Apple Watch Ultra 3 to bring in satellite connectivity
The Apple Watch Ultra is going to change the game once more in 2025, adding a feature never seen before satellite connectivity. This game-changing update, which will allow users to send text messages and make emergency calls even when outside the range of cellular networks or Wi-Fi, could save lives in critical situations, particularly for outdoor adventurers and those in remote locations.
To both Apple lovers and fans of extreme sports, the Apple Watch Ultra has always been the standard smartwatch for rugged durability, combined with advanced features. The Apple Watch Ultra, released in 2022, is targeted for extreme sports, hiking, and outdoor activities, packing a strong, robust titanium case, an even bigger and brighter screen, extended battery life, and sophisticated health and fitness capabilities. But it appears Apple is ready to take the Ultra to the next level, adding satellite connectivity that promises to make it not just an extraordinary companion for active users but a potentially lifesaving tool.
Satellite Connectivity: A Lifeline When Networks Fail
According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, expected to launch in September 2025, will be equipped with satellite capabilities similar to those already featured on the iPhone. This feature, introduced on the iPhone 14 and continued in the Apple Watch Ultra, will enable users to send text messages or make emergency calls even in places without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Whether one wants to hike in the mountains, navigate through remote waters, or venture into the wilderness, satellite connectivity could well end up being that critical link with the outside world when everything else fails.
For instance, imagine you are on a multi-day hiking trip in some region where there is no cellular service. Previously, this would have meant that one was completely cut off from communication in case of an emergency. However, with the satellite connectivity feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, one would be able to send a distress message or call for help using a satellite connection, potentially saving your life. Whether one is texting a loved one or an emergency service, this feature claims to turn the Apple Watch Ultra into the go-to safety tool for remote outdoor activities.
Building Apple’s Satellite Connectivity Ecosystem
Apple has been committed to satellite connectivity for a while, first offering the feature when it launched the iPhone 14, allowing for Emergency SOS via Satellite to send messages and alerts when no cellular or Wi-Fi networks were available. But since then, Apple hasn’t stopped improving that functionality, furthering support to include contact with roadside assistance companies like AAA-even messaging through iMessage-cells are down.
This is pretty much how the satellite service would work for the Apple Watch Ultra, too. Powered by Apple’s partnership with Globalstar Inc., it would rely on Globalstar’s network of satellites to do its job. The partnership between the two companies is expected to expand further, considering that Apple recently invested $1.5 billion in infrastructure at Globalstar to make sure the service remains reliable and can sustain the ever-growing demand for satellite communication features across all Apple devices.
In many ways, incorporating satellite connectivity into the Apple Watch Ultra makes a lot of sense. While most outdoor enthusiasts take their iPhones on adventures, it’s just not always practical. A satellite-enabled smartwatch would let users leave their phones at home while still having a critical communication tool strapped to their wrist. It will be very useful for hikers, climbers, sailors, and travelers who move to places where cellular services are either patchy or just plain non-existent.
The First Mainstream Smartwatch with Satellite Connectivity
For the extreme adventurer, satellite communication devices, like those from Garmin, have become a staple for reliable off-the-grid communication. However, they’re chunky, expensive, and just not as easy to use as a smartwatch. Adding satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 would make it the first mainstream smartwatch that does so, and it could very well push other devices meant for standalone satellite communication out of the market. Apple’s seamless integration with its existing smartwatch ecosystem would provide an easy-to-use and reliable solution for those who need a communication lifeline while outdoors.
In addition to its satellite functionality, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is very likely to continue building on the already impressive health and fitness tracking features introduced in previous models. Boasting a larger display, advanced heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, and enhanced sleep tracking capabilities, the Apple Watch Ultra has become a must-have for fitness enthusiasts. But satellite connectivity will push the device to a new level, positioning it as the ultimate adventure companion, capable of keeping you safe in the most remote locations.
Potential Health Features: Blood Pressure Monitoring on the Horizon
Apple is also said to be working on next-generation health features for the Apple Watch, which could make the device even more desirable. One of the most long-anticipated upgrades would be blood pressure monitoring, a feature that has been rumored for years. Per Gurman’s report, the new Apple Watch Ultra may sport the capability to detect high blood pressure, much like the company’s existing approach to sleep apnea detection.
If the Apple Watch were able to monitor blood pressure, that would be a breakthrough for users, who would then be able to catch potential health issues much earlier. For people with a family history of heart disease or those at risk for hypertension, being able to track blood pressure regularly could be invaluable. If Apple can implement this technology seamlessly, the Apple Watch will have further cemented its status as not only a fitness and adventure tool but a critical health monitoring device for users of all ages.
Besides monitoring blood pressure, other rumored health upgrades include the ability to detect blood sugar levels and monitor hydration. These may not make it into the Apple Watch Ultra 3 but could appear in future models, further expanding the smartwatch’s health-related capabilities.
2025: The Year of the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
While Apple didn’t launch an updated model of the Apple Watch Ultra in 2024, all indications are that the device will see significant upgrades in 2025. Along with satellite connectivity and blood pressure monitoring, other new features will be introduced for the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra to boost performance, battery life, and design. Given Apple’s attention to detail and commitment to innovation, there is a reason to believe that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be a quantum leap in features to provide life-saving capabilities, strong health tracking, and unparalleled connectivity that will charm extreme sports enthusiasts and users on the go alike.
Adding satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra would also represent a key step in the bigger strategy of Apple to build an interconnected ecosystem of devices. But Apple is also positioning itself to be the brand of choice among those users who desire unparalleled access to critical services at any place with the expansion of its satellite communication capabilities throughout the product line. Whether you’re into wilderness trekking, traveling abroad, or just need something that works reliably when your phone is nowhere nearby, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 may be the life and communication-saving device. For a smartwatch from space, the time for launch seems to be now.
Conclusion: A Smartwatch from the Future
Apple Watch Ultra 3, which might introduce satellite connectivity and some serious health features, would prove to be one of the main course-changing devices in wearable technology. From toughness to modern satellite communication and health monitoring, Apple is setting a precedent: the Apple Watch Ultra isn’t a luxury device but rather a lifesaver for the near future.
If someone enjoys being outdoors or just seeks some sense of security in cases of emergency, the next Apple Watch Ultra can be their trusted companion. Due to its unique combination of connectivity, safety features, and health tracking, it can become the most powerful and indispensable smartwatch to date. And though 2025 is the time for its official release, there’s palpable excitement, for one good reason: the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be a game-changer.
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