In case you missed the big announcement, Apple has confirmed that this year’s September Apple Event will take place on Tuesday, September 12, and we’ve dissected Apple’s invitation for clues as to what we can expect to see unveiled.
We will likely see a myriad of new devices, including the iPhone15 and 15 Plus, two high-end models, presumably the Pro and Pro Max, and next-generation AirPods. However, in my capacity as TechRadar’s fitness, wellness and wearables editor, I’m more interested in Apple Watch 9 AND Apple Watch Ultra 2both reportedly arriving this year.
I believe that the slogan that Apple has chosen for the event – “Wonderlust”, an obvious play on “wanderlust” – is a veiled reference, at least, to the Ultra 2. The original Apple Watch Ultra it impressed us enough to earn a spot on our list of the best Apple Watch entries last year thanks to its sturdy and robust build, improved GPS capabilities, and new action button mechanics.
This action button was designed for use during exercise or adventure, making it easier for you to operate your watch while wearing gloves, control your watch while underwater (especially if you’re a diver: the watch is also a working dive computer) or the signal for help thanks to its programmable functionality.
Thanks to leaks from prominent sources like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, we’re pretty sure an Ultra 2 is slated for this year’s unveiling alongside the Watch 9. It’s likely a fairly minor update, but I think Apple it will lean pretty heavily on the adventurous aspects of the watch, even though I have nothing else to go on it other than the logo and that cryptic tagline.
Wanderlust – defined as “a strong desire to travel” – is a word that has become a touchstone or keyword for travel bloggers everywhere, and those who enjoy the scent of adventure in their Nostrils will be tickled by Apple’s play on it. It’s not hard to believe that the Ultra 2 will offer even more adventurous features. It’s likely to be lighter thanks to 3D printed parts, for example, which retain the same sturdy titanium frame and tempered glass.
The tempered glass could refer to the Apple logo dissolving into grains of sand, or it could be a reference to the watch being able to be used in increasingly extreme environments, such as snowy or desert climates. GPS is improving to the max and is definitely up to par with the systems on the the best Garmin watches, but a key area where the Ultra 2 could improve, as always, is battery life. Most Garmin, Coros, Polar and other watches custom made for adventure and triathlon are designed to last for weeks, not 36 hours.
Seeing the Apple Watch Ultra 2 get 48 hours of battery life, and 52 hours in reduced “expedition” mode, would mean it would last over the course of a multi-day wilderness event that involves camping or hiking, pushing the limits of what it has been possible for Apple in the past. This update tops my list, and while it’s ambitious, it would certainly solidify the Ultra’s place in the adventure watch canon. As it stands, battery anxiety would keep me from using it on camping trips, swapping it for my trusty Garmin Instinct Crossover Instead.
The emphasis on travel and wanderlust, if my guesses are correct, will likely also extend to the iPhone 15’s camera setup, which could offer new ways to capture impressive-looking landscape shots. If the high-end iPhone 15 models were as rugged as the watch, you’d have a combination of devices you could wear in any weather, ready to measure your progress, explore your surroundings, and capture inspiring content.
Of course, this is all conjecture, speculation, conjecture and, in some cases, a bit of pipe dreams. But at least I think it’s likely that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be a bit lighter and that its claimed battery life will extend to 42 hours from 36. Those updates alone would solidify its place among the best running watches.
#Apples #September #event #sounds #cryptic #reference #Apple #Watch #Ultra
Image Source : www.techradar.com