Everything We Know About the Apple Watch Ultra 3
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Apple’s Awe Dropping event kicks off tomorrow, September 9 , and the tech world is focused on the iPhone 17. But new iPhones aren’t the only updates Apple will be unveiling tomorrow. Rumors suggest we’ll also see new Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
This device will be the first new Ultra device since the Ultra 2, which was released in 2023. Ultra is Apple’s Pro line of watches, focused on durability and long battery life. They tend to be more expensive than other Apple Watches, but they come with unique features, including Apple’s largest and brightest display. Based on the reports, the Ultra 3 won’t be a reimagining, but it should offer some interesting upgrades that could attract buyers (assuming they’re willing to spend $800 on an Apple Watch).
Here’s what we’re rumored to see tomorrow.
Upgraded processor
Apple often releases new processors or chips along with new Apple Watches. The Ultra 2 uses the S9, while the Series 10 uses the S10. With that in mind, there are rumors about whether the Ultra 3 will use the S10 chip from the Series 10 or come with a brand new one.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman , all signs point to the latter. Gurman believes that Apple’s newest Ultra watch will feature the S11 chip. What’s more, it’s entirely possible that Apple’s other new smartwatches, the Series 11 and SE, will also feature the S11 chip.
That doesn’t mean these watches will significantly outperform the company’s previous chips. MacRumors analyzed the leaked S11 architecture and found that the S9 and S10 chips are based on the same core technologies as the new S11. It’s still a high-performance chip: The S9, S10, and presumably the S11 are all 64-bit dual-core processors with a quad-core Neural Engine, a second-generation Ultra Wideband System, and 64GB of storage. However, that suggests that the speed boost may not be a reason to buy a new Apple Watch this year. We’ll see what the company announces tomorrow.
Larger and better quality display
The Ultra series has the largest display of any Apple Watch, and rumors suggest the Ultra 3 could get an even bigger screen. MacRumors reports that the new watch’s display resolution could be bumped up from 410 x 502 to 422 x 514. It wouldn’t be a huge increase, but it would be the largest watch screen Apple has ever made.
The Ultra 3 will likely also borrow display technology from the Series 10: the latter’s LPTO3 OLED display allows the watch to refresh faster than the Ultra 2, which would allow for an Always-On feature with a moving second hand. The Series 10 also features a wide-angle OLED display, which increases brightness when viewed from an angle. The Ultra 3 could follow suit.
Satellite communications
Since the Series 3, Apple has offered customers the option to purchase a cellular-enabled watch, but the Ultra 3 could be the first Apple smartwatch to feature satellite connectivity. That means when your watch is out of cellular coverage, it can connect to a satellite. This connection is typically much slower than traditional cellular, but it works, allowing you to contact friends, family, or emergency services when service is down. Suddenly, dead zones are gone.
It’s no coincidence. Satellite communications are all the rage these days: Apple has offered it on the iPhone for years, first for simple emergency calls and then expanding support to include standard text messages . Plus, T-Mobile officially launched satellite communications for its customers this year, so it would be fitting that the Apple Watch would offer similar satellite capabilities.
Faster cellular service
But the connectivity improvements aren’t limited to areas without cellular coverage. The Ultra 3 could also be the first Apple Watch to support 5G, as Apple may be using MediaTek to create the built-in modem. The cellular Apple Watch only supports 4G LTE, so users who upgrade to the Ultra 3 with theoretical 5G will see improved speeds in areas with 5G connectivity.
Fast charging
MacRumors believes that the Ultra 3 could offer faster charging, following in the footsteps of the Series 10. That watch charges to 80% in 30 minutes, while the Ultra 2 takes 60 minutes to charge. MacRumors points out that the difference is in the material the watch is made of: the Series 10 has a metal case with a larger charging coil, while the Ultra 2 uses a regular crystal case like most other Apple Watch models.
Blood pressure monitor
The Ultra 3 could also be the first Apple Watch to feature blood pressure monitoring. Apple has reportedly been working on this for some time, and the Ultra 3 could be its debut. However, Gurman suggests that Apple has run into “regulatory and engineering” issues with the feature, so it’s possible we won’t see it until the Ultra 4 or Series 12.
It’s interesting timing, because Apple just got the green light to bring back the blood oxygen sensor in the Apple Watch . The company was forced to disable the feature on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 devices after a lawsuit, though a subsequent lawsuit allowed the company to restore it. (The older watches with the blood oxygen sensor never had the feature disabled.)