Do you think Ultra 3 will be a 2 year watch like the Ultra 2?

[nippyjun]

I'm wondering if the Ultra 3 will be a 2 year watch like the Ultra 2. I'd be more inclined to get an Ultra 3 if that was the case. Of course no-one knows except for Apple but just like to hear some thoughts on this.

 

[terryw1]

I think so. I’m keeping my ultra2 and trading in the ultra1. I believe I will easily get 2 years out of the ultra3. If the 4 has some really killer features( I doubt it) then I will trade in my 2 for the 4. Easily getting 2-3 years out of each watch.

 

[Tdude96]

I think 2-3 years is very reasonable. It's definitely a want and not a need at this point. I could easily do a 3rd year on my Ultra 2, but I want the extra battery life and satellite communication option. It's not that I'm planning on needing satellite, but the last thing I want to do is go backpacking somewhere, get into trouble, and think "gee, if only" when I absolutely had the ability to get it.

 

[jz0309]

I'm wondering if the Ultra 3 will be a 2 year watch like the Ultra 2. I'd be more inclined to get an Ultra 3 if that was the case. Of course no-one knows except for Apple but just like to hear some thoughts on this.

Maybe, maybe not. I got my U2 on launch in 2023 and I will say that for a 2 year cycle the updates are not impressive, to me. So sticking with my U2 and extending AC+.
Seemingly we should expect a new CPU architecture next year and I cannot imagine that Apple will not out that in the Ultra next year.
I would also expect a re-design with the U4 whenever it comes out.

 

[Mactagonist]

No. It seems like the watch designs are on 3 year cycles. I imagine Apple looked at the competitive landscape and the pace of technology development and decided against dedicating the resources to completely redesign each year.

9, 10, 11 - One series with refinements each year

U1, U2, U3 - one series with refinements each year.

Thus the watches released in 2026 should be the start of a new series.

 

[TKSX]

It should be a 2 year upgrade cycle instead of 1. Even the upgrade between U2 and U3 is not that significant.

 

[jz0309]

No. It seems like the watch designs are on 3 year cycles. I imagine Apple looked at the competitive landscape and the pace of technology development and decided against dedicating the resources to completely redesign each year.

9, 10, 11 - One series with refinements each year

U1, U2, U3 - one series with refinements each year.

Thus the watches released in 2026 should be the start of a new series.

There was no refinement for the Ultra 2 in 2024 - and please do not call a new color a refinement.

 

[JPack]

No, unless you really expect Apple to stick with S10 SiP for the next couple years.