Apple Watch Ultra 4 Could Bring Four Upgrades This Fall

Apple's next flagship wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 4, is expected to arrive this fall, and recent supply chain reports point to at least four areas where it could improve over the current model.

The watch is anticipated alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 at a September event. As with any pre announcement device, the details below come from reports rather than Apple, and they could change before launch.

A bigger sensor array

According to Digitimes, the Ultra 4 is expected to roughly double the number of sensor components inside the watch, in what the outlet has described as a significant upgrade to its sensing functions.

The reasoning, per the report, is that more capable hardware would let Apple lean less on software interpretation of sensor data. That could translate into more accurate health readings, along with knock on benefits for performance and battery life. Long rumored blood sugar monitoring still is not expected to make this year's model.

A possible redesign

Digitimes has also referred to a major redesign, or a full redesign, of the Ultra. That would be notable because the Ultra line has never had a sweeping visual overhaul. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 received only modest design updates last year.

Earlier plans tied a larger Ultra to a move to microLED display technology. With that display change no longer in the picture, it is not yet clear how far any redesign will go.

A new blood pressure feature

The Apple Watch already offers hypertension notifications on supported models. Reports indicate Apple is preparing an additional blood pressure feature, one that has been described as still under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It is not yet clear how the new capability would differ from the existing hypertension alerts. Apple is expected to detail the feature at the September event.

Better power efficiency

Finally, Digitimes says power efficiency will improve significantly on the new Ultra, possibly due to a new S class chip or the efficiency gains tied to the updated sensors.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 improved battery life for the first time in the line, and something similar could happen again. There is also a possibility Apple uses the efficiency headroom to fit a smaller battery and make room for other components while keeping endurance steady.

With the unveiling still a few months out, more leaks are likely before Apple makes anything official.