Apple Watch Ultra 3 SOLAR Teased…by Apple

Apple has just finished announcing the new features for all its 2025-26 devices. There is very little in store on the sports and activity front, but some nice smart additions for watchOS 26 plus some aesthetic improvements.

However, at the start of Apple’s video, after exiting the F1 car, Craig showed an Apple Watch ULTRA with a never-before-seen SOLAR dial.

This could have some significance related to Apple’s eco-credentials and its achievement of carbon neutrality or another milestone involving solar panels. It is far more interesting to speculate that this is a teaser for the Watch Ultra 3 Solar, which is expected to be announced in September.

Likelihood?

Without the video teaser, I would have said it is very doubtful that Apple would add the complexity of the solar route when there are so many other things it could focus on.

There will likely be more than yet another new colour for the Watch Ultra 2 released later this year. Watch ULTRA 3, or Watch ULTRA 2 Solar, or just anything is needed on that front to boost Apple’s lagging Watch sales.

For a new Watch ULTA model number, there must be something significant added or enhanced on the hardware front. New sensor tech would have been a good bet, with Apple sorting out its SpO2 algorithm, but more importantly, nailing blood pressure trends for the first time (like Whoop MG), Whatever is in Apple’s next sensor package will not be achieved easily, perhaps the company realised 2025 was too early and adding a relatively proven technology like SOLAR would be a good alternate move.

Solar would create hype for a new technology at Apple and would also add a real-world battery juice boost to the Watch Ultra—a feature that needs improvement, if ever there was one. Remember that Watch ULTRA only has 12 hours of proper GPS recording time…hardly very ULTRA. In fact,’ less than average’ is a more suitable phrase.

So, I’d now say it’s pretty likely.