As Apple gears up for its 2024 flagship product announcements, including the anticipated iPhone 16, a surprising development has emerged concerning the Apple Watch lineup. Contrary to previous expectations, it appears that Apple will not unveil a new iteration of its high-end, rugged Apple Watch Ultra.
In a recent update posted on X, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, renowned for his accurate insights into Apple’s plans, revealed a shift in expectations. Gurman now suggests that an Apple Watch Ultra 3 will not be announced at tomorrow’s event. Instead, it appears that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will continue to be available, with the addition of a new black color option. Gurman also hints at a potential delay for the new Apple Watch SE model.
This new development marks a significant departure from Gurman’s earlier predictions. Just a week ago, he had forecasted that Apple would refresh its entire Apple Watch lineup simultaneously, introducing a new Apple Watch SE, a mid-tier Series 10, and an Apple Watch Ultra 3.
The absence of the Ultra 3 raises intriguing questions. The Apple Watch Ultra is positioned as the premium model within Apple’s smartwatch range, so the lack of a new version could lead to a situation where the Series 10, expected to debut with advanced features and a more recent processor, would technically surpass the Ultra 2 in performance. This would seem counterintuitive, given the Ultra’s status as Apple’s flagship model.
Given this unexpected twist, it seems more plausible that any new Ultra model would have featured incremental updates, such as a color change and a processor enhancement to align with the Series 10. The anticipated delay of the Apple Watch SE could be brief if it is announced at the keynote, with a release expected in the weeks following the event.
Gurman’s insights are typically reliable, making this shift a noteworthy development in the tech world. As the details of Apple’s announcements become clear, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the company’s smartwatch strategy. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.
