Apple Watch Ultra 3: What we know

The Ultra has proven a popular addition to the Apple Watch lineup, and understandably so — even if you’re not a hardcore fitness or adventure fan, extra durability and battery life has everyday appeal. It means less worry about accidents, and charging less often, especially when it comes to sleep tracking or travel. If you are an athlete, an Ultra is practically the only Apple Watch you should consider.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 shipped in September 2023, but apart from its faster S9 system-on-chip, it was a relatively modest update over the original. An Ultra 3 is believed to be in the works, and should arrive later in 2024 — but will it offer any meaningful upgrades? And when exactly will it ship?

Apple Watch 3 rumors

The latest claims, and what we can expect in general

Current rumors suggest that while there will be an Apple Watch Ultra 3, it will be a modest refinement of the Ultra 2. Specifically, in May 2024, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told MacRumors that there will be “almost no” hardware upgrades, without elaborating on what that meant. The safe bet is that Apple will stick to the same overall design, perhaps switching to a slightly faster “S10” processor.

Apple is also believed to be working on an Apple Watch Series 10/X, from which most software or hardware upgrades will likely carry over to the Ultra 3. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested these could include blood pressure sensing and sleep apnea detection. Note that the latter feature would require a blood oxygen sensor, something currently disabled on US Apple Watches, owing to a patent dispute between Apple and US medical device maker Masimo. We’ll have to see if Apple can devise a workaround, settle out of court, or resign itself to oxygen tech only working for a portion of its customers.

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An alleged spec leak obtained by 91mobiles claims that the biggest Series 10/X will get a larger 2-inch display, beating out the 1.7-inch screen on the Series 9 and even the 1.93-inch one on the Ultra 2. The Ultra 3 may need to go even bigger to retain its prestige. On the other hand, Apple could keep the Ultra and Series 10/X consistent for universal band compatibility.

Another Series 10/X feature may be support for magnetically-attached bands. If that comes to fruition, it could make older Watch bands obsolete without some form of adapter. The tradeoff could be improved design room, and better convenience — it can be tricky to slide some existing bands in and out. On the other hand, the Ultra line is designed to be rugged, and the magnets might not be strong enough for activities like climbing or swimming. The 91mobiles leak casts some doubt on the prospect, and Gurman says that magnetic Watches may have to wait until 2025.

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Speculative additions

Apple

Hypothetically, an S10 chip could support some form of Apple Intelligence — the generative AI tech announced at June 2024’s Worldwide Developers Conference — but the company hasn’t showcased it for any Apple Watch so far, or even announced related features in watchOS 11, due this fall. Apple could, of course, be waiting for new hardware before it reveals compatibility.

A further possibility is that Apple will increase the amount of storage in the Ultra 3 from 64GB to 128GB. Why? Well, there aren’t any rumors along these lines, but one of the big additions in watchOS 11 will be the ability to cache Apple Maps data offline for hiking (initially, only in the US). It’s a feature that could consume a lot of space, leaving little room on a 64GB model for cached music or third-party apps. More storage would also be another way of distinguishing the Ultra 3 from its predecessors and the Series 10/X.

Apple is expected to enhance the LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) display on the Series 10/X with more thin-filament transistors, improving power efficiency, but I’m filing this under the “speculative” category for the Ultra 3 because Apple has so far used different display tech on Ultras versus other Watch models. The Ultra 2 has a display capable of 3,000 nits of peak brightness, whereas the Series 9’s panel tops out at 2,000 nits. There’s no guarantee of a crossover.

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We might see new color options, since Apple reportedly experimented with a dark ceramic back for the first-gen Ultra only to never release it. And while the Ultra’s titanium gray is generally well-liked, some people have complained that there aren’t any alternatives.

What you shouldn’t expect with the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

Don’t look for a thinner case design — that’s sometimes been predicted for the Series 10/X, but Kuo’s claims suggest the Ultra 3 will look the same as the Ultra 2. It may hard to avoid, in fact, since Ultras have to pack in more components than other Apple Watches, including an Action button, tougher water seals, and, of course, a bigger battery.

I’m also giving a miss to Apple’s long-awaited blood glucose technology. Development of a non-invasive sensor has been underway for years, but there haven’t been any rumors of a breakthrough that would put it in a 2024 product. Such a sensor would be a major selling point for diabetics, who presently have to poke themselves to test blood sugar.

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When will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 be released?

Assuming Apple is indeed planning to put out an Ultra 3 in 2024, the most likely launch window is September, or even October at the latest. The only Apple Watches that have ever debuted outside September have been the original (April 2015) and the Series 7 (October 2021). The company tends to stick to narrow schedules, especially for products it can sell to holiday gift buyers. We’ll learn the exact details during Apple’s usual fall iPhone event, which should happen by mid-September if trends continue.

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How much will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 cost?

I haven’t seen any rumors of a price increase, so I’m targeting $799, as with the Ultra 2. Apple would have a hard time justifying a hike without a dramatic redesign.

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Should I buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?

If you’re considering an Ultra, you should at least wait until September, since the Ultra 3 is likely just around the corner. Extra storage, a larger screen, and Apple Intelligence could be selling points if they make an appearance. Even then, though, it might be worth taking advantage of Ultra 2 clear-out sales if you’re coming from an older Apple Watch or none at all.

That said, the Ultra 3 should offer better future-proofing, and it’ll be a more impressive upgrade if you are coming from an older device. I’m just not anticipating any must-have features.

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