Apple Watch Ultra 3 to Get iPhone-Like Satellite Messaging Support, Blood Pressure Tracking: Report

Apple first added the satellite messaging service in its iPhone 14 lineup.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 11 December 2024 14:14 IST

Apple Watch Ultra 3 to Get iPhone-Like Satellite Messaging Support, Blood Pressure Tracking: Report

Photo Credit: Apple

Apple announced a new colour option and bands for Watch Ultra 2 in September

Highlights

Apple Watch Ultra 3 will reportedly come with MediaTek modems
Apple associated with Global Star to provide satellite-based messaging
Apple was expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on September 9

Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to be unveiled in 2025. As we wait for an official confirmation about its existence, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has claimed that Apple is working on incorporating a satellite-based messaging feature on its upcoming Watch Ultra model. This will allow users to send and receive short messages without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. Apple introduced a satellite-based SOS emergency service in September last year alongside the iPhone 14 lineup. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 could also bring blood pressure monitoring, a feature that was initially said to be introduced last year.

Apple's Next Ultra Smartwatch Could Offer Satellite Messaging

In a new Bloomberg report, Mark Gurman, citing internal sources, states that Apple will add support for satellite messaging in next year's Watch Ultra 3. The technology will let wearers send off-the-grid text messages via Global Star's fleet of satellites when they don't have access to a cellular or Wi-Fi network. This would make the Apple Watch Ultra 3 the first mainstream smartwatch to gain satellite communication support like Apple and Huawei smartphones.

Apple first added the satellite messaging service in its iPhone 14 lineup. The Cupertino-based company has associated with Global Star to provide satellite-based SOS emergency service on iPhone models. Enabling this functionality in wearables will help users stay connected without smartphones no matter where their adventures take them.

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In addition to satellite connectivity, Apple is reportedly working on bringing blood pressure monitoring for the Apple Watch by 2025. The company had previously aimed to release this feature last year. It is likely to work similarly to Apple's sleep apnea detector.

Further, Gurman states that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will come with MediaTek modems instead of Intel's. The new modems reportedly include support for 5G Redcap.

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Apple was expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on September 9 at the company's "It's Glowtime" event alongside the iPhone 16, but that didn't happen. Instead, Apple announced a new colour option and bands for the Watch Ultra 2. Notably, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously claimed that the Watch Ultra 3 will be launched in 2025 alongside the third-generation Apple Watch SE.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display Size 49mm

Compatible OS iOS

Dial Shape Rectangle

Display Type OLED Retina

Ideal For Unisex

More Apple Smartwatches

iPhone 14

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Good overall performance
Great camera quality in daylight
iOS ecosystem and ease of use

Bad
Dated design and notch
Very similar to iPhone 13
Relatively slow charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 14 review

Display 6.06-inch

Processor Apple A15 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 1170x2532 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3 Specifications, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple

Nithya P Nair

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Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More