watchOS 11 is the latest software coming to all of the best Apple Watch models later this year. Unveiled at WWDC 2024, watchOS 11 features a couple of distinctive new apps to elevate your wearables status as a device focused on health. After months of beta releases for the new update, it is finally available to all Apple Watch users with a Series 6 or newer.

There are also a couple of new customization options and the advent of Live Activities on Apple Watch for the first time. Despite the lack of Apple Intelligence, the new AI features coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac, watchOS 11 is a fairly decent update.

To update to watchOS 11, head into the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Go to General and then Software Update. If you don't see watchOS 11 immediately, select the option at the top of your screen where you can pick between watchOS 10 and watchOS 11. Note that updates may take a while to install while the update is so new, as many users will be scrambling to download it.

We recommend making an iCloud backup of all your important content. From watchfaces to apps, it's always a good idea to prepare your Apple Watch before updating its software.

Which Apple Watch models support watchOS 11?

As always with new software, Apple has ceased support for some older models of the wearable. Here are the Apple Watches that have been dropped since watchOS 10:

• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch SE (1st generation)

Still not entirely sure if you're going to be able to use watchOS 11 when it comes out later this year? Here are all the watches we know will work with the latest version of watchOS:

• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple says on its website that not all of these watches will support all of the features, thanks to some not having certain sensors that are necessary like blood oxygen measuring. If you're not sure, check out Apple's even further breakdown.

More from iMore

• Forget the X - Apple Watch Series 10 unveiled
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes in 'gorgeous' Satin Black
• watchOS 11: Every new feature

New reports suggest that the Apple Watch SE 3 is still in 'active development', and will feature a new casing.

According to Mark Gurman's 'Power On' newsletter at Bloomberg, a "new Apple Watch SE with plastic shell remains in development", with the company intending to bring down the price of the wearable with this more affordable material. Gurman also anticipates this new SE will come equipped with a new chip, but didn't say whether it would be the S10 chip, currently found in the Apple Watch Series 10, which is set to be made available on Friday (September 20).

There had been rumors that an Apple Watch SE 3 would be announced at Apple's 'It's Glowtime' event on September 9, but that didn't come to pass. Instead, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 10 and introduced a new Satin Black finish for the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

The current SE model has been available since 2022, but doesn't have an ECG to help measure your heart's electrical activity, nor does it have an always-on screen. A plastic casing could lower the SE's price while introducing features like ECG at a more affordable price.  

Still, the current Apple Watch SE remains a great purchase, especially as a Christmas gift for anyone new to Apple's wearables.

How much could the price drop for the Apple Watch SE 3?

Apple Watch SE has always been positioned as the cheaper model in the entire Watch line. It's the entry point for anyone looking to explore the benefits of an Apple Watch for the first time, especially to see if it can help with their health and fitness. At $249 / £219, it's a good price, but the SE faces fierce competition from wearables such as Fitbit's Versa 4, which includes ECG heart rate and sleep tracking for $199. 

Switching the material from aluminum to plastic could be a key move to help drive the price down of the Apple Watch SE 3, potentially below $199 — perhaps even toward $149. If Apple manages to incorporate ECG and sleep tracking in this new model, these efforts could make the Apple Watch SE 3 a very enticing buy for someone on a budget.

More from iMore

• Forget the X - Apple Watch Series 10 unveiled
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes in 'gorgeous' Satin Black
• watchOS 11: Every new feature

If you watched the Apple Event yesterday as a huge Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch SE fan, you were likely left pretty disappointed.

While Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 10 with the biggest display ever on an Apple Watch while being 10% thinner than its predecessor, there was almost nothing going on with Apple's other watch models. Sure, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes in a sweet Satin Black color, but that was all we got — no Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Apple Watch SE 3.

Thankfully, it does not seem like we have a long time to wait for Apple to bring us the next update to these models. According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will release both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch SE 3 next year. The leaker says "Apple Watch Ultra 3 was absent from this year's media event, which is in line with my prediction from about a year ago...The 2025 new Apple Watch models will include the Ultra 3 and SE upgrade version."

What can we expect from the new models?

While we don't know much about what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch SE 3, you should be safe in assuming they might pick up some of the features that were announced with the Apple Watch Series 10.

For one, they'll likely adopt the new Wide Angle OLED screen shipping on the Series 10 which makes the screen 40% brighter when glancing at it from an angle. It's also more power efficient, allowing the Always On display to refresh every second instead of every minute.

The Apple Watch Ultra will also most definitely support Sleep Apnea detection — especially since that feature is also coming to the second generation of the Apple Watch Ultra. It's a toss-up whether or not it will come to the Apple Watch SE 3, though. Apple seems to reserve some health features for its flagship models.

I'm sure we'll learn more leaks about the Ultra 3 and SE 3 as we make our way through 2025!

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• The Apple Watch Series 10 has me considering a downgrade from ...
• Forget the X - Apple Watch Series 10 unveiled
• A love letter to Apple Watch Ultra (or why we often want what we don ...

The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple's new best Apple Watch thanks to a huge redesign, and it offers plenty of compelling features to upgrade. The new Apple Watch Ultra 2 color option is pretty sweet too. Want in on the action without a new smartwatch? Good news, the newest bands are compatible with older Apple Watch models.

The Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet have been given a little makeover to perfectly match the new titanium cases. No more mismatched metals ruining your watch aesthetic. And for those with a taste for the finer things in life, there’s a new Hermès collection, because of course there is. This includes their first metal band, the “Grand H.”

Nike’s also back in the mix, with updated Sport bands in some new colours for when you want to feel sporty, even if you’re just heading to the shops. Oh, and for the bougiest of the bunch, the Apple Watch Ultra has now gone full-on Hermès, complete with a water-resistant “En Mer” band and an exclusive Regatta countdown face.

Now, there were whispers that Apple might force us all to buy new straps for the Series 10 by tweaking the connector, but that’s not happening. Your old bands, whether they’re for the 41mm or 45mm models, will still fit the new 42mm and 46mm versions. And vice versa. So, if you’ve already invested in a small fortune of Apple Watch straps, rest easy.

What else is new from Apple?

The iPhone 16 launch event saw plenty of announcements from Apple. There's a new Camera Control on the new iPhones, which gives better access to taking photos and videos. The screens across the line-up are better than ever, and more durable. Apple is showing a fondness for new colors this year, with plenty of options to pick from.

Apple Watch Series 10 was a big upgrade, with a bigger screen than ever before. The body is the slimmest it's ever been, things are faster on the inside, and moves the antennas to the backside of the case. Apple Watch Ultra 2 got a new colour option, and a third-gen Apple Watch SE never materialized.

AirPods also saw some big changes. AirPods 4 gain active noise cancellation, and launch an even cheaper $129 model without ANC. AirPods Max get a minor refresh with USB-C and new colours, while AirPods Pro 2 got a third iteration with new hearing tech added.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple's new best Apple Watch thanks to a huge redesign, and it offers plenty of compelling features to upgrade. While the new speaker is cool, I'm more excited about phone calls. They're even better on the newest Apple Watch.

Thanks to a new voice isolation neural network, running on a beefy 4-core Neural Engine, the Apple Watch Series 10 is all about cutting through background noise. No more shouting into your wrist over the sound of baristas frothing lattes, or the wind turning your voice into a muffled mess. Instead, you’ll come through loud and clear, as if you’re in a room with perfect acoustics.

It’s a big upgrade for anyone who actually uses their Apple Watch to make calls. Now, your voice will be crystal clear, even if you’re wandering down a busy street or being battered by a breeze.

Apple marked the tenth anniversary of its smartwatch with the Apple Watch Series 10. Sporting a larger, wide-angle OLED display that’s even bigger than the Ultra models, it's 30% larger than the Series 6 and 10% thinner than the Series 9. The revamped body features new colors, including Jet Black (iPhone 7 vibes, anyone?) and polished aluminum options.

Powered by the new S10 processor with a 4-core Neural Engine, the watch introduces features like Apple Intelligence and improved battery life, with 80% charge in just 30 minutes. Notably, it includes sleep apnea tracking, a speaker for music playback, and advanced snorkelling features. Pre-orders are open now, starting at $399/£399, with shipping set for 20 September.

What else is new from Apple?

The iPhone 16 launch event saw plenty of announcements from Apple. There's a new Camera Control on the new iPhones, which gives better access to taking photos and videos. The screens across the line-up are better than ever, and more durable. Apple is showing a fondness for new colors this year, with plenty of options to pick from.

Apple Watch Series 10 was a big upgrade, with a bigger screen than ever before. The body is the slimmest it's ever been, things are faster on the inside, and moves the antennas to the backside of the case. Apple Watch Ultra 2 got a new colour option, and a third-gen Apple Watch SE never materialized.

AirPods also saw some big changes. AirPods 4 gain active noise cancellation, and launch an even cheaper $129 model without ANC. AirPods Max get a minor refresh with USB-C and new colours, while AirPods Pro 2 got a third iteration with new hearing tech added.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Apple Watch Series 10 marks the return of Titanium to Apple's wearable, but there's a catch if you want it in this material.

Alongside the new Titanium option, Series 10 features a larger, brighter display, faster charging, a new SiP (System in Package) S10 chip, and a louder speaker. But it's the new colors that Titanium offers that make this new Apple Watch stand out — available in Natural, Gold, and Slate shades. This replaces the high-end option of Stainless Steel, which Apple says "weighs almost 20 percent less than a stainless steel Series 9."

However, Titanium is only available with the Cellular models, starting at $699. This means you can use features on the Watch such as calling, streaming music and podcasts, and replying to messages without needing to keep your iPhone nearby.

What else is new in Apple Watch Series 10?

If the $699 price point for the Titanium Series 10 doesn't deter you, there are plenty of improvements to help justify the cost. The new, larger OLED display can be viewed at wider angles, which means you can read an additional line of text in notifications, and you can use the built-in keyboard to reply to messages. 

Another highlight is the new Reflections watch face, which features a dial that shimmers and reacts as you move. It's designed to help complement the reflective quality of the new titanium designs.

More significantly, Series 10 can help identify signs of sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. By using the accelerometer to monitor small movements at the wrist associated with interruptions when breathing, the new Apple Watch tracks this with a new metric called Breathing Disturbances.

Overall, Series 10 is a huge upgrade worth considering, especially if you own a Series 6 model or older.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, iOS 18, and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Ever since Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra, I've been an Ultra user. I immediately upgraded from my Apple Watch Series 7 and haven't looked back. With the larger display, signature features, and larger battery life, the Ultra was the Apple Watch that was made for someone like me.

However, there's always been a problem with the Ultra: the price. While the regular Apple Watch starts at $399, the Apple Watch Ultra is twice the price at $799. That's a huge jump — imagine if the iPhone 16 Pro was twice the price of the iPhone 16 and started at $1600!

So, while I've enjoyed the Apple Watch Ultra since its release, I haven't enjoyed the money I've had to spend to enjoy the features that such a watch provides. Now that Apple has announced the Apple Watch Series 10, I'm wondering if the Apple Watch Ultra is still for me or if a downgrade is in my future.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is almost Ultra

When Apple was going through all of the features of the Apple Watch Series 10 it announced at the company's "It's Glowtime" iPhone 16 event, I was saying to myself "That's an Apple Watch Ultra feature" over and over again. Apple basically stole most of the features of the Ultra and brought them to an Apple Watch that is much more affordable.

The screen size of the Series 10 is actually slightly bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra now. It also gets what Apple is calling a Wide Angle display, which makes it much brighter — 40% brighter in fact — when glancing at it from an angle. While it doesn't get as bright as the Ultra 2's 3000-nit display, it does not match the original Ultra's 2000 nits. Despite all of these upgrades, the Series 10 is almost half the weight of the Ultra 2 (as low as 36.4 grams compared to the Ultra's 61.4 grams).

It also packs in a ton of the features that the Ultra provides. While you don't get the Siren feature, you still get Waypoints, Backtrack, and Elevation view as well as Compass, an always-on altimeter, and more. The Ultra was the watch that was made for adventures, but it seems that most of those have now come to the Series 10.

The Ultra still gets more "pro" features like deeper water resistance (100 meters instead of 50) for recreational scuba diving and the battery life is still twice that of the Series 10 (18 hours on the regular Apple Watch compared to the Ultra's 36 hours), but that's honestly the biggest difference. Plus, the Series 10 can now get 80% battery in just a 30-minute charge.

So, I'm left to wonder if the $800 price point of the Ultra is still worth it for me. With the Series 10, I can get most of the features of the Ultra as well as some that it doesn't have in a watch that comes in at almost half the weight and about $130 cheaper if I grab the cellular model. That's a pretty compelling argument that the Series 10 could pull some people back from the Ultra.

I think I'm going to preorder the Series 10 in that new Jet Black Aluminum and give the non-Ultra Apple Watch a try again. I'll have a couple of weeks to compare it to my Apple Watch Ultra 2 and see where I land. It's crazy that I'm even considering it, but Apple has made such a fantastic Apple Watch that I might just not need an Ultra anymore. Of course, that's until the Apple Watch Ultra 3 drops.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Apple Watch Series 10 may not be the "Apple Watch X" we hoped for, but it's certainly impressive.

With a huge display, faster charging, and an improved speaker, there's a lot to like - and that's before we get to the new SiP (System in Package). The S10 powers the new Apple Watch, and it has four Neural Engine cores.

One of the ways it's leveraging those is in the Translate app, making its watch debut in watchOS 11.

Translate could be Apple Watch Series 10's 'killer app'

The Translate app will allow for translation on your wrist, which could be a huge help for anyone asking for directions and not wanting to switch apps away from Apple Maps, or when you're ordering at a restaurant while on vacation and don't want to reach for your phone.

According to Apple's press site, the S10 is what powers the Translate app in watchOS 11, but we're waiting to see if it'll be available for other Apple Watch models or whether they'll have a version of it that doesn't run on-device.

Would you use translation on the Apple Watch? Would you use translation at all? Let us know in the comments.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Apple has today confirmed that, alongside the Apple Watch Series 10, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 will support Sleep Apnea detection in a future wearables update. 

Apple says that an estimated 1 billion people are affected by the condition, where breathing momentarily stops during sleep, depriving your body of oxygen. Untreated it can lead to significant health issues including hypertension and diabetes. 

Apple Watch will feature a new Breathing Disturbances metric that detects wrist movements associated with interruptions to your breathing pattern. Apple turns this into a 30-day report to "notify users if it shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea." This data can be shared with your health provider to help you get a diagnosis and treatment. 

Apple's sleep apnea detection

Apple says its sleep apnea detection was developed "using advanced machine learning and an extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests." The new features join some other massive health upgrades announced at the iPhone 16 event, notably AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid functionality and tools to prevent hearing loss, as well as a new hearing test you can do at home in just five minutes. 

The new Apple Watch Series 10 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, a new jet black color, and a new Titanium finish. It's available for pre-order now starting at just $399, and will be released on September 20.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

While we expected an Apple Watch Ultra 3 today, Apple didn’t deliver. Instead, what we got was a refreshed Ultra 2, now available in a sleek Satin Black finish. No new features, just a darker look to go with your all-black-everything vibe. It’s still the rugged, feature-packed beast it always was, but no Ultra 3 in sight – better luck next year.

The new finish of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is made by a custom blasting process and features a diamond-like carbon PBD coating. The case is made from aerospace-grade recycled titanium.

The Satin Black version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also gets updated bands that, of course, match the color of the watch itself. The company is launching a new "Ultra" band, titanium Milanese Loop that features corrosion-resistant titanium with dual release buttons. The company says the band is "surprisingly light."

In addition to the new band, the company is also releasing new colors for the Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band. Hermes is also rolling out a new band for the Apple Watch Ultra with the Titanium Buckle as well as an exclusive Watch Face for the Ultra model.

The Satin Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still $799 and is available to preorder today. It will be available on September 20th.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Stop the presses - there will be no Apple Watch Series X. Instead, Apple has revealed the Apple Watch Series 10, and it offers a huge display that's actually larger than that found on the Apple Watch Ultra.

The wide-angle OLED display, a first for Apple, means an additional line of text, bigger fonts, and it's easier to use if, like me, you have sausage fingers.

It's 40% brighter at an angle, improving visibility when glancing, while also being power efficient. A new Flux watch face, shown below, helps showcase the 30% increase in screen size from the Series 9.

Pre-orders start today, with a $399 version or $499 with cellular. It'll launch on September 20.

The new Apple Watch comes in Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, and it's the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever.

In fact, it's the thinnest Apple Watch ever, too, 10% thinner than the Series 9.

You can now finally play media out of the speaker, too, upsetting everyone on the bus with you.

A new Titanium model replaces Stainless Steel this year, too, offer 20% less weight and natural, gold, or dark slate color options.

The new S10 chip offers a four-core neural engine, which can process things like on-device Siri more quickly than before. The chip will even let you suppress background noise for anyone using their watch for phone calls, while it'll automatically curate the best photos for your watch's background.

The translation app is also coming to Apple Watch, and Apple is naturally pushing health features once again, with Sleep Apnea detection being added this year.

If there are signs of sleep apnea, Apple Watch will notify you after 30 days of monitoring. Apple did note that it's not approved by the FDA yet, but it's also coming to the Series 9 and Ultra 2.

The depth app will trigger when you hop in the water, too, just like the Ultra models, while a new watchOS 11 app called Tides will show the tides for the coastline you're on.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Today's Apple event is just hours away, and a last minute rumor from Mark Gurman says we won't see one big announcement that we previously expected. According to Gurman, there won't be an Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at the "It's Glowtime" event.

Previously, we expected to see an Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at this September's event. In July, Gurman reported that he expects Ultra 3 to include a new Apple silicon chip, but nothing else regarding major hardware updates this year to the wearable. But apparently, this new device isn't coming today.

Instead, Gurman expects we will see a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It reportedly won't come with any new features, but will finally debut the long awaited black titanium.

It seems unusual Apple won't be bringing out a new Ultra model this year, but perhaps the tech giant doesn't want to pull focus from the much anticipated Apple Watch X. Perhaps, Apple will save the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for a bigger refresh next year.

What to expect for Apple Watch at the iPhone 16 event

The Series 10 is expected to get the most attention, as it marks the 10th anniversary of Apple’s smartwatch line. There's some debate as to whether or not this will be named the Apple Watch Series X. Most rumors seem to suggest so, but Gurman's report calls it the Series 10. Watch this space.

We’re talking a thinner case and bigger screens for the flagship model, though not much else in terms of AI. It's disappointing, as we were hoping for Apple Intelligence features. I'm still holding out hope.

There might also be a new budget Apple Watch model. The new Apple Watch SE would be the first update in two years. Expect slightly improved performance under the hood and the usual focus on fitness tracking and basic health features, but don’t hold your breath for any of the high-end features like blood-oxygen sensing or advanced AI tech.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

More from iMore

• 3 major upgrades coming to Apple Watch X
• Apple Watch X will be pointless if it doesn't fix the Watch's biggest problem
• The Apple Watch X could add extra hardware inside

If you got excited over the leaks claiming that the Apple Watch X would adopt a flat display like the Apple Watch Ultra, there's a new leaker coming to absolutely ruin your day.

In a post on X, Apple leaker Majin Bu (who has been all over the place when it comes to leak accuracy) says not to expect a flat display with the Apple Watch X and, instead, that the next generation of the Apple Watch will "remain identical (curved display)."

While the design of the display might not be changing, Bu does agree that the size of the display is getting bumped up to a 42mm and 46mm option. While both are still smaller than the 49mm currently on the Apple Watch Ultra, it's a small upgrade from the 41mm and 45mm on the Apple Watch Series 9.

The leaker also says that the Apple Watch X will abandon Stainless Steel in favor of Titanium, bringing the regular Apple Watch models in line with the titanium used in the Apple Watch Ultra. In terms of color options, Bu says we should expect Gold, Black, Starlight, and "original color" which I assume means Natural Titanium.

The full list of Bu's reporting on what to expect with the Apple Watch X are below:

• Will be available in 2 new sizes 42-46 mm
• The display should remain identical (curved display)
• The speaker design becomes like on Apple Watch Ultra as you can see in the image, but the speakers will remain two
• The body becomes thinner
• The angle becomes larger to match the band, and the overall shape becomes rounded
• Stainless steel officially will no longer be used as material, has been replaced with titanium
• The Milanese Loop watch band has finally been updated after 10 years. All the details have been changed, also it is now made of titanium
• The official gold color is very light this year. It is estimated that the gold color of iPhone 16 this year will also be very light
• Titanium possible colors: gold, black, starlight, original color
• A ceramic version may be available

We'll have to see who is correct when Apple takes the stage at its "It's Glowtime" event on September 9th. In addition to the Apple Watch X, the event is expected to reveal the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and AirPods 4.

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When I sold my Apple Watch earlier this year to buy a ‘dumb’ watch, I started to miss the health tracking features of Apple’s smartwatch. Fast forward a few months and I’ve been using the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon and it has opened my eyes to the world of smart rings. Combined with a regular watch, the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon gives me some of the Apple Watch’s best benefits without wearing an intrusive display on my wrist. After three weeks on my finger, I love the execution and the benefits of the product, but does that outweigh the massive elephant in the room: A monthly subscription fee?

Oura Ring Gen 3: Price and availability

The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon starts at $349 for the Silver or Black models and is available from Amazon and Oura’s website. Other color options include Stealth, Brushed Titanium, Rose Gold, and Gold (the version I have for review).

On top of the initial cost, Oura Rings require a membership that is free for the first month, then costs $5.99/month.

Oura Ring Gen 3: What's good?

We’ve covered most of Oura’s benefits in our review of the Oura Ring Gen 3, but this Horizon model brings a timeless look that oozes class. From the moment you try on the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon, you’ll notice just how nice it is to wear on your finger: It’s light, stylish, feels expensive, and most importantly doesn’t scream smart ring.

In this review, I wanted to focus on incorporating a smart ring into my daily life and as someone who has actively tried to detach from technology more and more, it seems to tick all the right boxes. With a seven-day battery life, I’ve found myself only needing to take the Oura off once every week to charge before bedtime. I’ve worn the ring in the shower, while exercising, and sleeping — for someone who has forgotten to wear their Apple Watch in the past, it’s a very welcome change.

Oura Ring Gen 3 tracks my heart rate, sleep, determines if I’m ready to tackle the day, and even tells me when I’m stressed — it’s been refreshing to have so much data at my fingertips all built-in to Oura’s excellent app. I worried that the ring would feel cumbersome and get in my way, but if anything I forget I’m wearing it completely until I glance down at my hand and see the shiny gold band.

Oura Ring Gen 3: What's not so good?

If you want to use a smart ring for weight training, I’d advise against it as the ring can feel uncomfortable in the gym. If you need to take off a ring to even do an exercise comfortably, at that point you’re probably best looking elsewhere. 

Weight training aside, the biggest issue I have with the Oura Gen 3 Horizon is the company’s decision to charge $5.99/month to use the ring in the first place. While the information in the app is incredibly vast, charging a monthly fee to use a product that is expensive to begin with doesn’t sit well with me. The Oura Gen 3 Horizon I’ve been wearing costs a whopping $499 and on top of that it’s around $70 a year to use. Add the fact that paying the monthly subscription doesn’t give you an extended warranty or any perks in that sense, and it feels like Oura is really asking for too much here. 

I love the Oura ring but I can’t recommend a product that has an internal battery that is likely to fail after a few years and a monthly subscription model that demands your hard-earned cash. Other smart rings exist without the monthly subscription cost and while they may not be as good (I have yet to try competitors), they don’t feel like an endless money pit.

Oura Ring Gen 3: Competition

Oura offers another Heritage model which is at a slightly more affordable starting at $299. Elsewhere smart rings like the Ultrahuman Ring Air have a one-time upfront cost and no subscription model.

If you’re looking for the best way to track your fitness on the best iPhones, you could also opt for an Apple Watch Series 9, although at that point it’s a smartwatch and not a smart ring.

Oura Ring Gen 3: Should you buy it?

• You want a gorgeous smart ring
• You don’t mind paying a monthly fee
• You don’t plan to do weight training

• You want a screen
• You don’t like paying monthly
• You plan to use it in the gym lifting weights

The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon is a gorgeous piece of tech that can be mistaken for high-end jewelry. It tracks all of the vital health information you want to know at a glance and packages it all up in a very nicely designed app. Oura, however, charges a monthly subscription fee and unfortunately, the added cost leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, especially when you’ve forked out anywhere between $349 and $549 to begin with.

Apple's next iteration of watchOS, watchOS 11, is coming soon, and it's finally going to let you take a rest day.

The fitness tracker has been encouraging us to close our activity rings since 2015, but it's always cut your streak short if you don't hit your goal - even if you had a good reason.

Whether it's a rest day, illness, an injury, or just traveling for a long period of time, our streaks have been consigned to history - but no longer.

WatchOS 11 will let you pause your activity rings for a period of time, meaning you can pick up when you've recovered or it's safe to do so. Here's how to pause your Apple Watch activity streaks.

How to pause activity streaks in watchOS 11

While much of your Apple Watch can be interfaced with by using the Watch app on your iPhone, you can do this directly on the Apple Watch with watchOS 11.

Here's how it's done:

1. Open the Fitness app on your Apple Watch
2. Tap the Summary button in the top-left corner (that's the bar graph)
3. Scroll down using the display or the Digital Crown and select 'Pause Rings'
4. You can then select from options for "Today", "Until Monday", "Until [Next Month]", or set a Custom date.

You can also pause your activity rings using our iPhone, too. If you're using iOS 18, open the Fitness app.

• Tap the Activity Rings section
• Scroll down and press the green 'Pause Rings' button
• Again, you'll get options for "Today", "Until Monday", "Until [Next Month]", or set a Custom date.

Reasons to pause your activity rings

As mentioned above, there are plenty of reasons you may want to pause your activity rings. For one, you might be traveling, and a long-haul flight is less than ideal for getting your steps in, no matter how many times you march up and down the cabin.

It can also be useful when you're recovering from an injury, or even just strenuous exercise the day before - if you've run a marathon on Saturday, you may want to enjoy a day sitting down on Sunday, but that shouldn't impact your streak.

It can also be nice to have a rest day. If you're working out with weights, your rest days are where your muscles start to rebuild to come back stronger - so it's key to give them a chance to do so without your Apple Watch nagging you to get out there.

I also acknowledge that this will only be a consideration for some people, and others won't mind too much if their streaks fade away. Still, it's good to have the option to preserve them, especially if you're particularly proud of them.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to launch later this year, but rumors suggest it might be called the "Apple Watch X." The upgrade is set to be much bigger than the current best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 9. But one thing it likely won't have is gesture controls.

Thankfully, there's a new best Apple Watch band that can bring the gestures to you. The Mudra Band from Wearable Devices gives your smartwatch hands-free gesture controls, thanks to sensors that measure your fingertip pressure.

This isn't the first we've seen of the Mudra Band. Wearable Devices had earlier versions that were a little more basic. This updated option looks sleeker than ever, and will set you back $349. That's as much as a brand new Apple Watch – so it's not cheap by any stretch. But, if you're keen on adding gestures to your smartwatch, it’s available now from Mudra.

What can the Mudra Band do exactly?

Thanks to some cutting-edge fingertip pressure-measurement technology, the Mudra Band lets you pull off a few everyday Apple Watch controls without even touching your watch.

You can navigate the interface with just a pinch of your index finger and thumb or by flicking your wrist. You can also tap or double-tap to select or go back, making it easier to pause your music, stop incessant timers, or answer calls when your hands are otherwise occupied.

This updated feature set is particularly a boon for anyone rocking an older Apple Watch, which might not support Apple’s latest gesture controls. And even the models that do, are limited to the basic Double Tap gesture.

It’s all about making your life that little bit easier, allowing for hands-free control when you’re on the go, multitasking, or just feeling a bit too lazy to use your other hand. Wearable Devices is clearly banking on the idea that the future of wearable tech isn’t just what’s on the screen, but how you interact with it.

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• Nomad's latest Apple Watch Ultra band is perfectly rugged, and could be my new favorite strap
• Apple Watch X will be pointless if it doesn't fix the Watch's biggest problem
• The Apple Watch X could add extra hardware inside

Top iPhone and Apple accessory maker Nomad offers some of the best Apple Watch bands. My favourite band is the brand's titanium offering, but that might be about to change.

Nomad’s latest Apple Watch Ultra band, dubbed the Rocky Point, has just hit the shelves. It’s aiming to be the perfect companion for your rugged outdoor adventures. Crafted from rubber, it's both durable and breathable, so will sit comfortably on your wrist – no matter what adventure you may throw at it. While designed for the Apple Watch Ultra, it also works with all the other best Apple Watch models.

Available in three rather snazzy shades—Storm, Sol, and Atlantic—the Rocky Point Band comes with a price tag of $80. You can snag one directly from Nomad.

Why this Apple Watch band could be my new favorite

Nomad's Rocky Point band is crafted from “ultra-tough, compression-molded FKM” fluoroelastomer rubber. That's a fancy way of saying it’s both durable and flexible. It also comes decked out with grade 2 lightweight titanium hardware, perfectly matching the Apple Watch Ultra’s hardcore vibes.

Nomad’s gone all out with the metal injection molding to ensure the titanium components are as light as they are strong. Breathability is sorted too, thanks to those nifty ventilation grooves, and of course, it’s entirely waterproof. That's great for when you start to get active. In the past, I've noticed that other rubber bands aren't particularly breathable – which leaves you with sweaty wrists (and nobody wants that).

The Rocky Point Band, available in Storm, Sol, and Atlantic, is priced at $80 and is now available. If you’re looking to up your Apple Watch game, especially if you're into the whole outdoorsy scene, this one’s worth a look.

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• 3 major upgrades coming to Apple Watch X
• Apple Watch X will be pointless if it doesn't fix the Watch's biggest problem
• The Apple Watch X could add extra hardware inside

The Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to launch later this year, but rumors suggest it might be called the "Apple Watch X," echoing the iPhone X's game-changing 2017 release. The upgrade is set to be much bigger than the current best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 9.

Now, this special edition Apple Watch looks more likely than ever for one key reason: the date of the next Apple event. The September launch event, dubbed "It's Glowtime,", where the tech giant is expected to launch the iPhone 16 is taking place on September 9. That marks the 10th anniversary since Apple first debuted the Apple Watch in 2014.

The first Apple Watch was shown off at the iPhone 6 event on September 9, 2014. So, this year's September event is the device's tenth anniversary to the day. The significance of this? iPhone X was a bigger upgrade than iPhone 8, launching to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Apple's smartphone.

To that end, it's unclear which other Apple Watch models will launch alongside this rumored new one. If Apple follows suit with the iPhone X launch, we can expect both an Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch X. Or, the folks in Cupertino may skip the Series 10 name entirely. We're also expecting an Apple Watch Ultra 3, and potentially a third-gen SE model. Perhaps the X edition could even replace the expected new Ultra model. Whatever way it happens, Apple's smartwatch line-up could get pretty big this year.

What to expect from Apple Watch X

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg states that Apple designers are currently working on a thinner watch case and want to change how bands are attached. Apple is exploring a new magnetic band to free up more space which allows them to experiment with size a little more. A leak in December claimed that connectors of the next-generation Apple Watch have been "completely redesigned."

In July, Gurman reported the Series 10/Apple Watch X could get larger displays to bring it in line with the rumored Apple Watch Ultra 3. Gurman also says that the next Apple Watch lineup could see a new SiP (system in package), potentially to "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road" – potentially some Apple Intelligence features.

According to a report from Ming-Chi Kuo in June, the Apple Watch X will increase in size from 45/41mm to about 49/45mm, adopting the larger form factor of the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2. A report in April revealed that the Apple Watch X could also feature LTPO technology across its entire display, extending the battery life even further.

More from iMore

• 3 major upgrades coming to Apple Watch X
• Apple Watch X will be pointless if it doesn't fix the Watch's biggest problem
• The Apple Watch X could add extra hardware inside

The Apple Watch continues to be a growing business for Apple, and the company has responded to the growth by continuing to expand the number of models that it offers. With the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE 2, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the market right now, which model do people buy the most? It's not even close.

In a new report from CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners), they found that most people, despite the Apple Watch Ultra 2 being there for enthusiasts and the Apple Watch SE 2 being there for the budget-conscious, most consumers went for the Apple Watch Series 9 — by a lot.

The report says that "Series 9 had the greatest share at 43% of total US watch sales. Series 8 is still available at retailers, although not directly from Apple, and in the quarter it captured 19% of sales." It also found that the "Ultra and Ultra 2 had 20% of total sales, with Ultra 2 accounting for a slightly greater share in the June 2024 quarter. As with the Series 8 and 9, the original Ultra is still available at retailers but not directly from Apple. Also, the Nike-branded model, a form of the Series 8 and 9, had a small share."

This news isn't surprising

It's not surprising to see the Apple Watch Series 9 beat out the Apple Watch SE 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 as the go to Apple Watch model for most people. The price difference between the SE 2 and the Series 9 isn't much so, with the additional features you get with the standard model, it makes sense that most people would spend a little more to get them.

It's almost like the exact opposite is true with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It has more features than the Apple Watch Series 9, so why aren't people choosing that one? The price. The Apple Watch Ultra costs almost twice as much as the standard Apple Watch — it's basically the Mac Pro of the Apple Watch lineup.

I'm excited to see what Apple might do with the Apple Watch X. The company is set to reveal the next generation of the Apple Watch models next month at the iPhone event in September.

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• Keep calm and Apple Watch on
• I never loved my Apple Watch until I used it at the beach
• Apple Watch — Gadget of the Decade

The Apple Watch has generally been the smartwatch that introduced major health and safety features to the world. The Pixel Watch, the Galaxy Watch, and basically every other smartwatch have generally adopted those features down the road after the Apple Watch introduced them first.

That changed in a big way today at Google's latest Made by Google event. At the event, the company unveiled the Pixel Watch 3, the latest generation of its smartwatch. In addition to a new 45mm size, a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and new fitness and wellness features from Fitbit, the new Pixel Watch also introduces a brand new health and safety feature called Loss of Pulse Detection.

In a press release, Google says "Loss of Pulse Detection on Pixel Watch 3 is an opt-in feature that has the ability to detect loss of pulse and automatically place a call to emergency services if you are unresponsive to provide potentially life-saving care." The company says that loss of pulse can occur due to cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose, or poisoning, so there are a range of instances where this feature could come into play and potentially be life-saving.

You can check out Loss of Pulse Detection in the video from Google below:

Apple needs to bring this feature to the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch already packs a ton of health and safety features including Fall Detection, Car Crash Detection, notifications of a high or low heart rate, notifications of an irregular heart rhythm, and more. However, the watch does not currently have a feature exactly like the new Loss of Pulse Detection feature packed into the Pixel Watch 3.

Just like I talked about how it is good that Google ripped off Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite feature for the Pixel 9, I think Apple needs to rip off Google's Loss of Pulse Detection feature for the 10th generation Apple Watch. While there are some features that companies should protect and we should dunk on each other when they are adopted by others, health and safety features are not one of them.

These kinds of features should be ubiquitous across all devices and platforms. These things aren't something to be greedy about and keep it as an exclusive feature on your device, and we shouldn't award companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, and others for trying to do so.

So, good for everyone who buys a Pixel Watch 3 and gets the benefit of a little more peace of mind with this feature. I hope the next Apple Watch rips this off immediately.

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Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 next month, but despite previous reports that Apple could bring impressive new microLED technology to its high-end smartwatch, those plans have now been canceled. And that move could cost the company compensation.

LG Display is the company responsible for the displays used in a number of Apple products including iPhones and iPads, and it was also the company that was expected to provide the microLED displays for a future Apple Watch. However, with the upgrade having been canceled LG Display has found itself out of pocket to the tune of millions of dollars, and it wants Apple to make things right.

According to a new report, LG Display has spent "tens of billions of won" to get ready for microLED Apple Watch display production, only for Apple's plans to leave it high and dry.

A bright idea

The Elec reports that LG Display was set to provide the LED backplanes required for new microLED displays only for Apple to change course. There is no word on when the project will be rekindled, and LG Display is counting the cost — including missed opportunities to produce displays for other companies.

"LG Display secured space for the micro LED backplane process in Paju, recruited manpower, and formed a task force (TF)," the report explains. "Several of LG Display's equipment partners also prepared to supply equipment around the same time."

LG Display has requested compensation from Apple over the change of plans, but it's unknown whether any kind of contract had been signed and if so, what the break clauses for such a contract might look like.

The move to microLED technology, as and when it happens, could see future Apple Watches enjoy better battery life, improved durability, and a higher peak brightness which would obviously be beneficial in a wearable device.

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• Why I'm holding out hope for a smaller-sized Apple Watch X
• One month later, here's why I won't upgrade to Apple Watch Ultra 2

A Californian man is still alive thanks to the Apple Watch after his smartwatch flagged up his need for a pacemaker. 

Peter Moore from Montecito, California, started to feel lightheaded while on the way to the airport to pick up his daughter. He told KTLA 5, "I felt a little lightheaded and a little faint, and like a typical male, I thought, ‘I’ll go to Starbucks. That’ll fix it,'”

Before he reached Starbucks, his Apple Watch started to ping his wrist with notifications, and Apple's wearable was insistent that his heart rate was far too low. 

"I looked at it… my heart rate had dropped to 32." His wife rushed out to pick him up and take him to the hospital where the doctor made it clear that Moore needed a pacemaker ASAP.

Omid Yousefian, the cardiac electrophysiologic who treated Moore said, "his watch had a big role in saving his life,” adding “These days, 25% of the population over the age of 40 … have a high chance of experiencing atrial fibrillation." The doctor installed a pacemaker to help regulate Moore's heartbeat.

Wearables can save lives and catch health conditions earlier than you could ever notice without them, and Moore's story is just another tale of the Apple Watch's life-saving capabilities.

Apple Watch to the rescue

The best Apple Watches are kitted out with loads of sensors from those that monitor your heart rate to temperature sensing. We hear stories like Moore's on a regular basis, highlighting Apple's incredible technology housed on your wrist. 

watchOS 11, which is set to launch later this year, goes further with your health monitoring by adding a Vitals app that tracks all of your, you guessed it, vital health information. The operating system is currently in beta, and while you can download watchOS 11 now, we advise you to wait for the stable release later this fall.

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• How to trigger Emergency SOS on your iPhone (and shut it off)
• Apple's new Emergency SOS Live Video feature could be a lifesaver
• How to use Apple's Emergency SOS with satellite on iPhone

If you saw Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra and felt it looked familiar, you're not alone it seems.

The new wearable, which marks the company's debut rugged 'Ultra' smartwatch bears more than a passing resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by Samsung's chairman according to a new report.

According to Ajunews (translated), Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong is disappointed at how closely the new watch and the Buds 3 series, which look similar to AirPods, ape Apple's existing design.

Samsung boss less than pleased by company's 'Apple design plagiarism'

The report says:

"This is a strict order that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who is well-known within Samsung Electronics for his gentle nature and does not usually get angry, recently issued a strict order to employees of the MX division [Samsung's mobile division]."

"According to an insider at Samsung Electronics, personnel actions were also taken against some executives, including the group head of the MX division."

"Chairman Lee himself stepped forward as controversy over Apple design plagiarism and quality arose over the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The current internal atmosphere is not very good."

It'll be interesting to see how Samsung works to differentiate its devices from their Apple counterparts going forward, but for now, it seems Jae-yong is less than pleased.

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The best smart rings are highly capable wearable devices that are packed with sensors and yet small and light enough to be worn on one of your fingers. The quest to make the perfect smart ring has been a tricky one – many companies have tried and failed. But 2024 could be the year of the smart ring with Samsung's on the way and even Apple is rumored to be working on one. 

But which is the best smart ring to buy right now? Over the past few years there's been a big influx in new smart rings. However, they're not all created equal. Some smart rings have a poor battery life, aren't accurate and come with confusing apps. We're here to help. In our guide below, we've included the best smart rings you can buy now. We've included what we think each device is best for, as well as our first-hand experiences of trying them. Read on to find the best smart ring for you. 

The quick list

The best smart ring for most people

The Oura Ring (Gen 3) is our favorite smart ring and the one we recommend for most people. That's because this smart ring ticks all of the boxes. It looks good, coming in a range of shades and a few different styles. It's also comfortable and lightweight, weighing in at 4-6g depending on which size you opt for.

But it's the wealth of data it collects that makes it an excellent smart ring – and a solid upgrade over the original Oura and the Gen 2 ring that came before it. New sensors allow it to measure your blood oxygen (SpO2) levels, 24/7 daytime heart rate (previously it was only at night), workout heart rate, restorative time, Period Prediction, improved temperature sensing, and so much more. The companion app has also been beefed up with new content, women's and reproductive health, and improved sleep algorithms.

The only notable downside of the Oura Ring (Gen 3) is it's a little pricier than some of the competition. It's also only available as part of a subscription fee. It's worth pointing out we still think the Oura ring is good value for what it offers, but if you're on a budget or don't like the idea of subscribing there are other options that will bring you a similar experience. 

Read our full Oura Ring (Gen 3) review

The best smart ring for comfort

The Ultrahuman Ring Air is packed with sensors to track data about your health, fitness and sleep. It does this well, feeding back information via an insightful app that allows you to see trends, progress and even recommendations. There's a big focus on sleep and energy levels – great news for anyone who leads an active lifestyle and wants more guidance about rest and recovery.

Design-wise, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is very light, weighing in at only 2.4g to 3.6g (depending on the size you need) and comfortable enough to wear 24/7. The only downside is it did get a little scratched during testing, which I think was due to the matte black finish.

The biggest competitor to the Ultrahuman Ring Air is undoubtedly the Oura Ring (Gen 3) above, the rings look similar and offer a lot of the same features. Oura just about beats Ultrahuman to the top spot. But if you don't like the idea of a subscription and want the comfiest option, Ultrahuman is better. 

Read our full Ultrahuman Ring Air review

The best budget smart ring

The RingConn is one of the best smart rings you can buy. Unlike its rivals, it has an unusual design. Yes, it's definitely a ring. But it has subtle squared edges, which makes it stand out. It's one of our favorites for looks, and not only is it stylish, subtle and less prone to scratches than the Ultrahuman Ring Air, it's incredibly comfortable too.

It's also more affordable than both the Oura Gen 3 smart ring and the Ultrahuman Ring Air. Its app and performance aren't quite as slick as Oura's. But it does come close in most respects. It offers reliable data tracking, and an app that performs well despite feeling a little busy and slow to sync at times.

So the RingConn smart ring isn't the best one in this list, but it's still refreshing to discover it's a solid alternative to the Oura (Gen 3) smart ring and it's cheaper without the commitment of a subscription, too. 

The best smart ring for payments

The McLear RingPay 2 is the only smart ring in our guide that we haven't had chance to test ourselves yet. But we really wanted to include it to show that, for the most part, smart rings are highly-advanced devices packed with sensors. But there are some outliers, like the McLear RingPay 2 which is still smart but in a very different way. 

The McLear RingPay 2 is designed to help you make payments, there's no health tracking here. Thanks to NFC tech fitted into the ring, it works like a contactless card does. Add a card to your RingPay wallet, then place your hand over a payment terminal. Because its features are fairly basic, no charging is required.

You're able to track your spending in the app, set funds to top-up automatically at a certain point, add up to four rings to an account, transfer funds between rings, suspend your account if you lose it, and more. As you'd expect from a device designed to be worn often, it's scratch-resistant, waterproof and hypoallergenic. 

The best lightweight smart ring

Like its rivals, the Circular Ring Slim continuously monitors essential health metrics directly from your finger, including heart rate and sleep duration. The accompanying app becomes more intuitive and useful over time, delivering tailored health insights and lifestyle recommendations.

In this way, it's similar to the competition. But it does fall short in a few key areas. Most notably, it has a disappointing battery life. If you use all of the features (because why wouldn't you?), it'll only last two days, which is a lot less than the likes of the Oura ring (Gen 3) and Ultrahuman Ring Air. 

But during testing we did like that it's comfortable to wear with a stylish design and an incredibly lightweight build. This is the cheaper version of the brand’s Ring Pro model, which explains why it falls short against its more polished competitors but is more affordable.

How to choose the best smart ring for you

Although plenty of new smart rings are entering the market, right now there isn't a huge amount of choice. So bear that in mind when you're weighing up your options. 

The first thing to consider is: what do you want a smart ring for? Some more basic options, like the McLear RingPay 2 above, are for NFC tasks and payments. Whereas all the others in this list are smart rings with sensors in them for tracking your health and sleep. 

It's also important to think about your priorities. If you want the best of the best smart ring, we'd recommend trying the Oura ring (Gen 3), but the Ultrahuman and RingConn options are more affordable and very similar in terms of performance and features. 

Finally, do you really need a smart ring? I know that might seem like an odd question. But although smart rings are innovative and exciting, they're not for everyone. For example, if fitness tracking is your number one priority, you might be best off with a sports-focused smartwatch. And if you're on a budget, you may want to try a cheaper activity tracker instead. 

The Withings Body Comp is the middle member of the Withings smart scale family that draws more measurements than your average scale when you step on it, including monitoring cardiovascular health and nerve health in your feet to potentially help you detect any chronic conditions.

Price and availability

As mentioned, the Body Comp sits in the middle of the Withings smart scale family and is priced at $189.95£179.95, though it has since dropped to $149.95/£139.95. You can pick it up directly from the Withings website, Apple.com and retailers like Amazon.

That price firmly puts it in the expensive smart scale category, though it’s not quite as pricey as the Withings Body Scan ($399.95/£349.95), which most notably includes an 6-lead ECG. There’s also the cheaper Withings Body Smart ($99.95/£89.95), which mainly lacks the vascular age insights you will get on the Body Comp.

Specs and features

The Body Comp packs in four weight sensors to cover a maximum weight of 200kg (440lb) with Withings’ position control technology in place to know when you’re stepping onto it. When you do weigh in you’ll be able to capture first and foremost a range of body composition data including muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mass. Beyond that, Withings is able to track standing heart rate and vascular age to offer insights into your heart health. It’s also delving into data from your feet and assess nerve health to assess potential nerve damage that could raise the alarm about potential health issues in your feet.

Build and Performance

The Body Comp is a sleek-looking scale with a tempered glass top and you’ve got a good-sized colour screen that means it can display more information than most screens you’ll find planted into a set of connected scales. Scanning the many measurements on offer here thankfully takes about 20-30 seconds and that includes additional metrics like heart rate and vascular age. There’s a nice breakdown in the Withings app that puts those measurements into context while heart rate data was in line with the continuous tracking on an Apple Watch Ultra. There’s a lot to take in here, but crucially Withings does a good job of explaining what those different measurements actually tell you about your health.

Competition

There are a lot of smart scales that do sit in and around the same price or come in less than the Body Comp. Outside of Withings’ own collection, you have scales like the Garmin Index S2 ($129/£129), which offers comprehensive body composition analysis, support for up to 16 users (the Body Comp offers up to 8) and can also display weather from a high-resolution screen. There are also alternatives like the Renpho scales (From $19.99/£19.99) which offer similar design elements, 13 body measurements, and works with Apple Health.

Should you buy it?

You should buy it if...

• You want a great-looking, feature-packed set of smart scales
• You want to track heart health from your smart scales
• You want a better understanding of what measurements mean

You shouldn’t buy it if…

• You only care about the body composition analysis
• You want to save some money and can pick up the Withings Body Smart
• You have an accurate way to track your heart rate already

Verdict

The Withings Body Comp is an attractive smart scale that’s well designed and lets you quickly capture a whole raft of measurements from your feet. What’s equally important is that Withings doesn’t simply dump them inside of its app. It does explain what it means and is telling you about your health and fitness levels and that’s key here. It definitely feels a bit on the pricey side, especially given that Withings has a not too dissimilar scale for less money in its range. If you like the idea of being able to capture heart and nerve health along with your typical scales stats, then it’s well worth taking a look at.

The Ember Mug is made for people who have a tendency to make a hot cup of coffee then forget about it, leaving it to go cold. Using the smartphone companion app you can keep that hot drink to your preferred temperature to make sure it stays just how you like it for longer. 

Ember Mug 2: Price and availability

The first Ember Mug first launched in 2010 with the new Mug 2 arriving alongside Ember’s heated travel mug in 2019. At $149.95/£149.99, it’s a pretty expensive way to keep your cup of coffee or other hot drink to the perfect temperature.

You can pick it up from the Apple Store, direct from the Ember website or retailers like Amazon. There’s two size options here too, with the larger 495ml (14oz) version we tested joined by a smaller 295ml (10oz) version that comes in cheaper at $129.95/£129.95.

Ember Mug 2: Specs and features

The Ember setup consists of a mug made from a stainless steel core with a ceramic coating that sits on the charging coaster base. It uses a dual-band microprocessor-controlled heating system along with precision sensors to detect the liquid and measure the temperature of your hot drink. When the drink temperature is starting to fall, the sensors jump into action to heat the mug. Without the companion app, the mug is preset to keep the mug heated to 135F. With the app, you can adjust that to sit anywhere from 120F to 145F. Once you’ve set your desired temperature, you’ll be notified through a phone notification when your cup has hit your preferred temperature level. There’s integration with Apple Health, which means you can keep a closer eye on your coffee intake. It’s a bit fiddly to do, but a nice feature to have nonetheless.

Ember Mug 2: Build and Performance

There’s nothing delicate about the stature of this mug, especially if you opt for the larger 14oz version and while it looks great, it’s a shame that you can’t chuck it in a dishwasher due to those built-in components. Once you’ve completed the pretty painless setup with the companion app (iOS or Android), it’s nice and easy to set your desired temperature, and the notifications to tell you when it’s hot are nicely presented. What’s not so nice is that if you happen to have a few coffees in the morning, the 80-minute battery life feels a touch short if you’re not immediately returning it to the coaster charger after your first drink. If you don’t and it runs out, it can take anywhere from 2-3 hours to fully charge again.

Ember Mug 2: Competition

There are other heated mugs out there including cheaper alternatives to the Ember. The Nextmug by Nextboom uses a similar coaster charging system and also includes a lid to make its mug more travel-friendly. It also offers a longer battery life and that lid boosts warmth as well too. There’s also the Cosori mug warmer and cup that lets you adjust the temperature from the coaster base. Basically, you’ve got cheaper options here.

Ember Mug 2: Should you buy it?

Ember Mug 2: Verdict

The Ember Mug 2 looks great and is backed up by a slick app and notification system that makes keeping your hot drinks to the optimal temperature a breeze. What counts against it is that you’re paying a big price for something that needs to be charged quite regularly and isn’t safe to be used in a dishwasher or microwave. Granted, you shouldn’t need to do the latter, but it feels like you might be able to spend less and get a good smart mug that offers a similar experience to the one the Ember Mug 2 promises and does deliver. 

The HidrateSpark Pro isn’t the only smart water bottle out there, but it’s the most popular for tracking how much water you drink during the day, reminding you to drink up via a customisable glowing LED ring at the base of the bottle. The Pro keeps your liquids cold for 24 hours and keeps the smart tracking running for 10-14 days off a single charge.

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Price and availability

The HidrateSpark Pro Steel 21oz version costs $69.99/£69.95, making it one of the most expensive smart water bottles you can currently buy. There are cheaper bottles out there, but most have different uses, including monitoring the temperature of liquids and offering self-cleaning modes.

You can buy the Pro directly from the Hidrate website and it’s also available from Apple’s own website with retailers like Amazon also offering it up. It doesn’t seem to drop in price, though you can pick up the cheaper Hidrate Spark 3, which adopts a slightly different approach to reminding you to drink. 

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Specs and features

The concept of the HidrateSpark Pro is pretty simple. It hosts a sensor in the removable base that wirelessly connects to the companion phone app to communicate how much water has been consumed from the bottle. It will also use that information to remind you when to drink if you’ve not sipped from it for a while. A customisable LED ring around the base glows brightly to make sure you don’t ignore those visual nudges and you can keep track of your daily totals from the app. There’s Apple Health integration and an Apple Watch app, so the bottle can use stored Health data to influence your daily water intake along with tracking intake from the wrist. 

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Build and Performance

The 21oz-sized bottle we had to test is definitely on the large side, but is made from nice quality stainless steel with a strong and secure lid. The sensor is well hidden in the base, but it does slightly protrude, which means it doesn’t sit entirely flat on a surface. It does keep liquids cold for up to 24 hours, but isn’t one you can use for hotter drinks. Getting things set up is pretty straightforward and it’s hard to ignore the sizable glowing reminders. The app is nicely presented and makes it easy to check on water intake and see if you’re hitting your hydration goals. Hidrate also offers the ability to track more drink types and adjust the bottle glow colour, though that surprisingly requires a monthly or annual subscription.

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Competition

There aren’t a lot of smart water bottles out there like the Pro and that’s something the HidrateSpark has in its favour. There are cheaper alternatives like the AQUAME bottle and the HANDYSPRING, which is clearly inspired by the HidrateSpark and even offers a glowing reminder feature as well. The Pro does have that added Apple integration, which does make it more appealing over other options.

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Should you buy it?

HidrateSpark Pro Steel: Verdict

The HidrateSpark Pro Steel is a hulking smart water bottle that can effectively remind you to keep drinking and offers a companion app that’s easy to keep track of your progress. It’s thankfully something you don’t have to think about charging every few days and it does feel like it’s built to withstand some rough and tumble. It’s disappointing to find that some features in the app require a subscription and it still feels a bit pricey for what it does. What you can’t argue with is that it goes about its tracking business in a pretty slick manner. 

The Withings Thermo is a smart thermometer that’s designed to let you quickly take readings by swiping it across your forehead, letting you store and sync readings to the companion Withings app. It’s one that can be used by multiple users, helped by the non-invasive way you take readings, with Withings claiming that its hygienic thermometer has an accuracy of +0.2C (+0.4F).

Price and availability

The Withings Thermo has been around for a while now and actually launched back in 2016. It’s pretty widely available, but you’ll find it easiest on places like Withings’ own website, the Apple Store, and retailers in the UK like Boots, Currys, and Amazon.

At $99.95/£89.95, this is certainly not a cheap smart thermometer. The price has actually dropped below the $70/£70 mark since launch and likely has something to do with the emergence of Withings’ new more feature-packed BeamO thermometer, which will launch at $249.95/(£TBC) when it goes on sale later in 2024.

Specs and features

The smarts in this thermometer lies with the array of 16 infrared sensors that sit at one end of the device. These are used to scan from the temporal artery to detect temperature changes at the forehead. Measurements are nice and quick to take and are then displayed on the built-in LED matrix display. When you set it up with the Withings app, you can use the Thermo with up to eight people, so when measurements are taken, you can scroll through users to assign the measurement to. Those readings in the Withings app will display readings and determine whether you have a fever or not.

Build and Performance

The Thermo is larger than your typical non-smart thermometer, but it does look great and there is a cap to keep the sensor covered and protected. Setting up was very straightforward and it’s nice to have the option to quickly sync readings over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to the Withings app. It’s also handy to have a good-sized display and while it’s not rechargeable, the AAA batteries it’s powered by should keep you measuring for some time. Crucially, the measurements felt accurate. As long as you correctly take the measurements and follow the instructions, the readings are reliable and you can quickly review them inside of the packed Withings app.

Competition

In terms of other smart thermometers you could grab instead, there are a few alternatives. iHealth for instance makes a no-touch forehead thermometer as well that costs less than $20/£20. You can also pick up a Kinetik ear and forehead thermometer for less, which lets you sync data to your phone making it possible to share data with a doctor. These alternatives might not look as good as the Thermo, but they do offer a cheaper route to non-invasive measurements.

Should you buy it?

You should buy it if..

• You want a nicely designed smart thermometer
• You want a smart thermometer that quickly takes measurements
• You want a thermometer that shares data to Apple Health

You shouldn’t buy it if…

• You want to use a thermometer without setting up with a phone
• You don’t need to track the temperature of multiple people
• You’re happy with a cheaper, more invasive thermometer

Verdict

The Withings Thermo does the simple job of taking your temperature in an unfussy fashion. It’s really easy to use and it takes reliable measurements very quickly, letting you view them on a big built-in display. The Withings app doesn’t hide away too many extras, but if you’re looking for a well-designed, non-invasive thermometer that’s ideal for keeping tabs on the temperature of a few people at the same time, the Thermo does deliver and it does it in a really polished manner. While its one of the best fitness accessories you can buy from the Apple Store, You just might be able to spend less and get the same results elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Samsung announced a slate of new products. The biggest new devices were the latest foldable smartphones, which look quite impressive. But its new Galaxy Watch Ultra has drawn ire for looking suspiciously like an Apple Watch Ultra – complete with its own version of the iconic orange Ocean Band. It reminds me of that meme from The Office where Pam tries to spot the difference between two identical photos.

And the internet seemed to accept that. Until larger tech reviewers, such as MKBHD, shared their thoughts on the clone of the best Apple Watch right now. Now, lots of online chatter wants to defend the Galaxy Watch Ultra from being called a rip-off.

Let's get to this right off the bat. It's time to call a spade a spade. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a rip-off of the Apple Watch Ultra. No ifs, buts, or coconuts. It's almost impossible to ignore the differences, with both having a similar battery capacity and weight. That's before you get to the orange band that looks just like one of the best Apple Watch bands, the customizable button, squircle design with titanium, and plenty of features on the watch itself.

Of course, that's not good enough for some, who want to defend this shameless copy. One Samsung Watch from 2017 (the Gear Sport) used an almost squircle design, so we can discount that. Samsung's Watch 5 Pro used titanium, so that one model excuses that. And there are other similar excuses to that effect. But what some people fail to realize is that copying all of those features in one product (which Samsung hasn't done before) just because your biggest competitor did so makes this a rip-off. You tell me if the Galaxy Watch Ultra looks more like the Apple Watch Ultra or Gear Sport.

But it's okay to admit that Samsung ripped off the Apple Watch Ultra. They're not the only ones to take a feature from a competitor and use it for themselves. But this device is one of the most shameless copies, which is a problem.

Why the Galaxy Watch Ultra ripping Apple off is such a problem

Broadly speaking, following your competitors is a good move. And we see it all the time in technology. Android had widgets and customization options for years, which the iPhone has. Plenty of other examples come to mind as well. Fingerprint sensors, multiple cameras, and so on. But in these cases, everyone implements things slightly differently.

And that different implementation is what makes inspiration like this so good for the devices you use. Each company is trying to outdo the other – trying to create something better. And then the first company tries to improve. And so on and so on. The end result is better devices in your hands, on your wrist, or anywhere else. Everybody wins. I want Samsung to have an Ultra smartwatch to rival the Apple Watch. They might have a good feature for Apple to draw inspiration from next year.

But when you copy a product almost identically, nobody wins. Nothing is getting better, nobody's learning anything. And then the products become the same, which is problematic. Inspiration is okay. Looking at someone's homework and changing the answers is okay (to me at least, maybe not to teachers). But just copying things word for word isn't.

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• Why I'm holding out hope for a smaller-sized Apple Watch X

While the Apple Watch X and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could be arriving in September, we're also expecting an Apple Watch SE 3 to debut.

Apple's cheaper smartwatch could make some big changes to appeal to a wider range of budgets and users, with rumors it'll be made of a cheaper plastic material, while still packing as many of its fitness-focused features in as possible.

The idea could be to compete with cheaper Android fitness trackers that are only getting lower in price every year. Still, with watchOS 11 under the hood, there's every chance an Apple Watch SE 3 could blow them all out of the water with a more mature operating system.

Here's all we know about the Apple Watch SE 3.

Apple Watch SE 3: Release Date Rumors

Apple Watch is a companion device to the iPhone in just about every sense, and as a result, we tend to see it revealed alongside Apple's big-selling handset.

With that in mind, it's likely we'll get a reveal in September alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, followed by a release date in late September or early October.

Naturally, there's always the potential for things to change. Still, given the history of the Apple Watch, it's unlikely to deviate too much - although the Apple Watch X could arrive later because it's a tenth-anniversary model. The original didn't ship until 2015.

Apple Watch SE 3: Price Expectations

The current Apple Watch SE, the second generation, retails at $249 for the 40mm model, and $279 for the larger 44mm one.

That could stay the same with the Apple Watch SE 3, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested it could use a rigid plastic shell to get closer to Samsung's Galaxy Watch FE which retails for $199.

Apple Watch SE 3: Design and Size

As mentioned above, the material could change to keep costs down, but reports have previously suggested the new SE could use the overall shape of the Series 8.

That could mean slimmer bezels and a slightly larger 41 and 45mm display option for the SE 3, upping the usable display area by almost 20%.

Apple Watch SE 3: Features

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that the next Apple Watch lineup could see a new SiP (system in package), potentially to "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road", and while Apple Intelligence isn't expected just yet, it'll be pretty wild if the cheaper SE 3 ends up with the same chip as its much more expensive siblings.

It's hard to say if that could happen, but given the SE 2 is on the S8 chip and Apple finally pushed past that with last year's Series 9 and Ultra 2 getting the S9, at the very least it seems reasonable to expect the S9 chip to come to the latest SE.

Elsewhere, there's a good chance that the Apple Watch SE 3 could benefit from the fast-charging introduced with the Series 7 a few years back, as well as the next generation of the optical heart sensor which debuted in the Series 6 way back in 2020 but somehow hasn't found its way to the SE lineup yet.

Apple Watch SE 3: Battery Life

The current Apple Watch SE (and indeed the mainline Series 9) all claim 18 hours of battery life, and it's unlikely Apple would allow for anything less in the SE.

Still, with drastically cheaper fitness trackers on the Android side of the fence going for days and even weeks without needing a charge, this could be an area for Apple to improve - but we've not heard anything to suggest it's high up in the company's list of priorities.

watchOS 11

watchOS 11 is the upcoming version of Apple's wearable OS, which adds a new Vitals app as well as the option to customize your Activity Rings in more detail.

Live Activities will also arrive, but Apple Intelligence won't - at least not yet. For now, that's for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.

Remember the click wheel? The revolutionary scrolling button on the front of the most iconic iPods is back but this time for… Apple Watch?

Introducing tinyPod, a case for the Apple Watch that adds the iconic iPod click wheel to the Apple Watch Series 4 and above. There’s even a size for the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The case allows you to scroll through watchOS without touching the screen and your Apple Watch will still work with magnetic charging and NameDrop. Because the tinyPod disables wrist detection, the company is claiming multi-day battery life for your smartwatch inside the case.

If you’ve been looking for a standalone music player for a while, the tinyPod could be about to change the game. There’s also a cheaper “lite” that removes the click wheel effectively making the Apple Watch a touchscreen iPod Nano. 

The regular tinyPod retails for $79.99 ($89.99 for the Ultra), and the tinyPod lite for $29.99 ($39.99 for the Ultra). Units are available to buy right now from the tinyPod website and will start shipping later this Fall.

The return of the iPod?

It might be my nostalgia speaking but let’s face it, the iPod ruled. Yes, your iPhone just like Steve Jobs once said is an “iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator” but what if you want to disconnect from the world and have a dedicated music-playing device? To this day people use iPods and the tinyPod gives a new opportunity for standalone music player lovers to modernize their iPod experience.

Most Apple Watches come with 32GB storage, perfect for all your favorite tunes and podcasts. However, let’s not forget that even an older Apple Watch Series 4 will set you back at least $100 on the second-hand market so this could quickly become a pricy MP3 player. With a Fall release date, tinyPod could become the perfect use case for your old Apple Watch when you upgrade to the rumored Apple Watch X.

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Last Black Friday, the two biggest purchases I made were an iPad Air 5 and an Apple Watch SE 2. Though both are great in their own way, the Apple Watch SE 2 has been a godsend, and that’s because I bought it for my partner. Now that Prime Day is here, and it has hit its lowest-ever price, there’s never been a better time to get one for yourself. This is one of the best Prime Day Apple Watch deals we've seen so far this year.

My partner has a tendency to misplace their iPhone 12 Pro Max. Though this isn’t a huge deal, it does mean that she can tend to miss pings from Messenger and WhatsApp. Though this is usually harmless, I found myself getting worried she’d miss important calls and opportunities. As a last-ditch effort to help her keep track of notifications and her iPhone, I bought her an Apple Watch SE last year and it has helped her significantly. It is also just great for tracking fitness and checking the time. If you are anything like her, now might be the time to pick up a gadget that will save you many missed calls. 

Finally keep track

Though these are all great and used every day, as is the case with my partner, the Apple Watch SE 2 justified its price as a mini note taker and notification checker. Giving a small vibration every time an important notification comes in, it’s very easy to check emails in a few seconds. With an iPhone, especially one that has been left in another room, it can be easy to tell yourself you will check messages later, only to be distracted by something else happening. If this struggle feels familiar, now is a great time to make a commitment to better notification checking, and it’s cheaper than ever before. 

I’ve got a confession to make – I may be editor of an Apple-focused website, but I’m still rocking the Apple Watch Series 7 that launched back in 2021. While the world around me has jumped to the luxurious Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2, I’ve stood by my stalwart timepiece.

But that might all change today — Amazon’s Prime Day Apple Watch deals have seen a new lowest-ever price reached for the top-tier Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

It’s down to just $699.99 — $100 and 12% off its usual $799 retail price.

Previously I’ve held fire on making the upgrade leap — I’m only a casual sports enthusiast, I’m not a great swimmer, and being city-based the Watch Ultra 2’s hiking features are often lost on me. 

But with Apple Intelligence (the company’s big AI push) on the horizon, I’m ready to make the jump. Though the Apple Watch isn’t set to be the first port of call for Apple’s artificial intelligence features, I think the Ultra 2 might eventually be the perfect home for it. A wrist-based AI assistant sounds like the dream always-ready use-case for AI, and the Ultra’s bigger screen, paired with the potential for an AI-conjuring Action button loaded up with Apple Intelligence shortcuts, might make for the smartest wearable there’s ever been. At this price, it might be time to lay down the cash.

Time for an all-time low

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple’s most-premium smartwatch. Ruggedized for outdoor activity, it was introduced in September 2023, meaning it’s still among Apple’s newest wearables — even if an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to arrive before the end of the year. The early rumors point to a minor upgrade for the timepiece, so bagging a big saving now won’t necessarily leave you with buyer’s remorse come September.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has solid specs regardless. As standard, it offers 36 hours of battery life, but you can squeeze out 72 hours in Low Power Mode. That’s why it’s become the go-to for outdoor pursuits where a power supply might not be readily available — and helps it perform in life-or-death scenarios. With a faster S9 chip and brighter screen, it was a worthy upgrade over its first-gen predecessor.

As a relatively recent release, it’ll be all set to receive the watchOS 11 update when it launches (usually in the fall), so you’ll get new features for some time to come. 

Just be aware that not every combination of size and watch band gets discounted during Amazon’s sales, so make sure to carefully check if the discount is applicable to the Ultra 2 set you’re after. 

We always look forward to seeing what kind of deals come along with Prime Day, and this year we're seeing some of the best. One of our favorites is this incredible deal on an Apple Watch Series 9, which saves you a whopping $120 off the full price for the lowest price the watch has ever seen.

Historically, deals on Apple Watches have meant that they tend to sell out quickly as everyone goes for the same products as and when the price drops. In this case, we reckon we'll see the Series 9 sell pretty quickly — especially considering that the price is now well below the $300 mark. That's on all colors and strap options as well, although you'll still pay more if you want a Stainless Steel model. The Cellular version also has the same discount, and both size options are reduced: No matter the Apple Watch you're after, you'll save some money in this Prime Day Apple Watch deal.

Lowest price Apple Watch Series 9

• Apple Watch deals: Amazon | B&H Photo | Best Buy | Walmart

We love the Apple Watch Series 9 — it's got everything you actually need out of an Apple Watch, and adds a couple of desirables without reaching the lofty price of the more premium Apple Watch Ultra 2. It's easily the best Apple Watch for most people, and this new price made it a whole lot more affordable.

It isn't unusual for an Apple Watch to help save someone's life these days, whether that's thanks to its heart rate monitoring technology or something like Crash Detection that calls for help after a wreck. But a new report detailing how an Apple Watch Ultra helped save one swimmer's life is a little different from the usual fare.

Rick Shearman was treading water in rough seas just off the coast of Australia when he found that he perhaps wasn't as safe as he thought after being caught in the impact zone where the waves he was body surfing broke. He was left treading water more than half a mile out to sea, and with time very not on his side.

"I copped a couple of big ones on the head and was held under for a while, I started to panic a bit and cramp up underwater there," the man said, but thankfully he had the presence of mind to use his Apple Watch to summon help.

"Bobbing out somewhere in international waters"

Being interviewed by ABC North Coast, the surfer was able to use the Apple Watch's Emergency SOS feature to call emergency services who then mobilized to rescue him. And it couldn't have happened if it wasn't for his Apple Watch, he says.

"If it wasn't for being able to access that service in my watch I'd probably be bobbing out somewhere in international waters by now," the report quotes Sherman as saying, with Jimmy Keogh from Surf Life Saving Far North Coast echoing the sentiment.

"The search area for the person in the water with the conditions that we had, it would have been a pretty substantial search area involving multiple agencies that could have gone one for days as well," Keogh said.

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The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple's formidable outdoor, all-conquering wearable for swimming, diving, kayaking, hiking, trail running, construction, exploration, navigation, and any other adventure you can think of. 

Packed full of safety features and sporting a massive display, it's also Apple's most expensive Apple Watch by some distance, making any saving on it worth taking notice of. 

With Amazon Prime Day just 24 hours away, you can now save $70 (nearly 10%) on the original price of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, reduced from $799 to $729 on Amazon right now. 

$70 off Apple Watch Ultra 2

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

Unveiled in September last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is about to be supplanted by the Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, rumored upgrades are scant, and it sounds right now like you'd be better off making a saving on the existing model. 

This one comes with up to 36 hours of normal battery life, or 72 hours in its Low Power Mode, perfect for even the longest training session or weekend expedition. Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes an even brighter display compared to the first model, and also the new S9 chip which powers much snappier on-device Siri. 

What's more, it'll also bring support for watchOS 11 when that rolls out in the fall, and you can guarantee some good software support for a few years to come. Just make sure you dig around the Amazon listing, as not all the band and size combinations have the full discount right now. 

Find My is a powerful tool for keeping tabs on your iPhone, AirTags, or other Apple gear, but its ability to contact a lost device's owner is one that you'll hope you never need.

As per 9to5Mac, one Apple Watch owner lost his wearable device while diving in the Caribbean, and it was returned to him an entire year later thanks to that same feature - and it still works.

Jared Brick recounted in a YouTube video (below) how he was scuba diving in the Caribbean with his Apple Watch before realizing after a dive that it had seemingly slipped off his wrist in June 2022.

“I’m wearing it and poof, it's gone, slid off my wrist and into the water. I didn’t realize it at the time, so distracted by the true beauty of that place" he explains.

Apple Watch's Find My reunites it with owner

Brick used Find My to mark his device as lost, but probably did so more in hope than expectation. 

In December of last year, he received a call from someone in the Caribbean who claimed to have found the device and was able to call his number because Find My revealed it. In fact, despite the length of time since it was lost, the Apple Watch still worked.

"Big thank you to Jonathan in the Caribbean for finding it, contacting me, shipping it back to me and for Apple for making such an amazing technology that works,” Brick added.

We've previously reported on an Apple Watch that spent a day in the sea, but over a year is a significant step up.

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Apple has recently updated its Oximeter patent, which could mean that U.S. users could get access to the feature once more.

Back in December 2023, a patent dispute arose between Masimo and Apple about the Oxygen sensor in two of the best Apple Watch models, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This led to the wearables being temporarily pulled from sale in the U.S. However, Apple quickly updated them through a software update so that the blood oxygen sensors were disabled.

According to Patently Apple, patent application 20240225496 was sent to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 11, titled ‘System and Method for Robust Pulse Oximetry using Asymmetric Distance-Dependent Calibration.’ This patent explains a new method of how different sensors can better calibrate blood oxygen levels on someone’s wrist. Across 23 pages, it goes into technical detail about these sensors. Essentially, the new method can use several light sensors to monitor someone’s bloodstream, and the information will be fed back to the Apple Watch. This approach avoids the patent dispute with Masimo.

We wouldn’t be surprised if we see these changes implemented in the rumored Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 wearables later this year.

What’s the Apple Watch Series 10 rumored to have?

In short — not much. Expect an Apple Watch Series 10 to have a new System in Package (SiP) chip, a thinner chassis, and a bigger display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in a recent issue of his Power On newsletter. Since the Series 7 in 2020, the sizes have been 41mm and 45mm, but Gurman didn’t reveal the exact sizes of what Series 10 may bring later this year.

Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI feature set will appear on iPhones, iPads, and Macs with Apple silicon later this year for U.S. users, but won’t be coming to the Watch anytime soon. However, third-party apps such as Petey can be downloaded to your Watch right now, allowing you to use OpenAI’s ChatGPT model on your wrist.

For now, if you’re happy with your Watch, there’s no need to upgrade. But if you’re interested in buying one of Apple’s wearables soon, we’ve already found some great Prime Day Apple Watch deals you can check out right now.

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Samsung has just announced a ton of new products and, while some items do look quite impressive, its Watch Ultra has drawn ire for looking suspiciously like an Apple Watch Ultra — complete with its own version of the iconic orange Alpine Loop. 

As pointed out by tech YouTuber Snazzy Labs, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has a very similar face plate and color scheme to the best Apple Watch right now. He goes on to say the “Watch Ultra is the most shameless copy of an Apple product in ages—and it’s hideous”. He isn’t much kinder about many of Samsung’s other new products, accusing the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro of being AirPods clones. 

The comparison here, for either product, is a bit hard to ignore. The comments on Snazzy Labs’ original post aren’t much kinder, with one user saying “I hate all this Apple copying garbage. If people want Apple stuff they'll buy it. Not a knock-off Samsung version that's inferior in every way that matters.” What makes this even worse is Samsung’s new watch even has a programmable button that functions like the Action button Apple fans are used to. 

How is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra different?

Both watches are very similar, having a similar battery capacity and weight, with Samsung’s offering having double the RAM and the Apple Watch Ultra getting double the storage capacity. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a little bigger at 49mm and has a higher display resolution. Samsung’s watch is $150 cheaper, though giving both devices rely heavily on their respective OSes, you will likely be stuck committing to the watch that suits your phone choice. 

Though the cheaper price point is certainly nice for established Samsung fans, the shameless design copy sours it somewhat. If, despite the comparison, you still want to get the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, it launches on July 24. 

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Samsung has been teasing the Galaxy Ring for a little while now but the finger-based wearable is now officially official, and we know everything there is to know about it. Samsung shared all the details as part of a press conference that also saw the company announce new Galaxy smartwatches and foldable phones, but its entry into the world of smart rings is what should have put Apple on notice.

There have been recent rumors of the potential for an Apple Ring of late, of course. The Galaxy Ring is far from the first of its kind as well, and I'm a particular fan of the Oura Ring 3 that I've been wearing for the last year. But until now the market has been dominated by companies like Oura, relative startups to Apple's tech behemoth. Now that Samsung's on board, it's a whole new ball game — and Apple needs to get involved.

Apple is notorious for joining markets late and fixing most if not all of the problems that the early adopters had to deal with. It was late to the tablet world with the iPad, and it was late to the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch. The iPhone wasn't the first smartphone, either. But they were all better than what came before. So will the Apple Ring be the same? I hope so, because the Galaxy Ring looks pretty great thanks to a slew of health-related features the likes of which Apple has previously prided itself in. And if Samsung can do it, Apple can hopefully do it even better.

Apple Ring? That's got a ring to it!

Apple has made a big deal out of its health chops in recent years. The Apple Watch helps people track all kinds of things and that will continue with the arrival of watchOS 11 later this year, too. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are great ways to monitor your health and activity levels, to be sure. But there's something different about a ring. A ring never comes off, it's always there — except when you're charging it, of course — and because it's on your finger experts say that a ring can capture more accurate heart rate measurements than a watch.

Another bonus is sleep data, another benefit brought about by wearing a ring overnight. Sure, you can wear a watch but fewer people do and those who are concerned about battery life wouldn't dream of missing out on those valuable charging hours.

"Starting with sleep, the foundation of wellness, Galaxy Ring features Samsung’s best-in-class sleep analysis and a powerful sleep AI algorithm to help you easily understand your sleep patterns and build better habits," Samsung's announcement press release reads. "Along with Sleep Score and snoring analysis, new sleep metrics such as movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart and respiratory rate provide a detailed and accurate analysis of sleep quality."

That's all good stuff, and it's stuff that I'd like to see in the Health app on my iPhone. The Oura Ring can collect some data and it has Health compatibility, but the Samsung Galaxy Ring won't work with an iPhone at all. An Apple Ring? That'd work flawlessly and, married with other data collected by an Apple Watch, could collect holistic health information that could make a real difference for people who have specific health needs or struggle to stay fit and healthy.

Throw in Apple Intelligence and the Health app could leverage that information to provide real insights with real help. And for that reason, I can't wait to put an Apple Ring on my finger.

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A new inside report claims that Apple is considering ditching aluminum in favor of plastic to keep the costs of its Apple Watch SE 3 down. 

Apple’s budget smartwatch, last updated in September 2022 alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, is the company’s cheapest wearable. It offers many of the notable health-tracking features core to the Apple Watch experience, including heart rate monitoring, exercise tracking, and heart rhythm notifications. However, Apple saves costs by using a slightly less vibrant display, and a slightly older processor, as well as by eschewing key premium features such as temperature sensing and Blood Oxygen. 

While rumors of a new Apple Watch SE 3 have been non-existent to date, Apple is reportedly mulling another major cost-saving change in the next model, using plastic for the time in one of its wearables.

Apple Watch SE 3 goes plastic? 

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is “working on a new version of its lower-cost Apple Watch SE model.” Gurman states “One idea that the company has tested is swapping out the aluminum shell in favor of rigid plastic” He postulates that this could be a bid to get the price of the Apple Watch SE 3 closer to Samsung’s rival Galaxy Watch FE, which retails at a more favorable $199.

While the Apple Watch SE 2 retails at a reasonable $249 (although you can find it for much less in the Prime Day Apple Watch sales), the first iteration was $279. While the SE is cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 9 and the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, that magical $200 price floor beckons as the final hurdle in the SE’s bid to become a true “budget” smartwatch. However, whether the end of its aluminum shell is a price consumers are willing to pay is another matter entirely.

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• Vitals app on watchOS 11 — everything you need to know about the new app coming to Apple Watch
• "Needless to say I called my doctor and was told to get to the emergency room immediately" — Apple's cheapest Watch just saved another life

We've been expecting the Apple Watch lineup to get a big shakeup this year to celebrate its tenth anniversary, and now we may just know what that will include.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, the Apple Watch Series 10 (or Apple Watch X) will receive some sizeable upgrades.

"This fall, Apple is planning some notable changes to its original smartwatch line — the “Series” models — including larger displays," Gurman explains. "The device also will be thinner, though the design itself is unlikely to look much different."

Gurman says the Series 10 will come in two versions, with larger displays. The models are currently codenamed N217 and N218, and they'll offer a screen around as large as the Apple Watch Ultra's display.

New chipset incoming?

While Gurman notes that the expected Apple Watch Ultra 3 "won’t get a major design change", new models are expected to receive a new chip to "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road".

Sadly, that doesn't mean on-device Apple Intelligence, as Gurman recommends users hoping for the new AI features to temper their expectations somewhat.

"For now, that service is only headed to the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Later, it will come to the Vision Pro, but there are no plans to bring the full initiative to the watch."

It also seems the release, which actually coincides with the anniversary of the Apple Watch reveal in 2014 rather than its release in 2015, will come too soon for Apple's latest health sensors.

High blood pressure and sleep apnea detection tools are planned, but Gurman notes the company has run into "some serious snags". Gurman says reliability is an issue with hypertension, while sleep apnea is tied to the blood oxygen monitoring that's currently the subject of an ongoing legal battle with Masimo Corp.

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• Vitals app on watchOS 11 — everything you need to know about the new app coming to Apple Watch

This year’s Apple Watch operating system update, watchOS 11, may have seemed like a smaller update than in previous years, but owners of the best Apple Watches still have lots of new goodies to try out, whether you’re interested in downloading the developer beta or you’re waiting for the official release in September. 

Chief among these goodies is the new Vitals app, a health tool from Apple that emphasizes sleep and recovery. However, your Apple Watch already records your heart rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, and more - so what’s the big deal about an app that tells us things we already know? Below, we’ve collected everything you need to know about the Vitals app, along with a guide on how to get started using it. 

 What is the Vitals app?  

The Vitals app focuses on sleep. According to Apple, “Apple Watch allows users to measure important health metrics during sleep: heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen. With watchOS 11, the new Vitals app gives users a way to quickly view these key health metrics and gain better context when it comes to their health.”

The idea is to wear your watch at night to allow Apple to record these metrics in their normal range, establishing a baseline for health. If two or more of these metrics ever fall outside of this baseline overnight, you’ll receive an alert from Apple and a prompt to examine the causes more closely. 

You can view the last seven days of sleep in the Vitals app on your Apple Watch. While it’s true that you can check all these statistics individually in your Health app on your iPhone, the Vitals app places them in context with a handy graph, along with lifestyle-orientated prompts and actionable advice to bring those vitals back to your baseline levels.

For example, when you wake up, your Vitals app may prompt you with the message “your heart rate and wrist temperature were higher than normal. This could be due to many factors including illness or alcohol consumption.” Other wearables that focus on holistic health rather than fitness, such as the Oura Ring, track these biomarkers during sleep to predict oncoming illness, so it’s great to see Apple Watches finally get these tools too. 

 How does the Vitals app use your data? 

Apple claims its health features are “grounded in science and developed with input from clinical experts”, using information from the Apple Heart and Movement Study.  Developed in partnership with the American Heart Association, the study aims to “identify factors affecting heart health, mobility, and heart function over time.”

Apple has used this information to develop its wellness algorithm so that the watch can understand more intelligently if your vitals are abnormal to the point that you need to be warned. We’ll be interested to see what other messages users get in the Vitals app when different combinations of vital signs flag up: the only example we’ve received so far is the message about illness and alcohol, which is based on an increase in skin temperature and heart rate. 

What kind of message will users get when respiratory rate decreases, for example, or sleep duration decreases - and how different will these messages be when the full version launches in September? These are questions that are still to be answered, and we’ll know more in the coming weeks and months. 

 How to use the Vitals app on your Apple Watch 

First off, just like other watchOS 11 features such as Training Load, you’ll need to download the watchOS11 beta before using any of its new tools.

You can get watchOS 11 by going to Software Update > Beta Updates and enabling Beta updates. If your phone’s software is up-to-date, you will be presented with the option to download the iOS 18 beta. Next, go to the Watch app and download the watchOS 11 beta by going to Watch > General > Software Update.

Once you’ve updated, you’ll need to ensure you sleep with your watch for seven days. The watch’s Vitals app needs at least a week of information to establish your “normal range”. From then on, Vitals works on a rolling seven-day basis, comparing your night with the last seven days of information to establish outliers versus your recent normal range. 

From then on, whenever you enter Sleep mode, you’ll contribute to this rolling seven-day bank of information about your sleep. You no longer have to manually enter Sleep mode, as watchOS 11 finally offers automatic sleep tracking. Simply wear your watch to bed, ensuring it’s charged enough for the night, and watchOS 11 will automatically record your Vitals. 

When you open the Vitals app, you’ll see a bar at the top of your watch’s screen detailing a brief summary of the last seven days, and you can scroll down with the digital crown to view a seven-day summary of each of the following statistics: heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen. You’ll also be able to view your Training Load in the Vitals app by continuing to scroll down with the digital crown, and you can tap on the Training Load card to jump directly to the Training Load screen in Workouts. 

Apple's cheapest wearable has just been credited with saving another life, proving you don't have to buy the best Apple Watch on the market to benefit from life-saving tech yet again. 

User V3N0M0US83 took to the Apple Watch Subreddit this week and revealed "Apple Watch saved my life this past weekend." "I have an SE 2 and Thursday my watch had gone off saying my heart rate was above 120 bpm," they explained. The user ignored the alerts "as I didn't feel any discomfort," but got two more heart rate alerts while sitting at the kitchen table the following day. 

"I opened the heart rate app and my bpm was at 161 while resting." The user's girlfriend, a medical assistant in training, gave their heart a listen with a stethoscope "and said my heart was beating out of my chest." Turns out, they needed life-saving treatment. 

Apple Watch saves another life

"Needless to say I called my doctor and was told to get to the emergency room immediately." Turns out, they were suffering from an Afib flutter, an abnormal heart rhythm that causes the heart to beat too fast. Atrial flutter is less common than atrial fibrillation, but both can carry symptoms including feeling faint, tiredness, palpitations, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Untreated, they can carry an increased risk of stroke. 

In the hospital, the user received cardiovert treatment, low-energy shocks designed to restore a regular heart rhythm. An ECG all-clear later, and they were able to go home. "If anyone is on the fence about getting a watch, I highly recommend doing so!," they concluded. 

While Apple's wearable lineup includes the rugged Apple Watch UItra 2 and mainstream Apple Watch Series 9, both are much more expensive than the Apple Watch SE, which you can pick up in an early Prime Day Apple Watch deal for as little as $189, including that all-important heart rate monitor. 

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If you're excited about watchOS 11 features like Training Load or the new Vitals app but need to upgrade your smartwatch, or are looking to buy your first, the Apple Watch Series 9 is very easy to recommend. 

The Series 9 is the best Apple Watch yet, and while many criticized the lack of innovation when it debuted, the addition of the smarter chipset and on-device Siri are likely to be shown to be excellent future-proofing decisions from Apple.

In our review, we dubbed it "the one you've been waiting for", praising the new processor, the arrival of the Double Tap gesture (which is the closest many of us will get to using a Vision Pro) and more.

Better yet, you can save big money on the Apple Watch Series 9 right now at Amazon.

The retailer is offering $100 off of the Cellular 41mm model in a variety of color options, bringing it down to just $399.99.

That means if you have a data plan, you can stream music, send messages, or even answer calls while your phone is at home - ideal for fitness enthusiasts that don't want to carry a hefty device in their pocket.

I've done some digging and this matches Amazon's previous lowest price for this model, too, making it a deal well worth looking into.

While the Apple Watch X (or Series 10) is expected in a few months time, this is still an excellent option.

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• What is Training Load on watchOS 11?
• Apple Watch Ultra 3: Everything you need to know

Although Apple Intelligence was most people’s main focus during WWDC 2024, plenty of goodies are set to arrive on your best Apple Watch too via the latest software update, watchOS 11. Enhanced women’s health features improve cycle tracking and additional tools offer support during pregnancy, activity rings are becoming more customizable, and the smart stack is getting better with interactive features. 

However, it’s the new Training Load feature on the Workout app, and the new Vitals app, that’s got fitness fans really excited. Apple describes Training Load as “an insightful new way to measure how the intensity and duration of workouts are impacting a user’s body over time”, but that doesn’t tell us very much about the nuts and bolts of it. What is Training Load? How is it calculated? And how can understanding our Training Load help us recover from tough workouts? Read on to find out all about it. 

What is Training Load?

In Apple terms, Training Load helps Apple Watch users understand how their workouts are placing strain on their bodies in order to determine whether it’s above or below their usual levels of activity. Every time you exercise, you place a bit of stress on your body. Of course, this is how the process works: you recover, you get stronger, and you’re able to take a little bit more stress next time. It’s how people go from running five kilometers to marathons. 

However, in order for your body to recover successfully, you need adequate rest. If your Training Load is too far above your usual level, Apple will flag it up, and recommend you rest for a day or two to bring the stress on your body back down to manageable levels. 

Garmin and Fitbit offer similar services, incorporating ‘readiness scores’ into their health summaries. While using one of these devices, if your readiness score is low, the companion app will recommend you sleep more and train lighter until your body has had a chance to fully recover. This is Apple’s take on the feature, and it’s nicely incorporated into the ecosystem of its cornerstone Workout app, along with the new Vitals app. 

How is Training Load calculated?

After you have recorded a cardio-based workout in your Apple Watch’s Workout app, whether it’s an ad-hoc workout or one from Apple Fitness Plus, it will look at your health data in order to determine how intense you found it compared to your usual effort. How elevated was your heart rate? How many calories did you burn? How far did you travel?

watchOS 11 will look at “a combination of data sources like age, height, and weight, alongside workout data like GPS, heart rate, and elevation”. It will then give the workout a number between one and 10, and an intensity grading such as “moderate”. 

For some workout types like strength training, you won’t get an automatic estimate, but you can manually enter a rating at the end of each workout, following a prompt on your Apple Watch to do so. 

Your Apple Watch will then compare this data to your seven-day training load, which is the amount and intensity of workouts performed over the last seven days, and your 28-day training load. From there, the Training Load feature can tell you whether you are below or above your usual level, via a cool-looking graph, a percentage number, and a brief descriptive note or rating. For example, if your training load is 20% down over the last 28 days, you’ll get a rating of “Below”, while a 12% increase could offer a rating of “Steady” indicating overall growth. 

You can also view your Training Load in the Apple Watch’s Vitals app, Activity app, and your iPhone’s Fitness app. Viewing your Training Load on iPhone offers the opportunity for more insights: if you continue to train above your usual level, your iPhone’s fitness app can tell you more about how your fitness is increasing. If you’re training too much, it will flag up the possibility of injury. 

How to use download and use Training Load

First off, you’ll need to download the watchOS11 beta. The public beta is available in July, but you can download the developer beta early by signing up for the Apple Beta Software Program. This requires paying a fee, which you can do as part of an individual or an organization. You can find more information on Apple’s Developer website. 

Whether you’re a developer or you’re waiting for the public beta, you can access the feature by going to Software Update > Beta Updates and downloading the iOS 18 beta. From there, you can head to the Watch app and download the watchOS 11 beta by going to Watch > General > Software Update.

Once you’ve updated, you’ll need to spend 28 days with the watch before you can use Training Load in the way it’s intended to be used. However, when you finish a workout in the Workout app, you can scroll down in your Workout Summary to view your workout’s effort rating. As previously mentioned, popular cardio workouts such as running and cycling will generate an effort rating automatically, but you can tap on the effort rating and use your digital crown to manually set the effort rating by scrolling up and down, from one to 10. This is the default method of adding an effort rating for workouts that don’t auto-populate the effort rating field. 

You don’t have to add or change an effort rating straight away: you can do this later on within the Fitness app on your iPhone, by going to Fitness > Summary > Activity, tapping on a workout, and entering an effort rating for that workout. After 28 days of wearing your watch during activities, you’ll be able to see your Training Load in the Fitness app, comparing the last seven days to the last 28 days. 

You can also use the Fitness app on your iPhone to filter your Training Load by specific workouts. Going to Summary > Training Load > All Workouts will provide the option to only view workouts of a particular type. For example, if you’re only interested in your running mileage, you can change the Training Load view from All Workouts to Running by tapping on the Running option. 

Apple came out swinging with the Apple Watch Ultra when it debuted a couple of years back, and while the second version made small changes, it was nonetheless a great wearable as our review of the Ultra 2 shows.

All rumors point to a relatively quiet year for the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra, though, with Apple focusing much of its effort on Apple Intelligence, which isn't expected to come to any Apple Watch anytime soon.

After a big year last year, watchOS 11 could be a relatively slim upgrade too, but in case you're itching for a rugged, powerful smartwatch regardless, we've rounded up all the rumors and reports here.

Here's all we know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: The headlines

• What is it? The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be Apple’s next rugged, premium smartwatch.
• When can we expect it? Q4 2024
• Key upgrades: New Apple silicon chip

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Release Date Rumors

Apple Watch models tend to be revealed at September events alongside the new iPhone, so there’s a good chance we’ll see it in the same showcase as the iPhone 16 and the ‘Series X’ if it’s real.

As for when it may be available to buy, expect Ultra 3 to go up for preorder after the event and launch within a few short weeks - likely in October.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price Expectations

Both prior versions of the Apple Watch Ultra have debuted at $799, and with this being a slimmer year for new features, we can't see that changing this time around.

So while we don't expect a price increase, a price drop remains unlikely.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design and Display

Ming-Chi Kuo, a longtime Apple analyst and source of plenty of leaks, has suggested the next Apple watch will be darker in color - maybe even black titanium.

We’ve previously covered why a slick new colorway could tempt us to upgrade.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 1.93-inch display, but reports have suggested the third version will grow to 2.12 inches. Whether that means a larger footprint or the thinning of the existing bezels, however, it’s hard to say.

Here’s hoping Apple can remove some of the weight of the device, too - it doesn’t feel drastically heftier than rivals, but it can’t hurt.

One thing we’re not expecting though is the microLED display that’s reportedly been in the works for some time. Reports suggest this has been pushed back to 2026, and possibly further, due to issues with producing the new displays.

Interestingly, Mark Gurman has reported that the Series X could match the Ultra 3 in terms of display size, so it'll be interesting to see just how the Ultra 3 changes to differentiate itself - if at all.

In July, Gurman added that he expects Ultra 3 to include a new Apple silicon chip, but nothing else regarding major hardware updates this year to the wearable.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features

New fitness features

Apple’s lengthy legal disputes with Masimo over the blood oxygen sensors in its Apple Watch models are still rumbling on, and that may have slowed down the updates on the latest Apple Watch Ultra - and the second generation was a pretty slow year, too.

We had been hoping blood pressure monitoring would be coming this year as was reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, but at the time of writing it appears quiet on that front from Apple.

That could make the Ultra a tough sell for Ultra 2 owners or even owners of the original Ultra, and with the ongoing legal battle, there's every chance blood oxygen monitoring isn't available at launch.

Apple has also reportedly been working on sleep apnea detection, but its ties to the blood oxygen monitoring that isn't available right now could mean it slips.

Performance and Apple Intelligence

Reports have suggested that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Series 10 will gain a new SiP (system in package) to offer additional performance and "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road".

The Ultra 2 saw the arrival of the S9 chip, which allows for more on-device processing of Siri requests, but Mark Gurman says we shouldn't expect Apple Intelligence on the wearable anytime soon.

"For now, that service is only headed to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Later, it will come to the Vision Pro, but there are no plans to bring the full initiative to the watch," he said.

What does watchOS 11 offer?

Apple’s latest OS update for Apple Watch doesn’t offer many clues for the future of the Ultra lineup, but it does offer some notable improvements for the Apple Watch line.

The new Vitals update in watchOS 11 gives a more glanceable look at your health data, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep, and blood oxygen, helping you understand big changes to any of those.

Training Load will also help users plan workouts based on a variety of factors, including effort levels and timing, to ensure they’re getting the most out of things. It uses algorithmic data from multiple sources.

Users will also be able to log a pregnancy within the Health app and use the cycle tracker to track gestational age, and Activity Rings can now be personalized on a per-day basis or paused if a user suffers an injury or needs a rest day.

A big 'finally' in watchOS 11 is the ability to set rest days, so you won't lose your workout streaks if you suddenly come down with illness and you're unable to do a workout.

There's no denying how popular the Apple Watch is. It's the best-selling watch around the world, never mind the best-selling smartwatch. And the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is arguably the best Apple Watch. Over the regular Apple Watch Series releases, it offers a more rugged design, larger display, bigger battery, and extra feature for adventurers. And it's not just fans that have noticed. Samsung's obviously been paying close attention, as it's next smartwatch looks like an Apple Watch Ultra rip-off.

Samsung is planning to release a new Galaxy Watch Ultra as part of a new line-up of products later this year. Twitter tipster Evan Blass (better known as Evleaks) shared some leaked images of the new smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra appears to flaunt a squarish design with orange accents on a dark gray body, including the power button. And let's not forget the glaringly similar vibrant orange band that screams Apple Watch Ultra rip-off.

But there's more. The band connector system on the Galaxy Watch Ultra appears to have borrowed a few too many pages from Apple’s playbook. Gone is the traditional spring pin connector, replaced by a new system that looks eerily familiar. Even the button on the underbody suggests that Samsung might have been taking some inspiration from Cupertino.

What else is coming from Samsung?

As for the rest of Samsung’s upcoming line-up, we’ve got the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Buds 3 series. The Watch 7 sticks closely to its predecessor’s design, with a new olive green option and the good old spring pin band connector. This is more of a rival to the Apple Watch Series 9. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are making their entrance with stemmed designs – the Buds 3 mimicking Apple’s AirPods and the Buds 3 Pro retaining those trusty silicone eartips. Samsung is also embracing colourful accents with blue and orange touches across these accessories, including the budget-friendly Galaxy Watch FE.

Samsung fans can mark their calendars for the big reveal on July 10, and if you’re feeling particularly eager, you can reserve a device directly from Samsung for a chance at some sweet deals and a $5,000 credit sweepstake.

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I love the Apple Watch. It’s a fantastic piece of kit that has helped me live a healthier life since I first bought the Series 0 in 2015. I love that it gives me all the information I need on my wrist and helps me live a healthier lifestyle by tracking my activity. 

Recently, however, my digital life has become a bit overwhelming with too many notifications and the FOMO of missing out on them that stops me from taking back control. I'd been living with one of the best Apple Watch models, the sumptuous Apple Watch Ultra 2, but decided to go cold turkey and get rid of my favorite smartwatch altogether — opting for a more traditional watch instead.

Over the years, I’ve become more and more interested in “regular” watches, specifically the ruggedness and 90s appeal of Casio G-Shocks. I love the way they look, the fact that they are almost indestructible, and most of all the fact that they take me back to a time when people weren’t connected to tech 24/7.

But to my surprise, as I started to research modern G-Shocks and their features I found out that they are a bit smarter than you’d expect — some even have access to one of the Apple Watch’s best tricks and also work alongside the best iPhones.

My ‘dumb’ smartwatch

Calling the G-Shock GMW-B5000PG a smartwatch is a bit of a stretch. While not smart in the traditional sense of what we’ve come to recognize as a smartwatch, it is filled with really cool features that make it far more than just a timepiece. I’ll briefly mention the non-iPhone related features first. This watch has Casio’s Tough Solar feature, meaning it charges via sunlight and will never run out of battery. It also has Multiband 6 which connects to six transmitters above Earth to ensure the most accurate time possible. And, most importantly for this article, it has Bluetooth.

"So what can a Casio G-Shock with Bluetooth actually do?," I hear you ask. Well, using the Casio app on your iPhone allows you to sync up the time on your watch with your iPhone’s clock, bypassing the Multiband 6 if you’re somewhere that can’t connect to one of the six transmitters. More impressive, however, is the ability to change all of your G-Shock’s settings including alarms, timers, and world time via the app, and there’s even the ability to write reminders that appear on the screen. 

My favorite feature, however, is the phone finder. Similar to one of the Apple Watch’s best features that allows you to ping your watch, I can press a button on my Casio and my iPhone 15 Pro Max will start to play piano jazz. You have to hear it to truly appreciate how frickin’ cool it is, but considering I lose my phone a lot, why not find it again with some class?

It’s really just a watch

The Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000PG is not a replacement for an Apple Watch unless you only want your watch to tell you the time and help find your lost iPhone. That said, it’s a piece of jewelry with decades of Japanese design history behind it and no Apple Watch on the planet, not even the Apple Watch Ultra 2, is as indestructible as my trusty stainless steel G-Shock.

The model I use is a 40th-anniversary GMW-B5000PG G-Shock and while the price I’m about to say will make you squirm, it is a timepiece that will last a lifetime. Nowadays you might struggle to find one, but the GMW-B5000PG with recrystallized stainless steel originally retailed for $749. If however, you like the thought of a ‘dumb’ smart G-Shock — but not that price tag — and want an alternative to your Apple Watch for the days when you just want to live offline, check out these other G-Shocks available at a much lower cost, with many of the same features listed above:

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The very first CAD renders of the fabled Apple Watch X have leaked, revealing a large 2-inch display, the biggest to ever feature on an Apple Watch.

As shared by 91mobiles, the CAD renders, which are often accurate in terms of revealing future Apple products and their details, show a 2-inch display larger than the Apple Watch Series 9 and even the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which currently measures 1.93 inches. 

Despite the display size, the chassis of the new watch reportedly sits between the Series 9 and the Ultra in terms of size, measuring "roughly 46 x 39.7 x 11.6mm." Otherwise, the leaks indicate broadly the same features as the last generation including a Digital Crown and a side button. 

Is this the real deal?

We are indeed expecting a significant upgrade to the Apple Watch with the Series X, but this leak doesn't include one of the biggest rumored changes. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new Apple Watch X will feature a new magnetic band mechanism that will save space internally for new features. These leaks don't seem to include that change. However, 91mobiles says the CADs are sourced "from industry insiders," so it's possible the magnetic mechanism hasn't made the final cut. As per the report, "we don’t see any evidence" of this rumored change. 

It's also possible that there are two Apple Watch X size models. It was recently reported the Apple Watch X would come in 45mm and 49mm casings just like the Ultra. In that case, we'd expect there to be a smaller version of this leak lurking in a warehouse somewhere. 

If this is indeed the Apple Watch X, then Apple Watch users can expect a significant increase in display size, and battery to go along with it. That larger chassis will house plenty more power, possibly offering battery life on par with the Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch X would continue Apple's iPhone X tradition, of honoring a product's 10th anniversary with a significant overhaul. It's expected to be unveiled in September of 2024 alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. 

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