As the latest betas of iOS 26 came out this week, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered an Apple Watch image with a resolution that none of the existing Apple Watch models has. With a resolution of 422 x 514, this could indicate that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 would feature a slightly larger display size. For comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 410 x 502 resolution, and the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 has an even slightly larger resolution at 416 x 496 pixels. This would mean that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could take back the crown as having the largest display on any Apple Watch. None of the previous rumors suggested an increase in casing size, so it’s possible that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could have the same physical dimensions as the current generation, just with slimmer bezels to accommodate a larger display area. Had the Apple Watch Ultra 3 received a slightly bigger case size, this could allow for a larger battery, so longer battery life is always welcome as extended battery life has been a strength for the rugged watch like the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch Ultra is a relatively new product for Apple since it was originally introduced in September 2022. The second generation made its debut in the same month the following year; however, last September, Apple didn’t update the Apple Watch Ultra in terms of spec bumps. Instead, we just got the black titanium finish as a new color for that model. Since we’re expecting the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to make its debut next month, it would certainly gain a huge advantage in becoming a more substantial upgrade over the Ultra 2 as we expect these features. This includes:
- Larger display
- S11 SiP
- Wide-angle OLED
- Always-on refreshes every second thanks to improved LTPO3 OLED technology
- Satellite connectivity for messaging
- High blood pressure detection
- 5G cellular
Yes, the first four listed mean playing catch-up with the existing Apple Watch Series 10, but the rest will certainly be keystone features that will make Apple Watch Ultra 3 the most advanced watch that Apple makes since it deserves the name “Ultra” for that reason.
We expect Apple to announce the upcoming Apple Watch lineup and the iPhone 17 series on September 9.
