As part of his expectations for Apple’s “Wonderlust” event on Tuesday, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports new details surrounding expected features and improvements heading for the company’s next-gen Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2.
Gurman reiterates that Apple is preparing a much-needed CPU performance boost to the upcoming Series 9 and Ultra models in the form of a new S9 System-in-Package (SiP) processor. At this point, it remains unclear how much faster this chip would be compared to the last few S-series processors, which essentially packed the same CPU cores as the S6 chip on 2020’s Watch Series 6.
Like the iPhone 15 lineup, the new Apple Watch models will pack an upgraded “U2” ultrawide-band (UWB) chip. Compared to the current U1 chip which first made its way onto the Apple Watch starting with Series 6, this upgraded component is anticipated to markedly enhance location accuracy, enabling more precise tracking of both people and devices within the Find My app. Apple also intends to integrate this chip into the “next versions” of all its major product lines.
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Another big improvement headed for the Apple Watch is the inclusion of “a new version of Apple’s optical heart rate sensor,” adds Gurman. The new sensor will reportedly be faster and more precise, with these improvements also heading to various other sensors and internal components.
Gurman also reiterates previous reports of Apple utilizing 3D printing to manufacture stainless steel watch cases for the Apple Watch Series 9. This move is also planned for the upcoming Ultra 2 with the change in the manufacturing process planned to commence next year. The more immediate Ultra 2 units will still be built using more sustainable materials that include recycled metals and a new black titanium color option.
