Last fall, Apple announced three Watches: Series 8, SE second generation and the all-new Apple Watch Ultra. The larger, more rugged Ultra is designed for those who like more extreme sports, though the truth is the big display is so glorious, it’s hard to go back to a smaller Watch after you’ve tried the Ultra.
So, will there be a new Apple Watch Ultra revealed this year? Here’s what we think we know about what it will be and when we can buy one.
Release Date
Apple looks set to announce this year’s iPhones in the coming weeks, almost certainly on Tuesday, September 12—you can read full details of when the special event will be and when it is likely to be announced here.
At the same time, there’ll be two new Apple Watches revealed, it’s thought. No new Apple Watch SE. Like other SE products, an annual refresh is not on the cards.
But there will be Apple Watch Series 9, in two familiar sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and with familiar designs. They will look identical to Series 8, it’s believed, save for some new colors.
And reliable tipsters like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have said they expect Apple Watch Ultra 2 to be revealed at the same time.
In which case, release date is very probably the same as the iPhones, expected to be Friday, September 22.
What’s In A Name?
It won’t, I’d venture, be called Apple Watch Ultra 2 (I’m calling it that here for simplicity’s sake, forgive me). It would just be too confusing to have a Series 9 and something with number 2 in the title at the same time. Apple will call it Apple Watch Ultra and will remove the current Ultra from sale. Look closely and you’ll find the words “second generation” somewhere to indicate this is the new one.
Design
Apple has literally never changed the design of any of its Watches after a year. So the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will look identical to the current one.
Except.
Just as the colors of the Watch change most years, it’s just possible that the Ultra 2 will come in a new color. I’d still expect there to be a version that looks the same as now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a new shade appears alongside. Mark Gurman and others have suggested this could be a Space Black finish.
This makes sense: earlier Apple Watch Edition models in titanium finish offered a Space Black finish, which was lustrous and gorgeous. Fingers crossed that’s what happens this time.
However, I think rumors that the screen size will grow are misplaced and it will have the same 1.9-inch screen found on the current model.
Processor
Some reports, including one from Mark Gurman, say that the big change to all the Watches this year will be the processor, which is likely to be a big step forward compared to earlier years. It seems it will be based on the Apple A15 Bionic chip, which debuted in the iPhone 13 Pro and is also in the iPhone 14. It’s likely to be called the S9 chip.
If the new Series 9 gets this much faster chip, it’s certain that a new Ultra 2 will, as well.
And in fact, that emphasizes the likelihood that there will be an Ultra 2. It would be a bit weird if the existing Ultra with its S8 chip is still on sale at the top of the price range while the most affordable Series 9 has a much fancier processor, right? Especially if it’s the upgrade we’re expecting.
It Could Be Lighter But No microLED
One report, from Weibo user Setsuna Digital, claims the next Ultra will be lighter. Well, it’s the heaviest Apple Watch at 51.5g, so that could be good. The weight loss might be down to some 3D-printed mechanical parts, which is something Ming-Chi Kuo from TFI Securities predicted last month.
But rumors of microLED for the screen technology are premature, I believe, and anyway, they would put the price up.
Price
That’s almost certainly going to be exactly what it is now, that is, $799 (£849 in the U.K.).
Not long until we find out for certain.
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