Apple Watch Ultra 3: Better wireless, hopefully better blood pressure monitoring

Apple's product policy for the Apple Watch was somewhat confusing last autumn: while the standard model, the Series 10, received an adequate hardware update including an enlarged screen. The Ultra, the actual top model, only had an additional color as the only new feature and otherwise remained at the level of the Ultra 2 from 2023. With the Ultra 3, which is now expected in September 2025, a series of hardware innovations are finally to come. These concern both the health sensors and the built-in wireless technology, writes Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman in his newsletter at the weekend.

5G, even if not very fast

Currently, the Apple Watch's mobile connection, which is optional for the Series 10 and standard for the Ultra 2, still uses outdated LTE technology (aka 4G). The Ultra 3 will be the first Apple Watch with 5G support. According to Gurman, however, this is not "normal" 5G, but the RedCap subset. This is a 5G subset with a reduced range of functions, with the "RedCap" standing for "Reduced Capabilities". The technology was specially developed for applications with reduced power requirements, including sensors, Internet-of-Things devices and wearables.

It is still unclear what this means for the data throughput rate, and whether this will be higher than with the current LTE models of the Watch. Currently, the latency is not exactly ideal, depending on the application. The built-in radio chip is said to come from MediaTek in Taiwan; Apple's own C1 (or one of its successors) does not (yet) fit into the Watch.

Satellite and new sensor

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will also support the transmission of text messages via satellite for the first time, as has been the case with the iPhone for several generations. The service should initially be free of charge, but Apple intends to charge a subscription fee in the future. To use the satellite function, you need a clear view of the sky – Only tests will show how well this actually works with the Ultra 3.

Finally, Apple is still working on the possibility of using the Apple Watch to record the wearer's blood pressure – or at least modify it. According to Gurman, however, there are still difficulties with the technical implementation. Whether it will actually appear by the fall – and whether a parallel planned Apple Watch Series 11 will also be equipped with it – remains to be seen.

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(bsc)