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New Apple Watches are on their way. With less than a week to go before Apple's big September 9th product reveal, all signs point to us getting a new Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. It's less clear if an Apple Watch SE 3 is also in the cards.
What will these new devices offer over 2023's releases? And which is bound to be the more impressive model? I've been keeping tabs on all the leaks and rumors since the day after the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 dropped last September. And while plenty of details are still very much up in the air, we now have a decent idea of what to expect, wearables-wise, come Monday.
Based on everything I've learned so far, here's how Apple's forthcoming smartwatches might compare in terms of potential price, design, features and battery life. Also, read on to find out which one I recommend buying (at least until we get some hands-on time with whatever Apple announces).
Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3: price and availability
I expect Apple to keep prices for the latest Apple Watches consistent with last year's models. That means that the Watch 10 will likely start at $399 for the smaller model without cellular while the Ultra 3 will probably cost around $799, the same as the Ultra 2 (which only comes with cellular).
As noted above, Apple has a launch event on Monday, September 9 where we anticipate the new devices making their debut, with units potentially shipping as soon as later this month.
Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3: design
It's unlikely that we'll see major design shifts in either the Ultra or standard Apple Watch lines this go-around. However, larger displays for both models may come to fruition.
Reports suggest that the screen on the Ultra 3 could jump in size by roughly 10%, from a 1.93-inch panel to a 2.12-inch screen.
The Apple Watch 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm but some industry insiders suggest that Apple plans to ditch the smaller model when it comes to the Apple Watch 10 in favor of a new 49mm option, which would be roughly the same size as the Ultra 2.
There's also a good chance the Apple Watch 10 will sport a slimmer bezel, allowing for a larger screen on the 45mm model compared to last year's version and a thinner overall design than its predecessor.
Rumors additionally suggest that the display on the Watch 10 will feature a flat edge, like on the Ultra series, rather than a rounded edge, like all other non-Ultra Apple Watches prior.
Sadly, though, it doesn't appear that the Ultra's customizable Action Button will be incorporated into the Apple Watch 10's design.
Lastly, the Apple Watch 10 may get a new magnetic strap attachment mechanism that takes up less precious real estate on the underside of the watch case. Of course, this likely means that the new Apple Watch won't be compatible with current generation straps. Boo.
Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3: features and specs
Expect the Apple Watch 10 and Ultra 3 to launch running Apple's latest watchOS 11 software, which includes new features like the ability to pause your Activity Rings and more intuitively organize your Smart Stack.
The updated software also brings the brand's excellent Check In safety feature to Apple Watch for the first time, and it introduces a new Vitals app for monitoring key health indicators. Apple's Translation app is additionally available in watchOS 11, which is presently in public beta, with support for 20 languages.
Those are the features we're certain of, while the following are based on peeps and murmurs.
For example, the addition of sleep apnea and hypertension detection have long been rumored for both the Apple Watch 10 and Ultra 3. However, due to Apple's ongoing legal kerfuffle with rival Masimo over who copied who's blood oxygen monitoring tech, those upgrades may not make it into 2024's models.
We do expect to see some new health-based features, though. For instance, Training Load, a metric introduced with watchOS 11, measures workout intensity and calculates how it's affecting your overall training progress.
I also wouldn't be surprised if Apple introduced some sort of daily metric to reflect a user's overall well-being, similar to Google/Fitbit's Readiness Score and Samsung's Energy Score.
Finally, I suspect both new smartwatches will benefit from an upgraded processor, likely the latest S10 chip, which may make them more responsive and less power-hungry. However, I don't anticipate there being many/any Apple Intelligence features baked into the latest Apple Watches, as Apple is concentrating on the iPhone, iPad and Mac with its new AI-driven tools.
Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3: battery life
One good reason that the Apple Watch Ultra series costs twice as much as the standard Apple Watch series is its superior battery life. The Apple Watch 9 gets roughly 18 hours of use per charge compared to 36 hours on the Ultra 2. Low power mode pushes those numbers closer to 36 hours for the Series 9 and 72 hours for the Ultra 2.
Will we see longevity improvements with the latest releases? It's possible! According to one Apple insider, the company may use low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technology on the new devices' displays, which has the potential to significantly improve power consumption without sacrificing maximum brightness.
Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3: which should you buy?
To me, the Apple Watch 10 seems poised to be the more notable upgrade between the two devices, especially if it launches in a new, larger 49mm size option.
Significant battery life improvements to Apple's core smartwatch line would also make the Apple Watch 10 an obvious upgrade. While the Ultra series has long boasted best-in-class longevity, the Apple Watch 9 offers the same 18 hours of battery as the Apple Watch 8 — in other words, it's time for some improvements.
Of course, there's still an enormous question mark over which health monitoring features these new smartwatches will or won't have.
Ultimately, once Tim Cook has left the stage and the house lights come on, I've got my money on the Apple Watch 10 being the smartwatch that folks are most excited about, particularly if it manages to launch for less than $400.
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