Ultra 4 in Sept 2026?

[AppleForeverandEver]

no, original Ultra.was sold for 1 year, U2 for 2 years and now there's the U3, unchanged, so it's 4 years already w/out re-design in Sep

So, yes, we are looking for a facelift and new features for the U4‼️

 

[sdante]

Anyone seen or heard anything about Apple Watch Ultra 4 dummy units? I suppose by now there should be ones for case makers if design is going to change. I've seen photos and videos of iPhone Ultra dummy units a while ago already, so where are Ultra 4 dummies...?

 

[jz0309]

Anyone seen or heard anything about Apple Watch Ultra 4 dummy units? I suppose by now there should be ones for case makers if design is going to change. I've seen photos and videos of iPhone Ultra dummy units a while ago already, so where are Ultra 4 dummies...?

I do not recall ever seeing "dummies" of any kind of apple wstch, drawings/renders yes, but those were all pretty much wrong

 

[sdante]

I do not recall ever seeing "dummies" of any kind of apple wstch, drawings/renders yes, but those were all pretty much wrong

OK, I might have mistaken then. But has there been any recent leaks of Ultra 4. Those on YouTube seems more or less just copying from each other based on some hazy rumors. Nothing concrete in my opinion. Just wondering if it is worth to wait for this fall...?

 

[jz0309]

OK, I might have mistaken then. But has there been any recent leaks of Ultra 4. Those on YouTube seems more or less just copying from each other based on some hazy rumors. Nothing concrete in my opinion. Just wondering if it is worth to wait for this fall...?

The likelihood that there will be a processor update is pretty high, given the recent drop of S6/7/8/U1 from watchOS 27 this alone might be worth it ...
Historically watch rumors have been sparse and mostly wrong, remember the whole "band attach is changing" rumor?
3 months to go ...

What would be your motivation to not wait?

 

[sdante]

Historically watch rumors have been sparse and mostly wrong, remember the whole "band attach is changing" rumor?

Yeah, I remember that. I wonder if that was a hoax, or are they actually still planning this. I mean when they changed iPhone from "round" edge design to flat edge in 12 Pro it would have made sense also Apple Watch design would change to imitate that but now we are (I think) close to time when iPhone will change back to round edge design this would be late for AW.

What would be your motivation to not wait?

Just that Ultra 3 is selling for nice discount right now. Of course if Ultra 4 comes this fall, it is a no brainer to wait for it no matter the price. But if it turns out they just keep selling the Ultra 3 for another year with some updated straps of colors like they did with Ultra 2 will be a huge disappointment.

 

[jz0309]

Yeah, I remember that. I wonder if that was a hoax, or are they actually still planning this. I mean when they changed iPhone from "round" edge design to flat edge in 12 Pro it would have made sense also Apple Watch design would change to imitate that but now we are (I think) close to time when iPhone will change back to round edge design this would be late for AW.


Just that Ultra 3 is selling for nice discount right now. Of course if Ultra 4 comes this fall, it is a no brainer to wait for it no matter the price. But if it turns out they just keep selling the Ultra 3 for another year with some updated straps of colors like they did with Ultra 2 will be a huge disappointment.

Just remember that the U2 did get a processor/SiP update, I upgraded from U1 to U2 and it was a noticeable difference.
But yea, if the case design isn't changing ...

As for the band attachment, they could have easily done that for the Ultra but they didn't. I don't think there is any technical reason to change it, except a significant change in form factor, eg a round watch, but that's a rumor for another time 😉

 

[xDKP]

That video is nothing more than clickbait.

Hate these “confirmed!!” videos

 

[AppleForeverandEver]

I am thinking the Ultra 4 will be worth waiting on. If they decrease the case size, I am in! More powerful CpU with more efficient circuitry could give us the same battery performance in a smaller case using the same bands‼️

 

[sdante]

Just remember that the U2 did get a processor/SiP update, I upgraded from U1 to U2 and it was a noticeable difference.

I know but I meant they sold Ultra 2 for 2 years only by upgrading new color option on the second year. I hope the same is not happening again with Ultra 3.

But yea, if the case design isn't changing ...

I guess I could live with that. Nothing to complain with Ultra 1 case either, except that I prefer to sleep wearing normal Apple Watch, so I'll be getting AW 11 now for that purpose and wait for fall before getting new Ultra.

As for the band attachment, they could have easily done that for the Ultra but they didn't. I don't think there is any technical reason to change it, except a significant change in form factor, eg a round watch, but that's a rumor for another time 😉

Indeed. I guess the only real reason would be that they get to sell us a new set of straps.

EDIT: And honestly I hate the idea of round smart watch. I very much prefer rectangular form factor.

 

[mjpearce023]

I am thinking the Ultra 4 will be worth waiting on. If they decrease the case size, I am in! More powerful CpU with more efficient circuitry could give us the same battery performance in a smaller case using the same bands‼️

Same! The only reason I didn't keep the ultra 3 was the thickness. The other thing Id really like to see is the screen to extend all the way to the titanium bezel. That would be the perfect ultra.

 

[the future]

no, original Ultra.was sold for 1 year, U2 for 2 years and now there's the U3, unchanged, so it's 4 years already w/out re-design in Sep

4 years, but 3 generations. Will be interesting if the redesign-every-4th-gen pattern from the Series Watches will hold true for the Ultra as well.

 

[jz0309]

4 years, but 3 generations. Will be interesting if the redesign-every-4th-gen pattern from the Series Watches will hold true for the Ultra as well.

Indeed, while I live the current design, I think keeping it unchanged will hurt sales.
For me, it'll be most interesting to see where they are going to take AW this year, by that I mean shifting to more of a "AI input device" vs improving health features.
We'll find out in 3 months

 

[BigMcGuire]

Indeed, while I live the current design, I think keeping it unchanged will hurt sales.
For me, it'll be most interesting to see where they are going to take AW this year, by that I mean shifting to more of a "AI input device" vs improving health features.
We'll find out in 3 months

While I use AI - I'm much more of a - I'd like a Watch with health/exercise monitoring features device rather than an AI input device. But that's me. My guess is everything is going to move to AI input device (the trend with AI glasses, etc).

I may be keeping my AWU3 for a long long time. 😛

 

[jz0309]

While I use AI - I'm much more of a - I'd like a Watch with health/exercise monitoring features device rather than an AI input device. But that's me. My guess is everything is going to move to AI input device (the trend with AI glasses, etc).

I may be keeping my AWU3 for a long long time. 😛

I totally get that, I will still have to digest all the announcements from this week but so far I still do not see a reason for me to use Siri AI, and the other Apple Intelligence features are not compelling to me either. All that coming from a retirees perspective and trying to understand how AI can improve my life, so far, I just don't see it but I understand that others see it different.
So yes, I will absolutely adjust my AW plans after the Sep announcements until I understand what is actually announced.

 

[The Game 161]

made the mistake of selling my ultra 2 before launch only to get a similar device. may sell after the ultra 4 is out to see if it's worth upgrading

 

[AppleForeverandEver]

I don’t really care about the the Siri/ AI functions. More interested in the updated HR sensor and a little bit smaller version of the Ultra. Not sure if all the new Apple Watches will have an updated sensor, if they do then might go with a 12 Ti in black.

Is it September yet?

 

[BillyBurke]

Have seen a few 'rumor' video's and webpages about the Apple Watch Ultra 4 that 'may' be coming in September.

Of the suspected updates, I'm looking forward to a thinner design the most. Not that the Ultra 3 is to big but a bit thinner would be 'gooder' IMO.

Personally the current battery life is fine with me. I generally charge it 15-20 minutes a day while I shower.
Longer life would be nice though.

Thoughts?

I have UW2. The UW3 wasn't a big enough leap for me. The UW4 probably will be, PROVIDED my fancy titanium watchband will still fit.

 

[Macdctr]

I have UW2. The UW3 wasn't a big enough leap for me. The UW4 probably will be, PROVIDED my fancy titanium watchband will still fit.

I’m the same here . . . AWU2 user here waiting to see whether or not AWU4 will actually come out in September then check out everything the new Ultra has to offer before deciding to upgrade. I know some who do upgrade either sell their old watches or they hand them down to family.

I did this with my AW7 when I upgraded to my AWU2 by giving my old watch to my brother. This time around I will be keeping my AWU2 and place it in my collection of Apple products instead 😎

 

[jz0309]

I’m the same here . . . AWU2 user here waiting to see whether or not AWU4 will actually come out in September then check out everything the new Ultra has to offer before deciding to upgrade. I know some who do upgrade either sell their old watches or they hand them down to family.

I did this with my AW7 when I upgraded to my AWU2 by giving my old watch to my brother. This time around I will be keeping my AWU2 and place it in my collection of Apple products instead 😎

last time I checked my U2 had a trade-in value with Apple of $290, not bad for almost 3 years old. And what I like about the trade-in with Apple is that you get to keep the puck and the band, worth something, to me.
And I will do the same, see what Apple announces and then decide. Another are no really any credible rumors out there other than the processor upgrade

 

[1rottenapple]

Anyone seen or heard anything about Apple Watch Ultra 4 dummy units? I suppose by now there should be ones for case makers if design is going to change. I've seen photos and videos of iPhone Ultra dummy units a while ago already, so where are Ultra 4 dummies...?

Because there’s no upgraded redesign. Typical there’s already cad files sent to case maker 6 to 8 months before a new design is sent out.

 

[JPack]

Because there’s no upgraded redesign. Typical there’s already cad files sent to case maker 6 to 8 months before a new design is sent out.

Data isn’t free. If you had the files, would you post them for everyone to see? No, you’d sell them to case makers. Those case makers would also protect the data because they want to be first out the gate in September.

So the fact there’s no public showing yet of the redesign doesn’t mean much.

 

[sdante]

Because there’s no upgraded redesign. Typical there’s already cad files sent to case maker 6 to 8 months before a new design is sent out.

Exactly what I'm thinking. We either get just a chip update or another year with Ultra 3 like happened with U2.
I'm afraid market situation with AI boom can cause delays and changes in part pricing. Might be easier just to sell old chip especially if there is some overstock already.

Data isn’t free. If you had the files, would you post them for everyone to see? No, you’d sell them to case makers. Those case makers would also protect the data because they want to be first out the gate in September.

So the fact there’s no public showing yet of the redesign doesn’t mean much.

Then why we have already seen several videos showing iPhone fold and iPhone 18 series dummy units for case makers? Why all the sudden AWU dummy is well kept secret by them if they keep showing the iPhone dummies. Does not make any sense to me.

IMHO, based on no CAD files or dummy units of AWU, there will be no design changes in casing.

 

[1rottenapple]

Exactly what I'm thinking. We either get just a chip update or another year with Ultra 3 like happened with U2.
I'm afraid market situation with AI boom can cause delays and changes in part pricing. Might be easier just to sell old chip especially if there is some overstock already.


Then why we have already seen several videos showing iPhone fold and iPhone 18 series dummy units for case makers? Why all the sudden AWU dummy is well kept secret by them if they keep showing the iPhone dummies. Does not make any sense to me.

IMHO, based on no CAD files or dummy units of AWU, there will be no design changes in casing.

Seems like the 18 is just a rehash of the 17 design based on leaks. Even the Ulra iphone (fold) its basically confirmed, we just don't know the exact camera specs, or other minor details.

Man I miss the days when keynotes were actually surprising, these days its the software or processor that will surprise us.

 

[sdante]

Man I miss the days when keynotes were actually surprising, these days its the software or processor that will surprise us.

My thoughts exactly. Especially in EU even software updates are mostly something we don't get, so biggest updates are just hardware related. I mean I can't really much tell the difference between WatchOS 8 and watchOS 26, only some added health or hardware related features but mostly other functions are 1:1 and the same goes with IOS and MacOS. Mostly noticeable things are new wallpapers and watch faces here.