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We have less than two weeks to go until Apple's September 9 "Awe Dropping" event, and it's finally time for the Apple Watch Ultra to get a refresh. Apple introduced a new color last year, but there was no new model, so it's due for an update.

apple-watch-ultra-2-purple.jpg

There are some useful new features in the works, which we've outlined below.

Design and Display

There aren't rumors of a redesign for the Apple Watch Ultra and it's still relatively new, but it does look like it's going to get an updated display.

Code in the iOS 26 beta hinted at a 422 x 514 pixel display for the Ultra 3, up from 410 x 502 in the Ultra 2. Since there's no rumors of a larger case, the bigger display could be due to a reduction in bezel size.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to have the biggest Apple Watch display to date.

Last year, Apple improved the Apple Watch Series 10 with an LTPO3 OLED display, and that technology will likely expand to the Apple Watch Ultra 3. When viewed at an angle, the Series 10 display is up to 40 percent brighter, and minimum brightness goes down to 1 nit for an improvement to the always-on display.

On the Series 10, the 1 nit brightness enables a second hand that updates even when the wrist is down when used with compatible watch faces.

Processor

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to include an updated S11 chip, but the S11 is going to offer the same performance as the S9 and the S10 as it has the same underlying processor technology. Since the current Apple Watch Ultra uses the S9, there may not be much in the way of performance improvements.

While the chip is basically the same, the S11 could be smaller overall, allowing for more internal space to be dedicated to the battery and other components.

Satellite Connectivity

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be Apple's first watch with satellite connectivity, enabling an Emergency SOS feature that can be used when there's no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity available.

Given that the Apple Watch Ultra is targeted toward adventurers, it could be a particularly attractive feature for those who like to journey to remote areas.

If the Apple Watch Ultra 3 satellite connectivity mirrors what's available on the iPhone, wearers could also be able to send texts via satellite even in non-emergency situations.

Blood Pressure Monitoring

Apple has been working on blood pressure monitoring technology, and it could be ready to debut in 2025 Apple Watch models. It's still not yet clear if it's coming this year, but if it does, it will be more limited than standard blood pressure monitoring devices.

The feature won't provide specific systolic and diastolic readings, and it will instead track blood pressure trends and let the wearer know if hypertension is detected. Apple Watch users could then share that information with a healthcare professional for further investigation.

Hypertension often goes unnoticed until it cases serious damage, so by detecting early warning signs, the Apple Watch could be used preventatively.

Cellular Connectivity

Apple is planning to use 5G RedCap chips from MediaTek for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, enabling 5G connectivity for the first time. Current Apple Watch models are limited to LTE.

5G RedCap is a version of 5G that's designed specifically for wearable devices that don't need the speed and bandwidth of standard 5G networks, but it could bring improvements over LTE speeds.

Charging

The Apple Watch Series 10 uses a metal rear casing with a larger charging coil and an integrated antenna instead of a ceramic rear casing, and these changes may come to the Ultra 3.

The updated charging coil could allow the Apple Watch Ultra to charge much faster than before. The Series 10, for example, charges to 80 percent in a half hour, 15 minutes faster than the Series 9.

Launch Date

Apple will introduce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. From there, pre-orders could take place on Friday, September 12, and a launch could follow on Friday, September 19.

Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Soon: What to Expect
 
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there was no update last year, so maybe, maybe Apple did do some design changes, they had 2 years ...

As for blood pressure, I'll wait what Apple has to say how it actually works and make purchase decision based on that.

Everything else I take but none are worth an upgrade from my Ultra 2
 
The O2Sat will work like the Apple watch Ultra 1 or Ultra 2? The BP thing I guess it will help people without the diagnosis of hypertension than people with hypertension (assuming that they are already taking their BP at home). I hope in the future we can have a blood glucose monitor as well.
 
I love my AWU1, and it’s been an amazing workhorse of a watch. The battery gives me 1.5d at 92% BH after almost 3y of use.

The incremental upgrades stretch the very definition of incremental when it comes to the watch, so it looks like my AWU1 will keep soldiering on despite my itching to upgrade.
 
If these things are true, will be holding onto my AW2. It doesn’t have that crappy band aid fix either Apple released recently. I can look at the results directly from the watch itself.
 
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"5G RedCap is a version of 5G that's designed specifically for wearable devices that don't need the speed and bandwidth of standard 5G networks, but it could bring improvements over LTE speeds."

This "don't need the speed" comment is subjective. Has anyone ever updated watchOS? It's painfully slow. I don't know why the update file goes from the iPhone to the Apple Watch via Bluetooth. Even for those of us who pay for the cellular connection. Horrible. Download the watchOS update for via cellular, stupid Apple!
 
"5G RedCap is a version of 5G that's designed specifically for wearable devices that don't need the speed and bandwidth of standard 5G networks, but it could bring improvements over LTE speeds."

This "don't need the speed" comment is subjective. Has anyone ever updated watchOS? It's painfully slow. I don't know why the update file goes from the iPhone to the Apple Watch via Bluetooth. Even for those of us who pay for the cellular connection. Horrible. Download the watchOS update for via cellular, stupid Apple!
1st step would be to use wifi instead of BT.
 
To Tim Apple: This is your second to final warning (next warning is the final warning!!!)! Bring back the iPod Classic, or Google is going to do something that will knock Apple's socks off. There will be a big, beautiful press conference. You won't like it! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
 
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I'm fondly hoping for instrumentation and Apple Health extensions to monitor and gamify daily exposure to red and near-infrared light in sunlight and special "health lights". The Photobiomodulation Databse currently lists over 8800 published science papers on this topic. If Apple has done their clinical homework on this, improved metabolic health through superior lighting and getting outdoors could be next fitness revolution. You heard it here first!

Speculating on a Fourth Fitness Ring!
 
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"5G RedCap is a version of 5G that's designed specifically for wearable devices that don't need the speed and bandwidth of standard 5G networks, but it could bring improvements over LTE speeds."

This "don't need the speed" comment is subjective. Has anyone ever updated watchOS? It's painfully slow. I don't know why the update file goes from the iPhone to the Apple Watch via Bluetooth. Even for those of us who pay for the cellular connection. Horrible. Download the watchOS update for via cellular, stupid Apple!
I'm not sure that the watch battery could handle the watch os update via cellular. At least on my watch, the battery life takes a major hit while on cellular. I actually prefer it the way they have it now.
 
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It took me 2 hours to sync music onto my AWU2 today.

Switching to Garmin. Apple has become a joke.
Huh. That has never bothered me. Once I set up my playlists that I Want synced, they are always there for me. It might take a while the first time, but I never notice. And it will download the songs over cellular if one is missing.

But yah, if that's a hangup for you, I'd move on too. I doubt they are going to change how that works anytime soon.
 
Obviously I was joking about M4 but come on please a better chip because using S9 is soooo sadddd
What do you do on your watch/use it for that requires such an upgrade from the S9?
I have an Ultra 2 and processor performance is excellent. What watch do you have?
 
It took me 2 hours to sync music onto my AWU2 today.

Switching to Garmin. Apple has become a joke.

Garmin does indeed seem like the better choice, especially sports-wise. And synching music and maps to a Garmin is only limited to the USB speed, because we can use a cable to sync.

What Apple really ought to do is put a ANT+ chip in the watch.
 
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Garmin does indeed seem like the better choice, especially sports-wise. And synching music and maps to a Garmin is only limited to the USB speed, because we can use a cable to sync.

What Apple really ought to do is put a ANT+ chip in the watch.
I'm a little surprised that they haven't already. It seems like such a natural fit for the cycling crowd. I know you can sync bluetooth accessories, but ANY+ is a pretty glaring omission.
 
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I wonder if Tim Cook is a good cook. I can imagine him delighting his guests with great food, and then at the end of the meal, when they think they've seen it all, he goes "Oh, one last thing…" and brings a decadent apple pie to the table. I wouldn't mind tasting it.
 
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