According to Bloomberg’s always-in-the-apple-loop Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will support satellite messaging. By using satellites, you can send texts even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
There is a chance that the Ultra 3 will also support blood pressure monitoring, but this has been delayed in the past, so it appears less of a safe bet at the moment. Originally, this feature was supposed to be released in 2023. It will not give you an exact reading but will tell you if you are at risk of hypertension. Additionally, a non-invasive blood glucose tracker is still being worked on, but it won’t be available next year.
With the iPhone 14, satellite communication was first introduced in 2022, and last year it was expanded to allow for contact with roadside assistance providers. Apple added the ability to text anyone using iMessage this year. With the Apple Watch Ultra 3, you won’t need your iPhone for all this.
Apple’s new features are intended to reinvigorate smartwatch sales, which have been slow lately. Watch revenue has declined over the past two years as people have had less reason to upgrade. As for satellite messaging and (perhaps) blood pressure monitoring, Apple is betting it will be enough to convince consumers.
Some Apple Watch models will use MediaTek modems instead of Intel’s next year. It would be the first time Apple has purchased a major component from MediaTek. Modems with 5G Redcap support will be available for wearables and other devices that don’t need fast data connections.
