The yo-yo of information surrounding the possibility of Apple's next-generation Apple Watch Ultra continues. New leaks suggest that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will arrive later this year.

In a MacRumors report, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 will likely be released in 2024, in a 180-degree turn from earlier This is a 180-degree turnaround from previous reports that Apple would not be releasing a new watch at all this year.

Since 2021, Apple has been dealing with an ongoing lawsuit with Masimo, which has led Apple to currently ban the sale of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US. This ban officially began in January of this year.

Masimo sued Apple alleging that Cupertino infringed on a medical technology patent owned by Masimo. Specifically, Masimo claimed patent infringement of its blood oxygen sensor technology, which first appeared in the Apple Watch Series 6 SpO2 reader.

The U.S. International Trade Commission issued its first injunction in October 2023. Apple appealed the decision, but the U.S. Court of Appeals denied a motion to stay the ban.

Since then, Apple has pulled the Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from the shelves and disabled the disputed features through software on watches already on the market.

The ban does not affect the Apple Watch SE (2022), which does not have a blood oxygen sensor; the SE is the best value of the Apple Watches, so it is worth buying if you are looking for a new Apple Watch. It is also possible that the Apple Watch SE 3 will be available this year.

If Kuo's assessment is correct, even if the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could appear this year, it is unlikely to be a major upgrade. Previously, Kuo believed that the Ultra 3 was not on Apple's development schedule.

We assume that Apple is trying to cover the technology due to the current ban. There are also rumors that the Ultra 3 will have a micro-LED screen.

It has also been leaked that the Apple Watch Series X (or 10) could include blood pressure sensing and sleep apnea detection. These features will certainly be included in the Ultra 3. These are definitely upgrades we would like to see.

The Apple Watch is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. However, depending on how you count, the 10th anniversary could be this year or next year. If Apple is still dealing with the effects of the US watch ban, we may see a 10th anniversary celebration and watch in 2025.