Apple Watch Ultra 3 to have two key connectivity improvements

Apple didn’t introduce a new generation of the Apple Watch Ultra last year. Instead, the company announced a new black titanium version for the current generation. This year, however, Apple Watch Ultra 3 will get some hardware upgrades – and that includes key improvements when it comes to connectivity.

5G and satellite connectivity coming to Apple Watch Ultra 3

A recent Bloomberg report corroborated rumors about connectivity upgrades being developed for the Apple Watch Ultra 3. More specifically, this year’s Ultra model will be the first Apple Watch to support satellite connectivity and 5G.

Satellite connectivity was first added to the iPhone 14, and it enables the Emergency SOS feature via satellite. As the name suggests, it lets users point the iPhone in the right direction until it connects to a satellite in order to call emergency services when there’s no cellular or Wi-Fi signal available. The feature has become known for saving the lives of many people in high-risk situations.

Last year, with iOS 18, Apple also enabled sending and receiving SMS and iMessage via satellite when there’s no cellular coverage. These features can be extremely useful for Apple Watch Ultra users, as this version of the Apple Watch is designed for intense activities such as diving and hiking.

As for 5G, current Apple Watch models are still limited to LTE connectivity, while the iPhone gained 5G support in 2020. 5G enables faster transfer speeds as well as lower latency. While most users don’t download large files on their Apple Watch, they can benefit from having 5G coverage where 3G or 4G isn’t available.

On the Watch, Apple will use 5G Redcap – a version of 5G designed for IoT devices that is not as fast as standard 5G, but uses much less power. According to Mark Gurman, Apple will adopt a MediaTek modem to enable 5G and satellite connectivity rather than using its own C1 chip introduced with the iPhone 16e.

Apple is expected to announce Apple Watch Ultra 3 in September.

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