⌚ Apple Watch Ultra 3 Is Coming — But So Is a $490M Reminder of the Past

Court: N.D. California

Case: 4:19-cv-02033

It’s been a two-year wait, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is finally around the corner — and the feature list looks solid. But as Apple fans count down to new hardware in September, investors are also cashing in on a very different headline: a $490 million settlement from Apple over a long-running lawsuit tied to iPhone demand in China.

Here’s what’s ahead — and what Apple’s leaving behind.

Coming this fall, Apple’s rugged wearable is finally getting its Ultra 3 refresh — and there’s more than just a spec bump.

Expect this:

• Satellite connectivity: Send texts when off-grid, even without Wi-Fi or cellular.
• 5G support: A step up from the LTE-only Ultra 2.
• Brighter wide-angle OLED: Enhanced visibility and smoother always-on refresh rate.
• S10 chip (or newer): Faster performance across the board.
• Blood pressure monitoring: Still in the rumor stage — may not make the cut.

Since the Ultra 2’s black titanium case landed in 2024, hardware changes have been minimal. This year promises real movement — and we’ll likely see it unveiled in September.

But while Apple builds toward its future, it’s also paying out for the past.

AAPL

Back in 2019, Apple was accused of misleading investors about declining iPhone sales in China — and now, it’s settling the case for $490 million.

📉 Here's the timeline:

• Nov 1, 2018: Tim Cook said China wasn’t a concern, citing sales pressure in other markets instead.
• Jan 2, 2019: Apple shocked markets, cutting revenue forecasts by $9 billion due to weak demand in China.
• Jan 3, 2019: AAPL plunged 10%.
• Apr 16, 2019: Shareholders sued, citing the discrepancy and business impact.

The downturn was blamed on a mix of trade war fallout, battery discounts, and cheaper local competition — all contributing to Apple’s first revenue downgrade since the iPhone debuted in 2007.

Now, the company has agreed to settle — and yes, late claims are being accepted.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is poised to dominate headlines this fall — but Apple’s financial story is still tangled in yesterday’s missteps. With AAPL still paying for past messaging, the spotlight on transparency and timing has never been brighter.

New chip? Great.

New lawsuit payout? Not so much.

But one thing’s clear — Apple isn’t standing still.