Rumor: The Next Apple Watch Could Get the Ultra’s Best Feature

Apple is set to announce its next Apple Watches in less than two months and, naturally, rumors are swirling thick and fast.

In years past, it’s become pretty standard practice for Apple to upgrade each of its Apple Watches with improved chips, brighter displays and a few new features without updating the actual design meaningfully.

For example, the Series 9 looks identical to the Series 8 and Series 7. The same is true with the Ultra 2 and the Ultra. And Apple didn’t even update the Apple Watch SE last year — it still sells the 2022 model.

But that could be set to change this year. Some rumors appear to be conflicting, but one of the most reliable leakers, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, has revealed that Apple could be set to give the Series 10 one of the best features of the Ultra 2: a much bigger screen.

The Series 10 could come in a larger, 49mm size

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

For years, Apple has offered its mainstream “Series” Apple Watch in small and big sizes. The Series 9, Series 8 and Series 7 have all big available in either 41mm and 45mm models.

At 49mm, the Ultra 2 (and Ultra) is considerably bigger. Thus, in addition to the rugged design and some advanced features, one of its major selling points has been its size. It’s the best option for those who want a big-screen Apple Watch.

According to Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, the Series 10 could be set to launch in a larger 49mm size, giving it the same display size as the current Ultra 2. This would make the Series 10 significantly more appealing given that it would be a big-screen smartwatch that’s several hundred bucks cheaper than the Ultra 2.

If true, Apple is expected to offer the Series 10 in a 45mm size, while the smaller 41mm size will be reserved for the next-gen Apple Watch SE.

A new low-cost entry-level Apple Watch

Photo by Tucker Bowe

As previously mentioned, Apple didn’t announce a new Apple Watch SE last year — it still sells the second-generation model that was released in 2022. And it sells it for $249, which by entry-level smartwatch standards, it still fairly pricey.

The good news is that Apple looks set to announce a new and improved Apple Watch SE this year. According to Gurman, it’s expected to look very similar to the current model, but with a next-gen chipset and a few new abilities.

The big news is that this third-gen SE could cost just $199, which is $50 cheaper than before. According to Gurman, Apple will achieve this by “swapping out the aluminum shell in favor of rigid plastic.” This could make it a little bit lighter, too.

Expect a third-generation Ultra, too

Tucker Bowe

Most people were surprised that Apple released the Ultra 2 last year. It was expected just to release a “space black” variant of the original Ultra — but that didn’t even happen — and that’s it.

This fall, Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but it likely won’t be a major upgrade over the current Ultra 2. According to Gurman, it’ll get a next-gen chip that “could lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road.”

The Ultra 3 will likely look identical to the current Ultra 2.

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