Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Upgrade or wait?

The Apple Watch Ultra series has been in the spotlight a lot over the past few years. When it launched in 2022, it represented a big change from the standard Apple Watch, earning acclaim from users who a) could afford it and b) were OK with its larger screen and chunkier body.

Two years later, will the Apple Watch Ultra 3 still be as big a revelation as the original? The short answer: probably not, considering the iterative update of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 isn't expected to feature many major design upgrades compared to the Ultra 2. And even with this second-generation model, the biggest improvement was the display brightness, whereas we were pretty happy with the scorching intensity of the original Watch Ultra's OLED. With rumors swirling that an Ultra 3 will be unveiled at the upcoming Apple event on September 9, the question on everyone's mind is: should I wait and buy the Ultra 3 or just buy the Ultra 2?

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Release date and price

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 on your wrist

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was released in September 2023. As usual with Apple, we expect to see the Ultra 3 this year during the Apple event on September 9, 2024.

There is no major news or predictions on the price of the Ultra 3, and that suggests that the price will likely be the same as it is currently. The Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799/£799/AU$1399 and we expect the third version to be priced the same or similar.

Unlike the standard Apple Watch family, the pricing here is also wonderfully simple. You don't have to worry about sizing, and you don't have to worry about more expensive or cheaper case materials. The strap is made entirely of titanium, and the price remains the same whether you choose an Ocean Band, Trail Loop, or Alpine Loop as your starter strap.

Could this change with the Ultra 3? Maybe if we get new luxury bands.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Design

Apple Watch Ultra 2 dial and straps

(Image credit: Apple)

Don't expect the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to look noticeably different from the Ultra 2. Anyone who is annoyed by this prospect should take a look at the history of the “regular” Apple Watch, which has looked very similar since the series began, except for the shrinking screen bezel.

One change Apple could make that we would love to see is the choice of case color, but we can't honestly say that would necessarily be a good idea.

The Apple Watch Ultra's case is made from a titanium alloy with a relatively rough finish, meaning there's no layer of paint to scratch the shiny metal underneath. If we were to get a Watch Ultra 3 in Space Gray, for example, the damage would probably be much more visible. And that's not what you want on a watch designed for rough outdoor use (although we know a lot of people buy a Watch Ultra just because they want the most expensive Apple gear).

This may be the reason why the Rumored black Watch Ultra 2 never came to fruition.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Display

Apple Watch Ultra 2 with traditional strength training

(Image credit: Future)

Rumor has it that some of you are disappointed with the screen of the Apple Watch Ultra 3. At some point we expected Apple to release a Watch Ultra 3 with a micro-LED instead of OLEDScreen in 2024 or 2025. This project has now been put on hold, according to reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman, because the costs were simply too high.

It's not immediately clear what the real benefit would be, unless MicroLED could deliver massive efficiency savings. The Apple Watch Ultra 2's screen is already incredibly bright, sharp enough, and super rich.

However, we believe that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could feature some design tweaks under the hood to improve the efficiency of the display. Rumors suggest that there will be greater use of low-temperature polyoxide transistor technology. According to TheElectriciansthe new display design uses LTPO in the display driver transistors and not just in the switching transistors as in current models. These driver transistors control the current supplied to the display.

This should hopefully increase energy efficiency. We would like to know how noticeable this will be in real-world use.

End of 2023 Trendforce It's also been hinted that the Apple Watch 3 will have a larger 2.12-inch screen, compared to the 1.92-inch that the Ultra 2 has today. While we'd love to see such an upgrade, we don't want to see the Ultra series get significantly larger. And we don't think that will happen.

There is some scope to fit a larger screen by trimming the bezel of the Watch Ultra 2, which is not insignificant. This also correlates with suggestions that the Apple Watch Series 10 (or Series X) will come in a larger Watch Ultra-sized model with a larger display than ever before.

However, the entire report should not be taken too seriously at this point, as it was assumed that it was also part of Apple's now aborted switch to a Micro-LED panel.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Health features

Apple Watch Ultra 2 with traditional strength training

(Image credit: Future)

Apple HQ is known to have at least three new health features in the works for the Apple Watch. These are sleep apnea detection, blood pressure measurement, and blood sugar monitoring.

What we absolutely do not expect to see in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year is blood sugar monitoring. While non-invasive blood sugar measurements are something of a holy grail among wearables – non-invasive blood sugar measurements – this is anything but easy to implement with the alleged method of blood spectroscopy.

This would in fact mean that diabetics could monitor their condition using the same LEDs and light sensors on the back of the Apple Watch 2 that are used to analyze heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. This could happen in up to seven years, according to a 2023 newsletter. as reported by MacRumors.

The report also casts doubt on whether the other two proposed health features will be rolled out this year (or at least smoothly): blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea. But there is at least some hope that these will come.

“Apple has run into some serious issues, I'm told,” analyst Mark Gurman said of the two features. And they're different. The problems come after Apple had to remove blood oxygen analysis from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US because of an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo. The company claims Apple infringed its medical technology patents when implementing the SpO2 measurement, which was first introduced in 2020's Apple Watch Series 6.

We have to wait and see how this turns out.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Performance and battery life

There are few serious or interesting rumors surrounding the Apple Watch processor, not least because Apple generally does not make any concrete statements about the performance or technical data of the Watch series processors.

However, it is safe to assume that it could be called Apple S10 since the Watch Ultra 2 has an Apple S9 chipset. 9to5Mac expects the new processor could pave the way for AI in a future software update. This would fit with the current rollout of Apple Intelligence. This chipset could and perhaps should bring some efficiency gains. However, we don't expect Apple to change its estimates on the Apple Watch 3's battery life. Our current best guess is that the 36 hours of normal use and 72 hours in low power mode will remain the same.

Preliminary verdict: upgrade or wait?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 isn't the most interesting update Apple has ever made. A bigger screen might be tempting, but we're not sure that's necessarily going to happen.

Important health features are also still up in the air, and even if the Watch Ultra 3 gets a more efficient screen, we doubt how much difference that will make in practice for the average Apple Watch fan.

However, Apple may have some surprises in store: There's a good chance that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be excluded from some AI feature implementations that are set to become a major part of the Apple ecosystem via Apple Intelligence. We'll know more in a few days, but our first instinct is to go ahead and buy a Watch Ultra 2 now instead of waiting for the Ultra 3.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Ultra 2: Upgrade or wait?

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