Apple Watch Ultra 3 should gain 5G cellular connectivity
Apple may use MediaTek cellular modems instead of Intel’s for the next Apple Watch Ultra, bringing 5G connectivity to its wearable device.
The Information reports that the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra will become the first Apple Watch to connect to speedy 5G cellular networks later this year. All cellular-enabled Apple Watch models released so far support 4G LTE but not 5G. iPhones gained 5G support with the release of the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020.
5G connectivity will permit the next Apple Watch Ultra to use the internet without its paired iPhone or nearby Wi-Fi networks available by connecting directly to a 5G cellular network. However, you may not see much of a difference in terms of data speeds because 4G LTE is more than adequate for Apple Watch apps.
Rumor: Apple Watch Ultra 3 to go 5G via MediaTek modems
The Information report doesn’t mention anything about future Apple Watch models possibly switching to the C1, Apple’s first-ever modem chip. This chip debuted in the new iPhone 16e and will likely replace Qualcomm components in the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 version coming this fall.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 should also support satellite connectivity for off-grid texting and emergency SOS when cellular networks and Wi-Fi are unavailable. No Apple Watch to date has supported satellite capabilities. Apple recently told Reuters that it planned to incorporate its own modem chips into more devices in coming years.
The Information’s story corroborates Mark Gurman’s report in a December 2024 article about the transition to MediaTek modems for Apple Watch. MediaTek’s modem supports 5G RedCap, a 5G service optimized for wearable devices and accessories that don’t need standard 5G speeds.
Gurman also wrote that Apple will update the C1 chip with support for the ultra-fast 5G standard called mmWave (the inaugural version only supports the Sub-6 GHz band) and faster speeds of up to 6 Gbps versus up to 4 Gbps for the current C1 chip. He predicted that this faster modem codenamed “Ganymede” will debut in the 2026 iPhone lineup and the 2027 iPad Pro.
Gurman claims Apple “will finally be able to exceed the performance of Qualcomm’s modems” with a third-generation C1 modem, codenamed “Prometheus,” which he expects to start appearing in iPhones in 2027. Apple is also expected to drop Broadcom in favor of an in-house designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that could find its way into the entire iPhone 17 lineup coming down the pike this September.
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