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The Apple Watch Ultra range of smartwatches is the premium segment of rugged outdoor accessories. So how can the company improve its Apple Watch Ultra 2, which launched in September 2023?
Rumors are swirling that we could see some impressive upgrades when the new model arrives. So this is everything we know so far about the Apple Watch Ultra 3 smartwatch.
When will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 be released?
Of course, Apple hasn’t confirmed a release date for the Ultra 3 yet, and while previous releases for Ultra generations (see below) suggested it would arrive in September 2024 with the iPhone 16 range, Apple only announced the Watch Series 10.
Since then, Mark Gurman has said in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg that the Apple Watch Ultra (and the next-generation Apple Watch SE) will receive an update in 2025.
“Some of this is because Apple’s hardware innovation has slowed, so it makes sense to save two years’ worth of features to make a bigger impact.” Gurman said of Apple’s move to a two-year refresh cycle.
The wait continues, but Apple did announce a new edition of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in September that might be right for you (below).
Called Black Titanium, it has a satin finish and has a matching rear strap (Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band) along with a new Titanium Milanese Loop strap.
It includes the new sleep apnea detection feature (FDA approval pending) and is available for buy now for £799/$799.
This is when the last two generations made their debut:
How much will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 cost?
Again, no announcements have been made about any costs of an updated Apple Watch Ultra, so we’ll look at the models released so far to give us some guidance.
This is how the two previous generations are priced:
- Apple Watch Ultra – $799/£849
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 – $799/£799
As you can see, Apple appears to have set a price for its Ultras, with Britain even getting a price cut to bring it in line with the US figure. We’ve seen nothing yet to suggest these costs will increase in 2024, so expect to pay around $800/£800 for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
What new features will we see in the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
While no official announcements have been made about the new Ultra, there are a few stories floating around that suggest what Apple may have in store by the end of this year.
Perhaps you should temper your expectations, as perennial tech leaker Ming Chi Kuo wrote last October that “the new Apple Watch of 2024 is unlikely to have any significant innovative experiences.”
It’s unclear whether he meant the standard model or the new Ultra, but the image he used in his predictions was of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, so things might not be all that different if you’re planning on getting the next model. buy it when it arrives. (hopefully) later this year.
Apple Watch estimates and predictions / Apple Watch估算與預測https://t.co/FYESdPKF8w
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) October 10, 2023
One change he did point out was the possible introduction of a ‘black/dark’ color scheme that would immediately distinguish the Ultra 3 from its predecessors.
A micro LED display?
This has been doing the rounds for a while. In fact, the idea was thought to have died out late last year, but a new report from the 5Krunner site (which specializes in outdoor running equipment) suggests we might still see a microLED display in an Apple Watch Ultra.
It points out that there are now two small microLED displays available from the company, although they can be found in the Apple Vision Pro headset.
While this seems to make it more likely that the technology will cross over to other Apple products, the report states that this will be more likely in 2025 (and therefore the Apple Watch Ultra 4) than in the coming months. So it looks like it will be an OLED display again for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Industry analyst Ming Chi Kuo appears to have confirmed this in his Apple Watch prediction post on Medium (link above), where he states that ‘The new 2024 Apple Watch won’t use Micro LED… The new 2025 Apple Watch will likely use Micro Using LED, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is postponed to 2026.’
This is a shame as Micro LED offers the potential for brighter panels with better battery life, which is a big deal in a product intended to be used in the wild most of the time.
This is reflected in a more recent rumor (via GSMArena) which states that Apple plans to introduce microLED displays in the Apple Watch Ultra by 2026. Additionally, Apple is expected to use microLED panels in its AR glasses, which are also planned for mass production in the US. 2026.
This suggests that 2026 could be a pivotal year for Apple’s microLED ambitions. The impact on LG, Apple’s previous display supplier, is still uncertain, especially in terms of possible compensation for the canceled project.
Apple has not given up on Micro LED technology.
1. They are preparing Micro LED for AR glasses, with mass production expected in 2026.
2. The plan to include Micro LED in the Apple Watch Ultra is also still in place, with a target launch in 2026.
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) October 5, 2024
New color
In the run-up to the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, there were many rumors that we would be given a choice between the standard titanium color or an attractive Space Black option.
These hopes were dashed when Apple stuck with its silver colorway on the Ultra 2, but as we mentioned above, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has posted that a ‘black/dark’ colorway could appear on the Ultra 3, with the caveat of ‘If production yields meet expectations’.
New processor
A pretty nailed-down upgrade for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is in the processor.
The original Apple Watch Ultra was powered by the S8 SiP, and this was changed for the S9 SiP in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It should then follow that we see the latest S10 SiP in the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
If we see the same progress between generations, expect a doubling of the number of transistors on board, a neural engine that’s twice as fast, and general improvements across the board.
A new digital crown
One interesting innovation that has been widely reported concerns a patent granted to Apple that outlines a possible update to the Digital Crown.
The new design appears to limit the rotation of the crown, but instead features touch-sensitive elements that could allow Apple to minimize physical movement, reducing the chance of failure.
US Patent Office
US Patent Office
US Patent Office
There are also light sensors described in the patent, leading people to speculate that it could be some sort of new ambient light control, while also allowing for a shorter stem for the crown, which in turn makes room for additional hardware in the body.
That’s everything we’ve seen so far about the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Of course, we’ll continue to update this article as more details come to light.
Until then, you can check out our selection of the best apple watch deals and check out the competition available in our best smartwatch roundup.