The Apple Watch Ultra line of smartwatches is the premium end of rugged outdoor accessories. So how can the company improve on its Apple Watch Ultra 2 launching in September 2023?
Rumors are already circulating suggesting that we could see some impressive improvements from the new model when it arrives later this year. So here’s everything we know so far about the Apple Watch Ultra 3 smartwatch.
When will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 be released?
Apple hasn’t yet confirmed a release date for the Ultra 3, of course, but we can use previous launch windows to give us a good idea of when the new model will arrive.
Here’s when the last two generations debuted:
With the consistency we’ve seen since Apple introduced the Ultra models, we expect the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive in September 2024most likely alongside the Apple Watch X, Apple Watch SE 3 and iPhone 16 lineup.
That being said, several rumors have circulated – notably via Ming Chi Kuo – that Apple may delay the launch of the Ultra 3 by a year in order to develop new health monitoring features. If this is true, it may be September 2025 before the new model hits stores.
How much will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 cost?
Again, no announcements have been made regarding the potential costs of an updated Apple Watch Ultra, so we’re looking to the models released so far to give us some guidance.
Here’s how the prices for the previous two generations were set:
- Apple Watch Ultra – $799/£849
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 – $799/£799
As you can see, Apple appears to have priced its Ultras, with the UK even getting a price cut to bring it in line with the US figure. So far, there’s no indication that 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 announcement has been made regarding the new Ultra, a few stories are circulating that suggest what Apple might have up our sleeves at the end of this year.
Perhaps you’ll temper your expectations, however, as perennial tech leaker Ming Chi Kuo posted in October last year that “the new 2024 Apple Watch likely won’t have any significant innovative experiences.”
It’s unclear whether he was talking about the standard model or the new Ultra, but the image he used to accompany his predictions was of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, so things may not be too different if you plan to buy the next model when it arrives. (hopefully) later this year.
A Micro LED screen?
This one has been around for a while. In fact, the idea was thought to be dead late last year, but a new report from site 5Krunner (which specializes in outdoor running gear) suggests we could still see a microLED display in an Apple Watch Ultra. He points out that the company now offers two small microLED displays, although they are in the Apple Vision Pro headset.
While this seems to make the technology transition to other Apple products more likely, the report states that this will more likely happen in 2025 (and therefore on the Apple Watch Ultra 4) than in the coming months. So it looks like it will once again be an OLED display for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Industry analyst Ming Chi Kuo appears to have confirmed that this is his Apple Watch predictions article on Medium (link above), where he states that “The new Apple Watch 2024 will not adopt the Micro LED… The new Apple Watch 2025 will probably use the Micro LED.” but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was postponed until 2026.
That’s a shame, because Micro LED offers the potential for brighter panels with better battery life, which is a big deal for a product intended to be used in the wild most of the time.
New color
Before the Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched, there were plenty of rumors circulating that we’d have a choice of the standard Titanium colorway or an attractive Space Black option.
Those hopes were dashed when Apple kept its silver livery on the Ultra 2, but it could be that the Space Black color was retained for the Ultra 3.
New processor
A fairly successful upgrade for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 lies in the processor.
The original Apple Watch Ultra was powered by the S8 SiP, and this was changed to the S9 SiP in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It should then follow suit as we see the latest S10 SiP in the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
If we see the same progress between generations, then expect a doubling of the number of onboard transistors, a twice as fast neural engine, and general improvements across the board.
A new digital crown
One interesting innovation that has been widely reported involves a patent granted to Apple that describes a potential update to the Digital Crown.
The new design appears to limit the rotation of the crown, but instead features tactile elements that would allow Apple to minimize its physical movement, reducing the risk of failure.
US Patent Office
US Patent Office
US Patent Office
There are also light sensors described in the patent, which suggests that this could be some sort of new ambient light control, while also allowing for a shorter stem for the crown, which in turn leaves room for additional material 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 are revealed.
Until then, you can check out our selection of the best Apple Watch deals as well as see the competition available in our best smartwatch roundup.
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