The Apple Watch Ultra 3, scheduled to be released next year, will be the first Apple Watch model to feature satellite connectivity, writes Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman in a new report.
Per the report, Apple is planning to introduce satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 next year with the same satellite feature set as that on recent iPhone generations. This means that Apple Watch users will get to contact emergency services, request roadside assistance, and use iMessage when no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage is present.
With this feature, Apple hopes to spur demand for its premium Watch line, which was left with no upgrades this year. Apple Watch Series 10 debuted alongside the iPhone 16 in September, while the Ultra 2 was left unchanged, save for a new black titanium finish. Apple also aims to cut into the sales of devices like Garmin’s inReach, a small radio-like satellite communicator.
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The satellite connectivity feature seems unlikely to also launch on the tentatively-named Apple Watch Series 11 as Apple would like to reserve the new feature to its most premium Watch model. Satellite connectivity will also stress the smartwatch’s battery life, with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 likely taking a smaller hit than other models due to its massive battery capacity.
