Apple Watch 3 release date, news and rumors The Apple Watch Series 3 will Undoubtedly be the Most Important Smartwatch Yet
Apple Watch 3 release date, news and rumors
The Apple Watch Series 2 was announced on 7 September 2016, bringing new features such as GPS, a dual-core processor, water-resistance and a brighter display. The Series 2 is a healthy step forward and we're really fond of it. See also: Apple Watch deals 2017.
The Apple Watch 3 is surely coming, as we've seen that the brand is testing new ideas for the third generation of the wearable.
Sure, the smartwatch market isn't exactly on fire, but Apple is still a leader in the space and a new effort to make the Watch more health focused will surely pay dividends in terms of being more than just another phone screen to become obsessed with.
However, a few hoped-for features did not materialise, and optimists (supported by some promising Apple patent activity) expect these to appear in the next version of the Apple Watch. In this article we sift through the evidence and predict what new features and technologies the Series 3 will offer, as well as discussing what we would like to see next.
So far we've heard rumours about modular straps for improved heath monitoring - for example, blood sugar monitoring for diabetics. As well as a camera, a better battery and an even brighter, more power-efficient 'always on' display. Read next: Apple Watch vs Apple Watch 2.
Apple is not expected to diverge much at all from the existing Apple Watch releases when the Apple Watch Series 3 hits the stores. Some consumers would like to see a circular face included in the 2017 release, but Taiwan-based Quanta, reportedly already handed the manufacturing contract for the Apple Watch Series 3, will probably produce a quadrilateral design once more.
For one thing, there's an Apple patent detailing a smart fabric wristband that could act as an extra display, showing the time or simple notifications. We're wary of patents as they often don't turn into anything, but this would be a clever way to extend the otherwise small screen of the Apple Watch.
We could also see new materials used in the case. Apple added a ceramic option for the Apple Watch Series 2, but there have been whispers of a titanium or platinum case, as reported by Apple Insider, and there have long been rumors of Apple working with Liquidmetal, which would be excellent for a timepiece.
So, will the design of the new Apple Watch change much from what it is currently?
We'd say... maybe. After all, the iPhone has gone through multiple design iterations. We expect that over time the Apple Watch will get thinner, but will the shape change? Read on for more information.
The US Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application which suggests that a flexible display may appear in this smartwatch range eventually. However, it is unlikely that this will materialize in the Apple Watch Series 3, and we should reasonably expect a similar design and size of display to previous releases. This will mean OLED technology will be included once more, perhaps a precursor to its introduction to the iPhone range later this year.
We wouldn't expect the size or shape of the screen to change for the Apple Watch Series 3, so expect a square 1.65-inch display. On the other hand, it's also been rumored Apple is considering Micro-LED panels for its next generation wearable. These are brighter and more power-efficient than OLED, but they also tend to be more expensive.
That would solve one key issue (or at least help): improving the battery life of these devices. Whatever the technology, there's a good chance that the resolution will remain at 390 x 312, as Apple rarely seems in any hurry to up the resolution of its devices.
Saying that, this is one area which could stand to be improved, as while the Apple Watch 2 has a fairly crisp display it's not quite pin-sharp, which isn't ideal given that analog watches don't have to worry about this issue, and Apple would love to be the equal (or better) of anything in that market.
Apple is sure to improve the screen in some ways, be it a jump in resolution or changing the display technology, but don't expect big changes.
Apple Watch 3 camera
Whatever design and features the third-generation Apple Watch sports, we assume it'll boast watchOS 4. watchOS 4 was first announced at WWDC 2017, and is due to be released later on this year - in fact, it's due to launch at around the same time as the rumoured Apple Watch 3 in September 2017.
The key things we've noticed in the new software - which could point to the new Watch hardware's form and function - include machine learning (so the Watch will be more of a digital assistant than ever), smarter connectivity through improved Bluetooth support and a deeper ability to work in water... all of which sit nicely with the idea that the Watch 3 will be a more health-focused device.
The Apple Watch 3 will run whatever the latest version of watchOS happens to be when it launches – probably watchOS 4. You can expect snappier performance too.
Another interesting feature linked with the Apple Watch Series 3 is the inclusion of new medical functions that enable the smartwatch to monitor blood sugar levels of users. This could be considered particularly timely given the diabetes epidemic that has been well-publicised.
There company is certainly showing interest in health. In December 2015 and January 2016, Apple posted two listings looking for biomedical engineers with a background in "medical, health, wellness and/or fitness sensors, devices and applications". Although there is no mention of the Apple Watch in the listings, it's widely assumed that the roles are related to the listing for a fitness software engineering manager, which went up in November and is specifically for the Apple Watch.
BuzzFeed News also reported that over the last three months, Apple has stolen employees from all over the medical field. An example given by the news outlet is Anne Shelchuk, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering. Shelchuk left the ultrasound software company ZONARE Medical Systems back in November to work with Apple's health technology team, according to her LinkedIn.
Along with Shelchuk, Apple has reportedly snapped up medical engineer Craig Slyfield, system design engineer Nathan Clark, who has a patent for a device that separates cells, Jay Mung, who worked on sensor algorithms for Medtronic's continuous glucose monitoring systems and Jennifer Hillier, a former exercise physiologist at the University of California.
The company is said to have been investigating ways in which the watch would be able to "non-invasively monitoring blood glucose", according to a CNBC report, and the company is said to have hired 200 health PhDs to help it innovate in this area. Reports suggest that the next Apple Watch could offer blood sugar monitoring.
Apple Watch 3 Price
Finally, there will be a wide range of pricing for the Apple Watch Series 3, with so many different versions and customization choices available. But it is expected that the smartwatch will be in a similar ballpark to previous releases in terms of pricing.
The original Apple Watch started at $349/£299/AU$499 when it launched, and the Apple Watch 2 upped the prices to $369/£369/AU$529.
We expect the Watch Series 3 to start from £369 for the 38mm and £399 for the 42mm. These are the current prices of the Series 2 watches. The Apple Watch appears to have sold only moderately well at this point (Strategy Analytics reckons3.5 million were sold in the second quarter of 2017, compared to an official figure of 50.8 million iPhones) and a significant price rise would be a surprise; equally, Apple is not usually the sort of company to drop its prices in response to soft demand.
So far there aren't any price rumors for the Apple Watch 3, but it's likely to stay at roughly around the same price as the Apple Watch 2, as although the prices went up between the first and second generations we'd think the Watch 3 might struggle to sell if it starts much higher.
We can be fairly confident there will be at least a year between the Apple Watch 2 and the Apple Watch 3, which means we're not likely to see the Apple Watch 3 before September 2017 at the earliest.
We expect the Apple Watch Series 3 to come out in September 2017, one year after the Series 2, but we can't be certain: Apple hasn't yet settled into a regular launch pattern, having released only two generations, and there was more than a year between the original Apple Watch (April 2015) and the second one (Sept 2016). It's possible we could be waiting until 2018.
WatchOS 4 will launch at some point in the fall/autumn this year, so that may add to the evidence it's the time we'll see a third Apple Watch.
If it arrives in September, it will probably launch alongside the iPhone 8. But the original Apple Watch launched in April, so perhaps we'll be waiting until April 2018, or maybe Apple will choose another date altogether.
The Apple Watch Series 3 will Undoubtedly be the Most Important Smartwatch Yet
The Apple Watch Series 2 was announced on 7 September 2016, bringing new features such as GPS, a dual-core processor, water-resistance and a brighter display. The Series 2 is a healthy step forward and we're really fond of it. See also: Apple Watch deals 2017.
The Apple Watch 3 is surely coming, as we've seen that the brand is testing new ideas for the third generation of the wearable.
Sure, the smartwatch market isn't exactly on fire, but Apple is still a leader in the space and a new effort to make the Watch more health focused will surely pay dividends in terms of being more than just another phone screen to become obsessed with.
So far we've heard rumours about modular straps for improved heath monitoring - for example, blood sugar monitoring for diabetics. As well as a camera, a better battery and an even brighter, more power-efficient 'always on' display. Read next: Apple Watch vs Apple Watch 2.
Apple Watch 3 Design
Apple is not expected to diverge much at all from the existing Apple Watch releases when the Apple Watch Series 3 hits the stores. Some consumers would like to see a circular face included in the 2017 release, but Taiwan-based Quanta, reportedly already handed the manufacturing contract for the Apple Watch Series 3, will probably produce a quadrilateral design once more.
For one thing, there's an Apple patent detailing a smart fabric wristband that could act as an extra display, showing the time or simple notifications. We're wary of patents as they often don't turn into anything, but this would be a clever way to extend the otherwise small screen of the Apple Watch.
We could also see new materials used in the case. Apple added a ceramic option for the Apple Watch Series 2, but there have been whispers of a titanium or platinum case, as reported by Apple Insider, and there have long been rumors of Apple working with Liquidmetal, which would be excellent for a timepiece.
We'd say... maybe. After all, the iPhone has gone through multiple design iterations. We expect that over time the Apple Watch will get thinner, but will the shape change? Read on for more information.
Apple Watch 3 Display
The US Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application which suggests that a flexible display may appear in this smartwatch range eventually. However, it is unlikely that this will materialize in the Apple Watch Series 3, and we should reasonably expect a similar design and size of display to previous releases. This will mean OLED technology will be included once more, perhaps a precursor to its introduction to the iPhone range later this year.
That would solve one key issue (or at least help): improving the battery life of these devices. Whatever the technology, there's a good chance that the resolution will remain at 390 x 312, as Apple rarely seems in any hurry to up the resolution of its devices.
Saying that, this is one area which could stand to be improved, as while the Apple Watch 2 has a fairly crisp display it's not quite pin-sharp, which isn't ideal given that analog watches don't have to worry about this issue, and Apple would love to be the equal (or better) of anything in that market.
Apple is sure to improve the screen in some ways, be it a jump in resolution or changing the display technology, but don't expect big changes.
The current Apple Watch can be used as a camera viewfinder so that you can take a remote photograph with your iPhone, but it can't actually take photos itself or make video calls. However, if the rumours about the modular straps are correct, a camera could find its way into the Apple Watch soon.
Cameras will never be the most important aspect of smartwatches, but it is suggested that the camera in the Apple Watch Series 3 could play a critical role. Not only will it deliver selfie photographs, but FaceTime video calling could also be supported.
Apple has patents for a wearable device that features a front-facing camera. It was rumoured to appear in the Series 2, but the feature wasn't announced. It's likely we could see this feature being included in the next iteration.
Opinions differ on whether this is intended to cater for FaceTime or selfies (or both), and whether it will offer video or just stills photography. The new camera would be integrated into the top bezel of the watch.
This feature does sound interesting, though we're not too sure how many people would actively FaceTime via a watch. It would be painful holding up the wrist for more than a few minutes, for one thing.
Still, Apple has already made its watch partially FaceTime-ready: watchOS 2 brought support for FaceTime audio calls. Does that indicate that it'll soon move on to video calls? Perhaps.
Patently Apple, meanwhile, has spotted an Apple patent that appears to support the inclusion of a selfie camera - a front-facing stills camera, in other words; not necessarily one that's capable of FaceTime video - in an Apple Watch in the future.
Apple Watch 3 LTE Cellular connectivity
According to the rumor mill, if change is what future owners of the Cupertino-based giant’s next wearable want. That’s what they may be getting, with connectivity being one of the wearables key upgrade areas.
Canalys and IDC have stated that wearables are set to rise in popularity within the next couple of years. In Canalys analysis, the firm predicted a total 7.5 million smart watches to feature cellular connectivity.
Apple added GPS to the Apple Watch 2, so you can track your runs without a phone, but with the Apple Watch 3 the company might go one better and allow it to work completely independently of an iPhone.
We're not just talking fully standalone apps, but also potentially its own SIM card, allowing access to mobile data and the ability to call and text even if you've left your phone at home.
Supposedly Apple considered these sorts of features for the Apple Watch 2, but found them too much of a drain on the battery. If the company can overcome that problem this could become the main selling point of the Apple Watch 3.
One possible feature is the ability to measure your respiratory rate, as has been revealed in an Apple patent. It doesn't mention the Apple Watch 3 by name, but does say the system could be wrist-worn.
BGR has also reported information from a source that claims the Apple Watch 3 will come with a glucose monitor. It will help those who suffer from diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels easily.
It still sounds like a future piece of tech considering the main way most diabetes patients monitor their levels is through blood samples, which can be painful and irritating to do. Tim Cook was spotted wearing a glucose monitor recently - sparking widespread rumor that the next Watch would have this functionality built in.
Another interesting fitness angle was spotted by BikeRadar as a new feature in the updated Apple Watch, where it could function as a power meter for cyclists.
The watch, detailed in a patent application, would be able to take into account elements like speed, wind resistance (somehow), hand position and angle... all making it possible to determine a rider's power output.
What's most interesting about this application is the wider fitness capabilities Apple seems to be imbuing the Watch 3 with, showing that the brand sees this as a key battleground for its wearables.
Cellular capabilities could be the big feature the Apple Watch 3 needs to really stand out from previous models, so this is likely to be something Apple will try to include.
However, potential cellular connectivity for Apple Watch 3 is exciting, as severing the tie between the Watch and iPhone is an important technological step to the Watch being the all day every day personal assistant Apple is clearly dreaming of. Being able to bring up native apps over a network connection without your phone might unlock new possibilities for watchOS developers. Also see: Apple Watch rivals compared.
Apple Watch 3 OS
Cameras will never be the most important aspect of smartwatches, but it is suggested that the camera in the Apple Watch Series 3 could play a critical role. Not only will it deliver selfie photographs, but FaceTime video calling could also be supported.
Apple has patents for a wearable device that features a front-facing camera. It was rumoured to appear in the Series 2, but the feature wasn't announced. It's likely we could see this feature being included in the next iteration.
Opinions differ on whether this is intended to cater for FaceTime or selfies (or both), and whether it will offer video or just stills photography. The new camera would be integrated into the top bezel of the watch.
This feature does sound interesting, though we're not too sure how many people would actively FaceTime via a watch. It would be painful holding up the wrist for more than a few minutes, for one thing.
Still, Apple has already made its watch partially FaceTime-ready: watchOS 2 brought support for FaceTime audio calls. Does that indicate that it'll soon move on to video calls? Perhaps.
Patently Apple, meanwhile, has spotted an Apple patent that appears to support the inclusion of a selfie camera - a front-facing stills camera, in other words; not necessarily one that's capable of FaceTime video - in an Apple Watch in the future.
Apple Watch 3 Battery
Current speculation has focused on somewhat more mundane updates from the next Apple Watch, including a report that Apple is working to improve the device's battery life— perhaps in advance of adding cellular connectivity — and another that it might update the watch's OLED display technology.
Calls for the Apple Watch battery to improve were answered with the release of the Apple Watch 2, which features a battery that should last two days between charges (the original Apple Watch needed charging every day).
Apple certainly seems to be considering many different strap options for the Apple Watch in the future, as another leaked patent reveals a strap featuring an innovative embedded battery design. It is probably too early for this to feature in the Apple Watch Series 3, but such an eventuality is not inconceivable.
Calls for the Apple Watch battery to improve were answered with the release of the Apple Watch 2, which features a battery that should last two days between charges (the original Apple Watch needed charging every day).
According to the rumor mill, if change is what future owners of the Cupertino-based giant’s next wearable want. That’s what they may be getting, with connectivity being one of the wearables key upgrade areas.
Canalys and IDC have stated that wearables are set to rise in popularity within the next couple of years. In Canalys analysis, the firm predicted a total 7.5 million smart watches to feature cellular connectivity.
Apple added GPS to the Apple Watch 2, so you can track your runs without a phone, but with the Apple Watch 3 the company might go one better and allow it to work completely independently of an iPhone.
We're not just talking fully standalone apps, but also potentially its own SIM card, allowing access to mobile data and the ability to call and text even if you've left your phone at home.
Supposedly Apple considered these sorts of features for the Apple Watch 2, but found them too much of a drain on the battery. If the company can overcome that problem this could become the main selling point of the Apple Watch 3.
One possible feature is the ability to measure your respiratory rate, as has been revealed in an Apple patent. It doesn't mention the Apple Watch 3 by name, but does say the system could be wrist-worn.
BGR has also reported information from a source that claims the Apple Watch 3 will come with a glucose monitor. It will help those who suffer from diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels easily.
It still sounds like a future piece of tech considering the main way most diabetes patients monitor their levels is through blood samples, which can be painful and irritating to do. Tim Cook was spotted wearing a glucose monitor recently - sparking widespread rumor that the next Watch would have this functionality built in.
Another interesting fitness angle was spotted by BikeRadar as a new feature in the updated Apple Watch, where it could function as a power meter for cyclists.
The watch, detailed in a patent application, would be able to take into account elements like speed, wind resistance (somehow), hand position and angle... all making it possible to determine a rider's power output.
What's most interesting about this application is the wider fitness capabilities Apple seems to be imbuing the Watch 3 with, showing that the brand sees this as a key battleground for its wearables.
Cellular capabilities could be the big feature the Apple Watch 3 needs to really stand out from previous models, so this is likely to be something Apple will try to include.
However, potential cellular connectivity for Apple Watch 3 is exciting, as severing the tie between the Watch and iPhone is an important technological step to the Watch being the all day every day personal assistant Apple is clearly dreaming of. Being able to bring up native apps over a network connection without your phone might unlock new possibilities for watchOS developers. Also see: Apple Watch rivals compared.
The key things we've noticed in the new software - which could point to the new Watch hardware's form and function - include machine learning (so the Watch will be more of a digital assistant than ever), smarter connectivity through improved Bluetooth support and a deeper ability to work in water... all of which sit nicely with the idea that the Watch 3 will be a more health-focused device.
The Apple Watch 3 will run whatever the latest version of watchOS happens to be when it launches – probably watchOS 4. You can expect snappier performance too.
Apple Watch 3 Health Sensors
There company is certainly showing interest in health. In December 2015 and January 2016, Apple posted two listings looking for biomedical engineers with a background in "medical, health, wellness and/or fitness sensors, devices and applications". Although there is no mention of the Apple Watch in the listings, it's widely assumed that the roles are related to the listing for a fitness software engineering manager, which went up in November and is specifically for the Apple Watch.
BuzzFeed News also reported that over the last three months, Apple has stolen employees from all over the medical field. An example given by the news outlet is Anne Shelchuk, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering. Shelchuk left the ultrasound software company ZONARE Medical Systems back in November to work with Apple's health technology team, according to her LinkedIn.
Along with Shelchuk, Apple has reportedly snapped up medical engineer Craig Slyfield, system design engineer Nathan Clark, who has a patent for a device that separates cells, Jay Mung, who worked on sensor algorithms for Medtronic's continuous glucose monitoring systems and Jennifer Hillier, a former exercise physiologist at the University of California.
The company is said to have been investigating ways in which the watch would be able to "non-invasively monitoring blood glucose", according to a CNBC report, and the company is said to have hired 200 health PhDs to help it innovate in this area. Reports suggest that the next Apple Watch could offer blood sugar monitoring.
Apple Watch 3 Price
The original Apple Watch started at $349/£299/AU$499 when it launched, and the Apple Watch 2 upped the prices to $369/£369/AU$529.
We expect the Watch Series 3 to start from £369 for the 38mm and £399 for the 42mm. These are the current prices of the Series 2 watches. The Apple Watch appears to have sold only moderately well at this point (Strategy Analytics reckons3.5 million were sold in the second quarter of 2017, compared to an official figure of 50.8 million iPhones) and a significant price rise would be a surprise; equally, Apple is not usually the sort of company to drop its prices in response to soft demand.
So far there aren't any price rumors for the Apple Watch 3, but it's likely to stay at roughly around the same price as the Apple Watch 2, as although the prices went up between the first and second generations we'd think the Watch 3 might struggle to sell if it starts much higher.
Apple Watch 3 Release date
We can be fairly confident there will be at least a year between the Apple Watch 2 and the Apple Watch 3, which means we're not likely to see the Apple Watch 3 before September 2017 at the earliest.
We expect the Apple Watch Series 3 to come out in September 2017, one year after the Series 2, but we can't be certain: Apple hasn't yet settled into a regular launch pattern, having released only two generations, and there was more than a year between the original Apple Watch (April 2015) and the second one (Sept 2016). It's possible we could be waiting until 2018.
WatchOS 4 will launch at some point in the fall/autumn this year, so that may add to the evidence it's the time we'll see a third Apple Watch.
If it arrives in September, it will probably launch alongside the iPhone 8. But the original Apple Watch launched in April, so perhaps we'll be waiting until April 2018, or maybe Apple will choose another date altogether.
However, there is also a rumour that Apple could release a Series 2 'S' sooner than that. The new S version would add extra storage options to the current Apple Watch Series 2 line-up, which has 8GB of storage, but most of that is given to the operating system, leaving just 2GB for photos and 75MB for music.
With Apple's focus on music and images we think it's a logical step for the company to offer more storage for this. We'd also like to see storage for apps - more on this below.
With Apple's focus on music and images we think it's a logical step for the company to offer more storage for this. We'd also like to see storage for apps - more on this below.
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