Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

[MacRumors]

Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve).

The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with investors.

It's been a long wait for Ultra fans. Apple skipped updating the rugged smartwatch entirely in 2024, choosing instead to simply add a black titanium color option to the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2. That means it will have been nearly two years when September rolls around since we've seen any meaningful changes to the Ultra lineup.

Pu's timeline aligns with other industry watchers who expect Apple's fall event to bring refreshes across the Apple Watch family. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested the Ultra 3 could gain satellite connectivity and 5G capabilities, features that would arguably help justify the extended development cycle.

The analyst's broader Apple roadmap paints an interesting picture for 2025. More notably, he predicts that Apple will also release its rumored HomePad tablet this year, while pushing AirPods Pro 3 back to 2026 – a timeline that conflicts with other recent predictions.

• 6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

For Ultra users hanging onto first-generation models, the wait might finally be worth it. Two years of development could mean more substantial upgrades than the typical annual refresh cycle allows, assuming Apple hasn't just been sitting on its hands.

Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

 

[nikon1]

Not until Apple re-enables the missing (lawsuit) blood oxygen features will I be upgrading from my Series 9.

 

[Jonathan7877]

For Ultra users hanging onto first-generation models, the wait might finally be worth it.

For the $799 price I paid, my wait is going to be longer than 2 years lol

 

[MR-LIZARD]

That’s fine. Normalise longer life cycles for products.

If there’s no meaningful update, don’t spin one out for the sake of it.

 

[jctevere]

That’s fine. Normalise longer life cycles for products.

If there’s no meaningful update, don’t spin one out for the sake of it.

But have you no concern for the revenues and shareholders?!

 

[msackey]

Not until Apple re-enables the missing (lawsuit) blood oxygen features will I be upgrading from my Series 9.

Exactly what I'm thinking to. For now, my Ultra (the original version) is a joy to use. Battery health is 89% of original capacity and still lasts for a good long time, though noticeably not as long as it used to. I really, really hope that by the time my Ultra needs a new battery replacement that the blood oxygen thing is already back and available to the US market.

 

[tomtad]

"Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested the Ultra 3 could gain satellite connectivity and 5G capabilities, features that would arguably help justify the extended development cycle."

I don't see any need to justify it at all, is it necessary we need a new Watch every year adding very marginal changes? I'd prefer it if they left it until they have something meaningful to add.

To be honest I expect them to leave the Series 10 this year with the focus being on the Ultra 3. Maybe we'll see an updated SE at some point over the year and then have the Series 11 next year.

 

[svish]

Definitely expecting to see the next model this year. It will surely have an update display that supports the seconds hand just like the Series 10. Think it will have the same price as the current model.

 

[Jago]

Sales are falling off a cliff and THIS is what they expect to bring in new buyers? 🤣 Wait, wait, I almost forgot.. it will also feature fastest watch CPU ever!! And maybe some more Neural cores!!!

Is there anybody left in Apple’s employment who understands what people who don’t autobuy Apple products just because they carry the logo actually want?

 

[MrSkoTA]

Correction…
ONE year hiatus.

 

[vertsix]

Buying the LL/A Ultra 2 was probably the best Apple purchase ever for me considering how long it remained the latest model and now that it is rare since it has SpO2 in the US. I got a discount too when Best Buy was getting rid of inventory.

 

[jz0309]

Well, either there’s an Ultra 3 this year or the Ultra line is dead, difficult prediction.

Still living my launch day Ultra 2 but won’t upgrade unless SpO2 is back, and then some new health sensor

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Hiatus? There's no reason to expect a new watch every year just because Apple does so with iPhones. I mean, what more can you do with a pebble that's strapped on your wrist?

 

[tivoboy]

No pulse ox, no workie for me at least.

 

[Yimbaz]

For Ultra users hanging onto first-generation models, the wait might finally be worth it. Two years of development could mean more substantial upgrades than the typical annual refresh cycle allows, assuming Apple hasn't just been sitting on its hands.

Do not encourage people who bought top-of-the-line $800 smartwatches less than three years ago to upgrade them for no reason! I've still got a Series 5 (2019!) and I'm only just now considering upgrading this fall.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Thank goodness. I was starting to get funny looks at our weekly smartwatch club meetings --about owning such an old AWU. J/k, hoping to use my AWU1 for many years.

 

[alphaswift]

Not until Apple re-enables the missing (lawsuit) blood oxygen features will I be upgrading from my Series 9.

Come to Canada. That works just fine on my watch.

That said, satellite and 5G is not compelling enough for an upgrade.

 

[MLVC]

Well, I don't need to be an "analyst" to predict that we'll see an Ultra 3 this year after they skipped it in 2024.

 

[msackey]

But have you no concern for the revenues and shareholders?!

No, none whatsoever. In general, over focus on that kind of metric hasn't helped society, especially ecologically and life happiness.

 

[msackey]

Come to Canada. That works just fine on my watch.

That said, satellite and 5G is not compelling enough for an upgrade.

Agreed. Isn't it that generally LTE uses less battery than 5G? And for a Watch, what's the need for the speed of 5G? As for satellite, I personally don't find it appealing.

 

[rwilliams]

Satellite connectivity and 5G is good enough for me. Hopefully there will be other new features as well.

 

[whiteonline]

I had the Ultra with SpO2, and don't feel the loss since upgrading to the black model. It really has no use outside of medical settings. Was it "neat"? Sure, but not a critical component and I didn't and wouldn't rely on it for anything meaningful.
I'm just looking forward to the U3 so I can go back to titanium. Black isn't for me...

 

[Newbie67]

No thanks. My gen 1 is still solid. 89% battery. The O2 is still a valuable feature

 

[Ramchi]

Can it measure Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure (not hypertension detection, instead actual Blood Pressure) and can it record sleep automatically? Then I wouldn’t mind buying it though my AWU2 is just good enough for me with 4G. I do not need 5G etc…in my watch. I like the battery life of my AWU2. Actually, I have Galaxy Watch Ultra as well which takes care of BP, ECG, Sleep Apnea etc….I can wait for another 4 years for my AW upgrade

 

[TheBobMiles]

I think this year they will add solar to it, since in the WWDC Intro they teased that feature with Craig pressing the solar power button on his Apple Watch Ultra... Would make sense, all the others do it...