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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  • samer1970 - Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - link

    yea and this is the THIRD watch , there is no excuse they had enough time.

    Samsung Gear moved from Rectangular to circular using Tizen System long time ago ... the first two gear watch were rectangular , now the S2 and th S3 are circular

    there is no excuse for Apple at all.
  • name99 - Sunday, September 17, 2017 - link

    Guess what? Apple is not in the WATCH business, Apple is in the WRIST COMPUTER business.
    Your argument is as backward looking as the people who judged the iPhone on its talk time.

    Marketing the watch as a watch is a means of introducing people to a new concept. Already last year marketing switched from "watch" to "health tracker". This year I expect more marketing of "glanceable computing" --- the value of the Siri face, the value of notifications, that sort of thing.

    You enjoy complaining about the world of watches, but Apple is looking to a future where the WRIST COMPUTER is as fully fledged (and multi-dimensional) a device as your phone is today. I expect Apple is already mocking up and testing new screen form factors (like 2x1 wide screen) that will look "even more awful" to people like you lost in the 19th C, but will make perfect sense for people pushing their wrist computers hard.
  • akhilakki - Saturday, October 28, 2017 - link

    Buy Apple Watch Best Price At AppWorld with low price in india.with AppWorld Cash points Amazing And best discounted on apple watch series 3
    https://www.appworldin.com/product-category/watch/...
  • alexmckay - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link

    I think this is awesome. I am an avid runner but get a little nervous running without a phone so I think having this for emergencies would be well worth the 10$ a month extra.

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