The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will feature satellite messaging, allowing users to send texts without cellular or Wi-Fi connections, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This will provide communication even when away from an iPhone. The watch could also include blood pressure monitoring, though this feature has been delayed and may not arrive soon. Additionally, Apple is working on a non-invasive blood glucose tracker, but it won’t be available next year.
These new features aim to boost smartwatch sales, which have slowed recently. Apple is also set to switch to MediaTek modems for some models in 2024, marking the first major component purchase from MediaTek. These modems will support 5G Redcap, a 5G service for wearables that don’t require fast data speeds.