Apple’s next Watch Ultra iteration may include blood pressure monitoring, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This wouldn’t be the first time the feature has been rumoured for the company’s wearable lineup, as previous reports suggested it would debut last year. However, as seen with the launch of the Watch Series 10 in September, the feature was not included.
Another detail pointed out by Gurman is how it may work. Rather than providing actual blood pressure readings, the feature would instead notify users when they may be experiencing hypertension.
Based on this information, provided that it is accurate, it appears that Apple intends to have this new Watch Ultra 3 addition to be a supplementary tool rather than providing actual blood pressure monitoring. This is likely due to the lack of a wrist pump mechanism, which so far is still exclusive to Huawei’s Watch D and Watch D2 smartwatches. And seeing that Apple’s Ultra line-up is more focused on outdoor activities, chances of it featuring one is quite implausible.
In addition to the blood monitoring feature, Gurman says the Watch Ultra 3 could introduce satellite messaging, which would allow users to send messages without relying on cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. While satellite communication has been available on the iPhone since 2022, the Ultra 3 could be the first to offer this functionality without needing a smartphone to pair with. Unfortunately, such features have yet to be made available in Malaysia.
As for hardware, Gurman suggests that the Ultra 3 would come equipped with MediaTek modems, replacing Intel’s. These new modems are said to support 5G Redcap, a service designed specifically for wearables and devices with less demanding data needs.
Unfortunately, the report did not say when Apple plans to unveil its next-gen Watch Ultra model. Provided that the company sticks with its yearly tradition, there is a chance that it might introduce the wearable along with other products, including its new iPhone models, sometime in September next year.
(Source: Bloomberg)
