It’s all over the news that Apple might plan something big with its Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch X, to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. But what about the Apple Watch Ultra 3? In 2023, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with features galore. Now that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has set some high standards, it has raised expectations for the upcoming premium wearable. Although we are more than two months away from seeing the Apple Watch Ultra 3, we already have some rumors and speculations about Apple’s 2024 flagship smartwatch. Here’s everything we know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Rumored Design
Sadly, we aren’t going to see any new designs on the 2024 Apple smartwatches. The next-gen Ultra 3 won’t get a major redesign, but the current one only dates to 2022. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is likely to arrive with the same iconic design, but there’s a surprising rumor about its appearance.
According to TrendForce, the next-gen Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be even bigger than the current Apple Watch Ultra 2, which features a 1.93-inch display. Back in December 2023, TrendForce claimed that the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s display would see around a 10% increase in size, clocking in at 2.12 inches.
These Apple Watch Ultra 3 design rumors have raised some concerns. The existing Ultra Watch 2 already features a big display, and people with thin wrists may find it heavy and difficult to wear for a long time. If Apple is planning to come up with a bigger Ultra 3, it should also find clever ways to reduce the weight and bezels of its smartwatch. Otherwise, the Ultra 3 might not appeal to many users.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Display
Debuted in 2023, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 features an improved, brighter display that’s capable of reaching up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, compared to 2,000 nits on the original Ultra. This offers enhanced visibility in any environment, even in bright outdoor settings.
Initially, there were rumors that Apple was working hard to bring the microLED display technology to its Apple Watch. The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 was poised to feature a microLED display for increased brightness levels and improved battery efficiency. Unfortunately, Apple scrapped its in-house effort for a microLED Apple Watch in the near future, as confirmed by analysts.
On the other hand, Apple is expected to adopt more energy-efficient LTPO panels to reduce power consumption on the Always-On Display. There are strong speculations that Apple will expand the use of LTPO OLED technology for more devices, enhancing the overall user experience.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Specs & Features
If you’re expecting some massive upgrades on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, you might be disappointed. The upcoming premium Apple smartwatch isn’t going to offer any mind-blowing additions. Thankfully, we might see some long-anticipated health tools on the new models.
Just like the Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to arrive with advanced health features like blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection. With blood pressure monitoring, users can know if their blood pressure is increasing, but specific systolic and diastolic readings won’t be provided. Meanwhile, sleep detection will analyze collected sleep data to inform users if they show signs of sleep apnea.
However, the development of these features is facing some challenges. Reports suggest that Apple has run into serious snags in testing the hypertension detection feature, which may force them to delay these features until next year.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Hardware Upgrades
Unfortunately, there’s nothing much to expect here. Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told MacRumors that the 2024 Apple Watch Ultra will arrive with ‘almost no’ hardware upgrades compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. He believes that the expected health features will use machine learning and existing health sensors.
However, Mark Gurman believes that the Ultra 3 will not get a new design this year, but it will apparently feature a new processor to succeed the S9 chip on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This new processor could lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Colors
Both the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra 2 come in a natural titanium color. There were rumors that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might come in a darker color, but that wasn’t the case. There are rumors that we might finally see a new dark/black case color option for the first time with the Watch Ultra 3.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Battery Life
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 already offers an impressive battery life that can last up to 36 hours on a single charge. The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 is likely to deliver the same battery life, lasting up to 36 hours and 18 hours on LTE. The charging will also be consistent with the Ultra 2, offering fast charging support that can top up the battery to 80% in about an hour.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Expected Release Date & Price
If we look at Apple’s schedule, it usually unveils its new Apple Watch models sometime in September, along with the new iPhone series. It’s safe to say that the Ultra 3 will be released sometime in September.
Currently, there’s no information on how much the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will cost. If we play the prediction game, the Ultra 3 would carry the same price tag of $799, which the previous two Ultras hit the markets. However, if Apple is planning some significant upgrades behind the curtain, the Ultra 3 might boast a more premium price tag.
That’s everything we know so far about the Apple Watch Ultra 3. We’ll update this piece as the rumor cycle evolves. Stay tuned!
