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Looks like we won’t have to wait much longer to see the Apple Watch Ultra 2: One of the more reliable Apple tipsters has predicted that it’s coming later this year, and it’ll have some 3D printed parts.
It comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), and it looks as though the parts in question will be made of titanium. According to Kuo, Apple is “actively adopting 3D printing technology” and may use it in other products in the future.
We’re certainly talking 3D printing technology available to consumers on multiple levels: On an industrial scale, the move could save Apple money on production costs as well as speed up the manufacturing process.
Kuo mentions “mechanical parts” for 3D printing – aside from the original Apple Watch Ultra, these would be the digital crown, side buttons and action buttons. These parts are currently manufactured using a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) process.
watch this space
As interesting as Apple’s reported manufacturing decisions are, they don’t really tell us much about what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — though it’s likely that lower production costs will mean a lower retail price.
The original Apple Watch Ultra certainly isn’t cheap, with a starting price of $799 / £849 / AU$1,229. For comparison, you can buy the standard Apple Watch 8 at a relatively affordable starting price of $399 / £419 / AU$629 – almost half the price.
There is buzz that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is going to debut in September alongside the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch 9. What Ming-Chi Kuo added here looks like a safe bet at this point.
Unfortunately, it looks like the upgrade will be relatively small, with the switch to slightly better display technology being one of the very few improvements. In fact, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 may be an upgrade worth waiting for.
