Apple Watch Ultra 3 Announces Two Major Upgrades

Apple is reportedly gearing up to release the new Apple Watch Ultra 3, featuring two major upgrades that significantly set it apart from its predecessors.

A Technological Leap for the Next Apple Watch

The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 is set to feature satellite connectivity and a new 5G modem, according to a recent report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. This marks a significant advancement, highlighting Apple’s ambition to evolve its products.

A New 5G Modem

Gurman’s report indicates that Apple plans to equip its premium watch with a new MediaTek modem which supports wireless 5G service. This modem will support Red Cap, a low-power version of 5G designed specifically for wearable devices. Current Apple Watches, which support cellular connection, use an Intel modem operating on 4G LTE, while iPhones have offered 5G since at least 2020 with the iPhone 12.

Satellite Connectivity and Future Advances

Regarding satellite connectivity, the new feature would enable texting outside the range of cellular networks or Wi-Fi. Apple introduced the Emergency SOS feature on the iPhone 14, allowing people in danger to send texts via satellite. This same connectivity capability is expected to be available on the next Watch Ultra.

In the future, Apple might offer a version of its new C1 modem, introduced with the iPhone 16, tailored specifically for wearable devices.

An AI-Enhanced Camera

The remainder of Gurman’s report discusses Apple’s efforts to integrate an AI-enhanced camera in future Apple Watches. If Apple can finalize the camera in time, we might see the new, more advanced and better-connected Apple Watch Ultra 3 launch in September alongside the new iPhone 17 range.