Apple is gearing up for its much-anticipated ‘It’s Glowtime’ event scheduled for September 9, during which the tech company will unveil the iPhone 16 series. With these phones, Apple plans to introduce big changes along with the increasingly popular Apple Watch line.
Apple is celebrating ten years since the debut of the Apple Watch, as the company will reportedly introduce the Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and possibly a new Apple Watch SE model. This watch will bring improvements in design and performance, improving everything related to the user experience.
Apple Watch Series 10 The Apple Watch Series 10 will celebrate the device’s 10-year anniversary, and to celebrate, Apple wants to make some major changes. Industry reports claim that the new 10 Series will see an increase in screen size for its smaller and larger models: the smaller variant will grow to 45mm from the 9 Series’ 41mm, and the larger will likely grow to 49mm from 45mm.
It would use LTPO technology on the display itself – a key feature for OLED screens to dynamically adjust refresh rates for better battery efficiency. This larger size comes with a slimmer chassis design that Apple is focusing on and keeps the watch sleek so it doesn’t make the Series 10 overweight or uncomfortable on the wrist. Internally, the Apple Watch Series 10 will likely feature the new S10 chip, which would include a dedicated Neural Engine for improved AI processing. The chip upgrade will give the watch a much-needed performance boost and pave the way for future AI-driven capabilities, though it’s unlikely to launch right away.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Apple Watch Ultra 3, meanwhile, should be the top-of-the-line model at launch, but the design changes won’t be noticeable. The smartwatch will retain the same rugged and solid construction as previous years to target extreme athletes and those who enjoy the outdoors.
However, this year’s watch is rumored to get a performance boost via the same S10 chip in the 10 series. While AI-based features are still largely in development for the Apple Watch, the use of the S10 chip in the Ultra 3 suggests that Apple is already laying the groundwork for upgrades in this area. Meanwhile, there could be a minor improvement in battery life in the Ultra 3, with reports already suggesting a slight increase in battery size over the Apple Watch Ultra 2 2023.
Apple Watch SE
Alongside the flagship models, Apple is to refresh the cheaper version of the Apple Watch SE. If reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman are anything to go by, the new Apple Watch SE may use a “hard plastic” body, which could ultimately help lower the cost of manufacturing the device. It remains unclear whether Apple would pass the savings on to consumers or use the same price for more features.
It will most likely be powered by last year’s S9 chip, but that’s anyone’s guess, perhaps the company could use a more powerful S10 chip to make the device somewhat more secure. The added processing oomph would also allow the Apple Watch SE to gain features like an always-on display and ECG monitoring to help bridge the gap with the higher-end lineup.
