The next Apple Watch Ultra will feature a more lightweight design than its predecessor, according to a new rumor from a leaker with a short but solid record for Apple insights.
How will Apple lighten things up? A previous rumor suggested Apple is substituting some of the Ultra 2's titanium mechanical parts for 3D-printed counterparts, which could account for the lighter weight.
The current Apple Watch Ultra weighs 61.3g, nearly twice as much as the 41mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 at 32.2g and substantially more than even the stainless steel options (which clock in at 42.3g and 51.5g for the 41mm and 45 mm models respectively).
Kuo didn't specify what mechanical parts these would be, but based on the design of the original Apple Watch Ultra, the likely candidates are the digital crown, side button and action buttons. Those are the device's only mechanical parts, though it's important to note the second-generation wearable could incorporate additional parts that we just don't know about at this time.
It's not clear whether these 3D-printed parts will reduce the weight of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, though that appears to be the case based on Setsuna Digital's insight. But Kuo did speculate that the switch to 3D printing would improve production time and cut down on costs.
If you believe the rumor mill, we're likely to learn more about Apple's plans for its next-gen wearable soon. In the Medium post, Kuo describes Apple's next-gen wearable as a “2H23” release — which refers to the second half of 2023.
While that timeframe leaves a lot up to speculation, it at least suggests a second wearable along with the Apple Watch 9 that could be demoed alongside the iPhone 15 at Apple's September event. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also predicted we’ll see the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sometime in 2023.
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