As Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ event on September 12 approaches, anticipation surrounding product launches is reaching a peak. This includes the upcoming releases such as the new Apple Watch Series 9, the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, and, of course, the new iPhone 15 series.
Now, while we have a rough understanding of what to expect from the iPhone 15 series, comparatively, little has leaked about the new Apple Watches. However, a new report now claims that Apple’s new Series 9 watches will receive several improvements, such as an upgraded heart rate sensor and the new U2 chip.
As reported by Bloomberg, the new watches—Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra—both will resemble their previous iterations, as Apple is holding back the redesigned Apple Watch for later. But, according to Mark Gurman, the new watches will feature a new chipset and “various sensors and internal component upgrades.” This may include a new and more accurate heart rate sensor as well.
Alongside the better sensor, the report adds that the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also receive the U2 chip, which will be a new and improved version of the ultra-wideband chipset found in current hardware.
With that said, while Gurman expected all the aforementioned hardware changes to make their way to the new watches, another change in terms of the aesthetics of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 would be the availability of the new all-black colorway. Notably, the outgoing first-generation Apple Watch Ultra is only offered in one finish—titanium.
This year, Apple is more or less expected to focus on iterative updates for its Apple Watch lineup. Still, as per reports, a newly redesigned Apple Watch with a microLED display could make its way to the market sometime in the latter half of this decade. As per earlier reports, including those from analyst Ross Young, the microLED Apple Watch Ultra was set for launch sometime in the second half of 2025. But, according to TrendForce, the microLED Apple Watch Ultra is unlikely to be released before Q1 2026.
