Apple Watch Ultra 3: Better radio equipment – and hopefully blood pressure measurement

Apple's product policy at Apple Watch was somewhat confusing last autumn: While the standard model, the Series 10, received an adequate hardware update with an enlarged screen, there was only an additional color at the Ultra, the actual top model, it was otherwise at the stand of the Ultra 2 of 2023. With the Ultra 3, which is now expected in September 2025 Hardware renovations come. These concern both health sensors and the built-in radio technology, writes Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman In his newsletter from the weekend.

5G, if not very quickly

The mobile phone connection of the Apple Watch, which is optionally available for the Series 10 and in the Ultra 2, is still running with the outdated LTE technology (alias 4G). With the Ultra 3, there should be an Apple computer clock with 5G support for the first time. According to Gurman, however, this is not “normal” 5G, but the Subset Redcap. 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 a reduced electricity requirement, including sensors, internet-of-thding devices and also wearables.

It is still unclear what this means for the data throughput rate-and whether this is higher than with the current LTE models of the Watch. At the moment, the latency is not exactly ideal depending on the application. The built -in radio chip is said to come from Mediatek from Taiwan, Apple's in -house C1 (or one of his successors) has so far not (yet) fitted into the watch.

Satellite and new sensor

Furthermore, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should also support the transfer of text messages via satellite for the first time, as has been known from the iPhone for several generations. The service should initially be free of charge, but Apple wants to request a subscription fee in the future. To use the satellite function, you need a clear view of the sky – how well this does with Ultra 3 actually have to show tests.

After all, Apple is still working on the possibility of capturing the carrier's blood pressure with the Apple Watch – or at least changes. According to Gurman, however, there are still difficulties with the technical implementation. It remains to be seen whether it will actually appear until autumn – and whether a parallel Apple Watch Series 11 will be supplied with it.