I don't know what a serious explorer is, but I imagine one that is "serious" in the sense of extreme would more than likely have multiple equipment rather than rely on a single device to achieve multiple functions.
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Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus
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So what compels you to judge others if they decide to upgrade on their own schedule? It’s none of your business…
"substantial upgrades"? I want longer battery life not 5G. Satellite is useful but only if your watch hasn't gone flat already.
My Ultra 2 Watch with active O2 sensor is used for that function very often by me. I will extend Apple Care on this model until either that is no longer available (6 years out or so from now) or a newer model includes that functionality in operational status.
I expect the whiz bang new watch features will be complemented by the iPhones.
I expect the whiz bang new watch features will be complemented by the iPhones.
Not that I'm saying you should replace it sooner (you shouldn't) but you can get the pulse ox sensor anywhere else in the world if you need a new one sooner. Canada is probably the easiest for most Americans to smuggle it in.
I lucked up and purchased Costco’s old stock of the AWU2 with the O2 sensor still activated in November 2024, so I’m in no need of upgrading to the Ultra 3, unless there is a new sensor that is of need to me. I have sleep apnea already and use a CPAP machine so I wanted to test out the breathing disturbances and sleep apnea notifications which hasn’t been beneficial to me, as I still have episodes which doesn’t show up on the watch.
I have high blood pressure which I use 2 medications for and a blood pressure cuff, so the sensor in the Ultra 3 may not be of use to me. A blood glucose sensor will be of use along with my CGM, and I’ll upgrade for that. Hopefully it’ll debut in 2026 - 2027 and I’ll be ready to upgrade by then or 2028, if the O2 sensor is back in the US by then.
I have high blood pressure which I use 2 medications for and a blood pressure cuff, so the sensor in the Ultra 3 may not be of use to me. A blood glucose sensor will be of use along with my CGM, and I’ll upgrade for that. Hopefully it’ll debut in 2026 - 2027 and I’ll be ready to upgrade by then or 2028, if the O2 sensor is back in the US by then.
Completely agree. I have AWU2 LTE 49MM. I have Galaxy Watch Ultra as well. Hence I do not see any reason to upgrade AWU3 or even AWU5 for that matter unless AWUX comes with BP monitor like Galaxy Watch Ultra and Blood Gluecose measurement. Otherwise, I am good with AWU2 for another 5 Years easily unless the battery dies.
Increase battery life by another 50% and I'll permanently leave the Fenix line. And I'm saying that as a person who's so ridiculously fanboy'd out and up Apple's ass Ecosystem that I have a VisionPro.
Every person I know with a Fenix or a Forerunner is waiting on this battery life improvements before makign the jump. But it seems like every time the battery gets bigger features come that negate any gains.
IMO, they are blowing it.
Take one look at Garmin's Fenix 8 prices and the projected prices of the Fenix 8 Pro and you'll see that they are completely unbothered by Apple's strategy.
With the EU forcing Apple to open up their SDK and allow more communication between 3rd party watches and iOS their window is rapidly closing to take more of Garmin's marketshare. Particularly since Garmin has made signifant gains in screen quality whilel maintaining superior battery life and they have MicroLEd coming in 2026. But maybe I'm the idiot and that's not what they want and that's not who this watch is for.
Every person I know with a Fenix or a Forerunner is waiting on this battery life improvements before makign the jump. But it seems like every time the battery gets bigger features come that negate any gains.
IMO, they are blowing it.
Take one look at Garmin's Fenix 8 prices and the projected prices of the Fenix 8 Pro and you'll see that they are completely unbothered by Apple's strategy.
With the EU forcing Apple to open up their SDK and allow more communication between 3rd party watches and iOS their window is rapidly closing to take more of Garmin's marketshare. Particularly since Garmin has made signifant gains in screen quality whilel maintaining superior battery life and they have MicroLEd coming in 2026. But maybe I'm the idiot and that's not what they want and that's not who this watch is for.
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.
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
I will not be "upgrading" my Ultra to a version that does less than what I have now, that being the Blood Ox issue. Apple removing (for me) is a deal breaker for any future upgrades. Apple make a deal with the company who holds the patient (buy em out) and turn the feature back on.....(Also cut the check and bring cover flow back).
I went from Series 2 to Series 4 to Ultra 1. I'm more than fine with it. Battery health is at 88%. If I can get another 2-3 years out of it, I'll be happy.
It will be 3 years for me in September. Battery health is 88%. Mine does take a bit longer to charge, but not to the point where it's a problem.
It definitely took some time getting used to the Ultra (upgraded from Series 4). I still bang it on things from time to time because it sticks out.
When I upgraded from Series 2 to 4, I gave the 2 to a buddy. When I went from the 4 to the Ultra, I gave the 4 to a coworker who had cracked the screen on his 4.
I too went from the Series 2 to Series 4 to Ultra 1, and then I went to the Ultra 2, to test out the breathing disturbances and sleep apnea notifications. I still have 100% battery life, the blood ox sensor is activated and I have AppleCare+, so I’m perfectly fine with what I have.
I am kind of fed up with Apple releasing minor upgrades at major prices. Though interested in a decent watch (still on AW3!), the UW feels like a brick on my wrist (especially when running). So: make it lighter, thinner, last longer and with add decent features like hart and glucose monitoring. Or make it a decent phone replacement (which they never will). Until then I do not see any reason to but another watch.
I went Series 2 to Series 5 to Series 8 before getting my ultra 2 last November, gave my Series 2 and Series 5 to my parents to get them onboard and for health monitoring, I was a little apprehensive about losing the blood ox sensor with my U2 but it’s not something I’ve noticed for any of my uses can always hope it gets reactivated in the future once it’s settled
One reason I bought my watch used is that I will bang any watch on things. So I got one that already had a few scratches so I wouldn't be as annoyed when I scratched it up more.
Mine is a AWU2 sitting at 89%. I do notice sometimes it takes longer to charge, but then other times it seems speedy.
Yes, solar powered watches is a thing. Wearholic link
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I am waiting to purchase my first Apple Watch. I would like it to have 5G Red Cap (reduced capacity) cell service. I'm mostly interested in calls, texts and Apple Pay. May wear it on my bicep.
Solar powered watches have been around for a very long time. I have some Casio, Citizen, and Seiko solar powered watches that are at least 10 years old. Solar smartwatches are newer kids on the block. Will the next round of Apple Watches be solar augmented? I doubt it, but who knows, outside of Apple.
I've got an Ultra and like everything about it. I paid $599 tax free from a military exchange and am happy with it. I really dig the black DFC Ultra 2, but not enough to get one considering the price tag. I don't worry about the lack of PulsOx because the sensor is there, just waiting for a software upgrade. I don't want that enough to smuggle in a U2 from Canada or wherever. I've seen one mention of someone who brought a Watch in and the PulsOx worked but didn't see a definitive mention that it survived a watchOS upgrade in the US.
Maybe a U3 would have enough new tech that I'd get one, but I'm not feelin' it. I do like it in black, so could be one in my future. Or maybe a U2 on end of year close out.
Apple releasing a new version of any Watch every year isn't to get most customers to upgrade from last year's model. There's seldom enough new tech in a next Gen to get most buyers to step up. Speed bumps and a bit more battery life are incremental, so why buy a watch every year for incremental improvements. Some people will but not most of us, I reckon.
There are Watchers how have a watch a few generations old and feel it's time to get current. Or there's the brand new Apple Watch customer who thinks it's time to leave another brand or get their first smartwatch. So people can make a big deal about how they're not moving from 'last year's model' to this years model. Not a big deal, more like a weak flex. Still a reasonable decision.
I've got an Ultra and like everything about it. I paid $599 tax free from a military exchange and am happy with it. I really dig the black DFC Ultra 2, but not enough to get one considering the price tag. I don't worry about the lack of PulsOx because the sensor is there, just waiting for a software upgrade. I don't want that enough to smuggle in a U2 from Canada or wherever. I've seen one mention of someone who brought a Watch in and the PulsOx worked but didn't see a definitive mention that it survived a watchOS upgrade in the US.
Maybe a U3 would have enough new tech that I'd get one, but I'm not feelin' it. I do like it in black, so could be one in my future. Or maybe a U2 on end of year close out.
Apple releasing a new version of any Watch every year isn't to get most customers to upgrade from last year's model. There's seldom enough new tech in a next Gen to get most buyers to step up. Speed bumps and a bit more battery life are incremental, so why buy a watch every year for incremental improvements. Some people will but not most of us, I reckon.
There are Watchers how have a watch a few generations old and feel it's time to get current. Or there's the brand new Apple Watch customer who thinks it's time to leave another brand or get their first smartwatch. So people can make a big deal about how they're not moving from 'last year's model' to this years model. Not a big deal, more like a weak flex. Still a reasonable decision.
Lots of people here missing the sarcasm. (Maybe English isn't their first language? I'll give 'em a break).
Well, if your use case is satisfyingly covered by an antique AW3, that’s good for you and you can save some money.
But the „minor upgrades“ between AW generations have accumulated over the years. Bigger, brighter screen (now always on), more responsive UI, more hardware features … not to mention that the 8 year old battery in your AW3 is probably pretty degraded by now.
You may not need/want any of that, but it’s undeniable that the jump from an AW3 to e.g. an AW10 is massive!
The screen alone on an AW10 looks noticeably better to me than the - already impressive - one in my Ultra2 (leave alone the ones I had in my Series 0 and 4).
Solar powered watches have always been a "look at what we can make" thing, not practical for anything that has the power requirements of a smartwatch.
You'd get skin cancer long before you got enough sun to charge an Apple watch for a day.