'Almost No' Hardware Upgrades This Year
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Although Apple probably need to bring out something more specialist to appeal to Garmin users rather than city folk who like the idea of adventuring, Apple should be celebrated for holding its product lines for longer.
In an ideal world mobile computing would be on a 3-5 year refresh cycle, following the games industry in allowing developers time to optimise for hardware instead of a barrage of specs.
In an ideal world mobile computing would be on a 3-5 year refresh cycle, following the games industry in allowing developers time to optimise for hardware instead of a barrage of specs.
Coasting? What more do you want/expect? New sensors/breakthrough features literally need to be invented, which takes time. Otherwise, the chips will get a bit faster, the screens will get a bit better, and communication protocols will be updated to current standards.
Some of you just don't understand how hard it is to do what Apple (and others) have been able to do for the past 40+ years and take technological progress for granted.
Will probably just keep the name Apple Watch Ultra 2 and introduce a new color alongside the standing model; with a half hour presentation about how carbon neutral and high tech the coating process is.
To not release a "new" product that is essentially unchanged
Hopefully they actually have licensed the correct IP to do those things...and aren't stealing IP as they just did on the S9 and AWU2
That's why we have free market/supply and demand, no one is forcing anyone to buy new releases.
Bring Apple Watch with telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown, as well as truly standalone not requiring any other device (I do NOT want any standard-size mobile phone) to setup and use. Then I am sold. The tiny phone in your wrist. Free your hands and mind!
I’m still on a stainless watch 5. Still does what it’s supposed to do. None of the watches need to be on anything shorter than a 2 year update cycle.
Well they killed MicroLED so what more can they do? The chips are already screaming fast and no new health sensors are ready… give it a rest.. I’d see more value in the Watch if it wasn’t updated yearly
They kept the same Apple Watch SoC with minimal changes for a few years from the S6-S8 (7nm), seems like they'll probably do the same thing with the S9 (5nm) for a few years and iterate by adding features in software and sensors. Probably the biggest upgrade to the Ultra 3 will be a black titanium version. Most software features from Ultra 3 will probably be available on Ultra 2 except for ones that require new sensors. And maybe an AI fitness coach on new iPhone hardware using new on-device AI/LLM capabilities that integrates with Watch to compete with Garmin.
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new SOC, better screens, etc is not essentially unchanged, and it is new.
newsflash, you don't need to upgrade your watch every year.
People who buy smart watches tend to fall into 3 categories:
"I want simple notifications and fitness tracking" - Fitbit
"I want extreme fitness tracking" - Garmin
"I want to be hyper-connected to notifications and have decent fitness tracking" - AW
It's a highly segmented market. Not everyone wants what the AW has to offer, so few companies are going to spend the money and time to compete with the Ultra.
Personally, I've owned 3 Apple Watches. One day I decided I was done with the constant notifications on my wrist and weak fitness tracking. I wanted a powerhouse tracker that I didn't have to charge every night. I bought a Fenix and love it. My friends and family who own Apple Watches are CONSTANTLY toying with the tiny phones on their wrists. For what? A text or an email that can likely wait? It's quite annoying, and I'm glad I'm not doing that anymore.
Suppose someone destroys their S5 later this year. If they're interested in an Ultra, they'll have the newest processor, a new battery, and new color options (between bands and/or a new case color). Plus, the previous Ultras will be found for a reduced price elsewhere. Auto manufacturers update cars annually even though no one buys a new car on this rotation. Simple tweaks here and there, no problem with it.
