Apple 2017: Announcing a new Apple Watch Series 3, with Intel LTE/Cellular
by Ian Cutress on September 12, 2017 1:51 PM EST- Posted in
- Wearables
- Apple
- Apple Watch
- Apple Watch Series 3
Today at Apple’s new Steve Jobs Theatre, Apple announced its new Apple Watch, called the Series 3. This is a new model above the Series 2 announced last year, with the new headline feature being LTE support through an integrated modem, which we believe to be an Intel modem according to trusted analysts. iFixit has done a teardown and confirmed a Qualcomm modem in their unit. We are in the process of confirming if this modem is in all Watch 3 or if it is dual sourced.
With other watch makers having had LTE models, it had been one of the missing features with the Watch Series 2. Now Apple is making that leap, supporting both LTE and UTMS by using the display as the antenna, rather than internal antennas that might take up extra space. Rather than use a regular SIM, Apple is implementing an eSIM to save on size, which was demonstrated on AT&T during the presentation. To that end, Apple stated that the Watch Series 3 is only 0.25mm wider than the Watch Series 2 on the rear crystal, with all other dimensions the same. With LTE, Apple states that users can use features such as Maps, take calls, and stream Apple music.
At the heart of the Watch Series 3 is a new processor – moving up to a dual core version over the Series 2. Apple gave very little information on the processor, except that it offers 70% more performance over the Series 2 but stays at the same size. No details on the cores inside, or the node, but with the new LTE add-in, Apple is quoting the same 18 hours of battery life with a mix of LTE, WiFi and screen-off use during that time.
Also in the hardware is a new wireless chip, called the W2. Again Apple was light on details, except to say that it offers 85% faster WiFi combined with a 50% higher efficiency. On the health side, there is a new barometric altimeter, for calculating air pressure and detecting going up stairs.
For software, Apple is going to launch WatchOS4 on September 19th , which will ship on the new Watch Series 3. This update will bring the heart rate detection to now display directly on the display, with an enhanced heart-rate detection mechanism that will provide resting heart rate data, calculated based on continuous data over several days. Apple will also add in notifications for users that might experience abnormal heart rates when exercise is not detected. This will be in conjunction with Apple’s new Heart Study, which will use Watch data to analyse arrhythmia in a collaboration with Stanford Medical and the FDA. The first phase of this Heart Study will be available to download in the US early next year.
For prices, Apple gave the base Watch Series 3 as $329, but in order to have the LTE version the price increases to $399. It looks like Apple will be discontinuing the Series 2 as it was not mentioned, but the Series 1 model will still be available at $249. Orders will begin on September 15th, with availability on the 22nd.
The Apple Watch Numbers
During the presentation, Apple stated that the Apple Watch is now the #1 watch brand worldwide, up from #2 in 2016, supplanting Rolex. This is on the back of a 50% year-on-year growth in Apple Watch sales, with Apple citing a 97% customer satisfaction rate. Apple did not disclose the exact number of unit sales, due to bundling the numbers in with other products, and so did not disclose if the 50% YoY was on unit sales or overall revenue from accessory or app sales.
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ebilg - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
They are not moving up to a dual core chip as Series 2 was already dual-core.Morawka - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
all apple watch's are dual core except the Pre-order Apple Watch 1's..Samus - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
Exactly, ie, before the 'series' moniker.I still rock an OG pre-series 1, I've broken it 3 times and they replaced it the third time for free outside of warranty. Apple Support has been really good about tracking my behavior with it and was genuinely curious why it kept breaking. My kids are old enough to bath themselves now but when I got the watch over two years ago my son was an infant and just splashing the watch was causing the haptic engine to fail. I suspect all of my input during the first two I ruined with water was used to help engineer the series 2 water ejection system.
I've had the 3rd replacement over a year and no real problems...wear it daily. It is certainly showing its use; the case is scuffed up, the band is stretching and the face has hundreds of abrasions. But it does its job. It just isn't bling anymore. It's a functional watch.
It is also showing its age performance wise. Loading Shazam and submitting a song is incredibly lagy, to the point I'm often worried if its in the middle of the song, it might not even register the song in time.
BillBear - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
One thing they said on stage was that the non-cellular version had every feature of the cellular version except for the the cellular radio, which made me wonder if GPS was still available on the non-cellular version. That would be handy for run tracking.On iPhone and iPad this is not the case, you only get GPS with the cellular version, so it would be a largish change.
It occurred to me to check Apple's website for the tech specs before hitting submit and it's true. This is the first iOS device to offer GPS without springing for the cellular version.
solipsism - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
The Series 2 Watch also offered GPS last year.BillBear - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
I must have missed it, thanks.0iron - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
Got iPhone without cellular version? It's called an iPodpeevee - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
Still boring and overpriced.jordanclock - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
The price is fine. The value, though, may be too low for you.Samus - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
Some people just aren't watch people. If you are a watch person and value utilitarian functions over aesthetics, smart watches make a lot of sense.