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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Ro_Ja - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
You generalized Android users into hating the apple watch?What a disgusting creep.
Amandtec - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
I am an android user and like the look of the Apple Watch more. Maybe you want to share you carefully collect data?id4andrei - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
The chunky bulbous iwatch is an iphone on the wrist. It looks good only in the sense that it is a polished and well made gadget. The moto is indeed an ugly watch, I'll give you that, but if you dislike the flat tire then you surely must hate the equivalent iphone x notch.Elstar - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
The Garmin Fenix is ugly as F. It might as well be all bezel.Sttm - Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - link
This would be interesting if it didn't require an iPhone. I could see a real use case to have a watch that covers the main phone use cases. Something you can take with you when you know you wont need to mobile browsing or play a game.Maybe even not have a phone at all, but the watch and a tablet you take with you if you know you want to sit around and browse.
SunnyNW - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
Apple is saying the efficiency cores in the new A11 chip have improved 70% with the cores in the watch also said to have improved 70%. Anyone else think that they are probably the same core?Amandtec - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
Or the same node shift to 10nm.name99 - Sunday, September 17, 2017 - link
If they shifted process, they likely shifted to 16nmFF. Series 0 and Series 1/2 SoC were both on 28nm.Also aWatch Series 0 and 1/2 CPUs are 32-bit. Since Apple did not make a big deal about it, the Series 3 CPU is probably also 32-bit.
All meaning the the watch and phone designs currently remain on separate tracks. (Which is not to say they are utterly isolated. I'm sure the watch guys borrow whatever they can from the phone guys, anything from FPU design to branch predictor algorithms. But right now the tradeoffs are different with the watch guys willing to give up a LOT more in performance for the sake of low energy.
It's certainly possible however that, say next year or the year after, we'll reach a point where it makes sense for the watch guys to adopt as a starting point the low power core from the phone --- especially if they use say the low power core as a watch performance core, and add a REALLY LOW POWER core to do all the ongoing background stuff...
Since this has been validated on the phone, and all the necessary machinery added to the OS, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the watch gets it. Hopefully next year S4 Fusion --- with 64 bit CPU and Apple GPU!)
samer1970 - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
Third watch and yet no circular watch option...does not Apple know that the Majority of people hate the rectangular watches ?
this is not rockt science , look at the Majority of watches in the market from Rolex to OMEGA to w/e what is the major shape of the watch ?
ExarKun333 - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link
I agree that a circular watch would be nice, but that's a big change from a UI perspective. Gesture changes, visual differences, resolution changes for apps (a big one). Its probably a ways off until they enhance Watch OS to be more flexible.