Key Takeaways
- The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is likely to offer minimal hardware upgrades such as a faster S10 processor, a blood pressure sensor, and sleep apnea detection.
- It could potentially be equipped with a 2-inch or larger display that consumes less power.
- It is scheduled for release in September or October 2024.
The Ultra is a popular addition to the Apple Watch lineup, and rightfully so. Even if you’re not a hardcore fitness or adventure fan, the durability and excellent battery life make it appealing on a day-to-day basis. You’ll worry less about accidents and need to charge less frequently, especially when tracking sleep or traveling. If you’re an athlete, the Ultra is practically the only Apple Watch you should consider.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 shipped in September 2023 and, aside from a faster S9 system-on-chip, offered relatively modest updates from the original. The Ultra 3 is thought to be in the works and is due to arrive in late 2024, but will it offer any meaningful upgrades? And when exactly will it ship?
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Apple Watch 3 Rumors
Latest claims and general expectations
Current rumors suggest that an Apple Watch Ultra 3 will arrive, but will be a modest improvement over the Ultra 2. Specifically, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told MacRumors in May 2024 that there will be “very few” hardware upgrades, but didn’t elaborate on what that meant. Expect Apple to keep the same design overall, perhaps switching to a slightly faster “S10” processor.
What’s certain is that Apple will keep the same overall design and likely switch to a slightly faster “S10” processor.
Apple is also thought to be working on an Apple Watch Series 10/X, with most of its software and hardware upgrades likely to carry over to the Ultra 3. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests these could include blood pressure sensing and sleep apnea detection. The latter feature would require a blood oxygen sensor, which is currently disabled on the Apple Watch in the US due to a patent dispute between Apple and US medical device maker Masimo. It will remain to be seen whether Apple comes up with a workaround, settles out of court, or accepts that the oxygen tech will only be useful to a small percentage of customers.
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According to a spec leak obtained by 91mobiles, the largest Series 10/X will have a 2-inch large display, surpassing the 1.7-inch screen of the Series 9 and the 1.93-inch screen of the Ultra 2. The Ultra 3 may need to be even larger to maintain its reputation. Meanwhile, Apple may keep the Ultra and Series 10/X consistent for universal band compatibility.
Another feature of the Series 10/X is support for magnetically attached bands. This could make older Watch bands obsolete without some sort of adapter. The trade-off is more design room and potentially more convenience. Sliding existing bands in and out can be tricky. Meanwhile, the Ultra series is designed to be rugged, and the magnets may not be strong enough for activities like climbing or swimming. A leak from 91mobiles has cast doubt on this prospect, with Gurman saying we might have to wait until 2025 for a magnetic Watch.
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Speculative additions
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Hypothetically, the S10 chip could support some form of Apple Intelligence (the generative AI technology announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024), but the company hasn’t shown it off for the Apple Watch yet, or even announced any related features in watchOS 11, due out this fall. Of course, Apple could be waiting for new hardware before revealing compatibility.
Crossovers on next-gen screens are not guaranteed.
Another possibility is that Apple will increase the storage capacity of the Ultra 3 from 64GB to 128GB. Why? Well, there are no rumors in this direction, but one of the big additions in watchOS 11 is the ability to cache Apple Maps data offline for hiking (initially in the US only). This feature can eat up a lot of space, with the 64GB model leaving little room for cached music or third-party apps. The increased storage capacity is also another way to differentiate the Ultra 3 from its predecessor and the Series 10/X.
Apple is expected to pack more thin-film transistors into the Series 10/X’s LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) displays to improve power efficiency, but we put this in the “speculation” category for the Ultra 3 because Apple has historically used different display technologies for the Ultra and other Watch models. The Ultra 2 display has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, while the Series 9 panel maxes out at 2,000 nits. There’s no guarantee of crossover.
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New color options may be on the way, as Apple reportedly tried a dark ceramic back on the first-generation Ultra but ultimately didn’t release it. The Ultra’s Titanium Gray has been generally well-received, but some have complained about the lack of alternative colors.
What shouldn’t you expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Don’t expect a thinner case design — that was expected at times with the Series 10/X, but Kuo’s assertion suggests that the Ultra 3 will have the same look as the Ultra 2. In fact, that may be hard to avoid, as the Ultra will have to pack in more components than other Apple Watches, including an action button, a tougher waterproof seal, and of course a bigger battery.
I’ll also miss out on Apple’s long-awaited glucose-monitoring technology: noninvasive sensors have been in the works for years, but there are no rumors of a breakthrough that could be included in a 2024 product. Such a sensor would be a big selling point for diabetics, who currently have to stick their own needles to check their blood sugar levels.
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When will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 be released?
Assuming Apple really does plan to launch the Ultra 3 in 2024, the most likely release date would be September, or October at the latest. The only Apple Watches to have been released outside of September so far were the original (April 2015) and Series 7 (October 2021). The company tends to stick to strict schedules, especially for products that can be sold to holiday gift buyers. Exact details will likely be revealed at Apple’s usual fall iPhone event, which should take place by mid-September if the trend continues.
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How much does the Apple Watch Ultra 3 cost?
We haven’t heard any rumors of a price increase, so we’re targeting $799, similar to the Ultra 2. Apple would have a hard time justifying a price increase without a dramatic redesign.
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Should I buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
If you’re considering buying an Ultra, you might want to wait until at least September, since the Ultra 3 is likely on the way. The extra storage, bigger screen, and Apple Intelligence could be selling points if announced, but if you’re upgrading from an older Apple Watch, or don’t have one at all, it might be worth taking advantage of the Ultra 2 clearance sale.
That said, the Ultra 3 is more future-proof and should be an even more impressive upgrade if you’re coming from an older device, but don’t expect any must-have features.
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