Gurman: Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 to Feature New Heart Rate Monitor, More Accurate Sensors, U2 Chip, and More

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will offer several previously undisclosed features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims.

In a detailed report outlining his full expectations for Apple's "Wonderlust" event, Gurman said that the Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will offer various sensor and component upgrades, with a general "focus on speed, efficiency, and accuracy." These changes will include a new version of Apple's optical heart rate sensor. The Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 feature Apple's third-generation optical heart rate sensor.

The new Apple Watches will also feature an all-new "U2" ultra wideband chip, the first generational iteration of the component since the U1 chip's 2019 introduction in the iPhone 11 Pro. The new chip will improve the Apple Watch's location capabilities, allowing people and devices to be tracked more precisely in the Find My App. It is apparently set to come to all of the next versions of Apple's major products, including the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will be manufactured with more recycled materials, as well as come in a black color option for the first time. As previously reported, the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 9 will feature a 3D-printed casing. Apple plans to start manufacturing the Apple Watch Ultra with the technology starting next year.

This year's main Apple Watch upgrade will be a new processor, which has to date effectively not been changed throughout three successive generations of the device. Apple apparently plans to "heavily tout major gains in processing speed" during its "Wonderlust" event.

The new Apple Watch models will otherwise be largely unchanged compared to their predecessors. The company also plans to shift away from some of its leather watch bands, and there are signs that Apple may finally update or discontinue the Link Bracelet introduced alongside the original Apple Watch.

Article Link: Gurman: Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 to Feature New Heart Rate Monitor, More Accurate Sensors, U2 Chip, and More

 

[fatTribble]

Well this may be the year I retire my trusty Series 4! 🥰😥

 

[wanha]

Here we go again with Apple forcing U2 on its users

 

[Rychiar]

I was laughing last night when I pressed play on my moms phone and that U2 album is the only thing in there so it played

 

[Kylo83]

Is that it, I want a brighter display, the u1 is already fine no one has ever said it’s not good

 

[AirunJae]

Sounds encouraging, especially since I was expecting it to maybe just be chip update and that's it.

 

[Kylo83]

It would be nice is we went into the event with something new we haven’t heard from the leaks

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Delete

 

[ProfessionalFan]

It would be nice is we went into the event with someone new we haven’t heard from the leaks

You visit a site called MacRumors, so you are kinda doing it to yourself.

 

[solq]

Give it something like a 1-week battery life to make it actually useful...

 

[alexandr]

I want a goddamn thermometer!!!

 

[alexandr]

It would be nice is we went into the event with someone new we haven’t heard from the leaks

I'm someone new, would you like to go into the event with me?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I'm someone new, would you like to go into the event with me?

I'll swipe right.

I think you just gave MR a new business venture to look into.

 

[alexandr]

I'll swipe right.

I think you just gave MR a new business venture to look into.

Thanks for the morning self-esteem boost))) I think you might be right)

 

[jclardy]

Wow, finally, a new U2 chip the year that the original U2 chip gets its actual first feature in iOS 17...

 

[srknpower]

Really good news. So it will be a bigger upgrade than Series 8 despite the previous claims.

 

[fatTribble]

Here we go again with Apple forcing U2 on its users

This was literally me (minus the popcorn)

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Well this may be the year I retire my trusty Series 4! 🥰😥

I was thinking the same thing. Based on the descriptions, it sounds like the major upgrade the Series 4 also was.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Don’t need speed. Been fine since series 3, and my series 4 has never struggled. What I need is battery life. Disappointed. Guess It’ll be another Garmin this year.

 

[darthbane2k]

This has confirmed to me that we are also getting a 2nd generation of AirTag

 

[fatTribble]

I was thinking the same thing. Based on the descriptions, it sounds like the major upgrade the Series 4 also was.

It’s a tough call given the rumors of the Series 10 next year being a big release. 🤔

 

[Kylo83]

The watch is fast enough and the sensors are fine, I wanted the brighter screen from the ultra

 

[Anappleaday29]

Well this may be the year I retire my trusty Series 4! 🥰😥

Same, and then when the standard AWs get the redesign, I’ll offload the S9 for a good amount of money & then stay with the 10 or whatever it may be for the foreseeable future.

 

[zigzag801]

I wonder if “more accurate sensors” will mean people with tattoos will be able to use the watch without it locking after every use.

 

[fwmireault]

Apple apparently plans to "heavily tout major gains in processing speed."

Honestly it seems for me that the S6-7-8 chip is already fast enough, what we need is more efficiency to gain more battery life. We don't need a ridiculously powerful Apple Watch