Apple released the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at the same time as the iPhone 15 series, and its internal structure has undergone major changes. The wearable looks exactly like the original model, with a titanium case and flat glass. On the back, the Apple Watch Ultra sports a slightly different design than the standard Apple Watch model. It features a gray ceramic back that matches the titanium finish of the device. The company appears to be developing a black ceramic Apple Watch Ultra, according to a prototype.
Apple Watch Ultra2 is a high-end device based on the iPhone 13's A15 Bionic chip and equipped with an upgraded S9 chip. The Apple Watch Ultra prototype shown in an FCC document shows that the wearable device uses a black ceramic back shell. The back of the Apple Watch Ultra prototype isn't the only thing that differs from the final version, though. The company also made a few other changes to make the final version more polished.
A user named @ParrotSWD said on X that the image of the wearable device at the FCC looks slightly different than what we are using now. Apple Watch Series 9 and older models have used black ceramic backs for some time, and it seems that the company wants "Ultra" to have a different classification.
In addition to the black ceramic watch back, the operation buttons on the Apple Watch Ultra prototype are also made of plastic material, while the final version of Apple Watch Ultra uses a metal surface, which is obviously better in terms of durability. Additionally, the company has redesigned the action buttons. It is still unclear whether the prototype that appeared today corresponds to the original or second-generation Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple is working on replacing the Apple Watch Ultra's display with microLED panels in 2026. The company is developing this higher-performance LED display and will debut it with Apple Watch Ultra in the next few years.
Apple will send product prototypes to the FCC for testing before final release. We've seen a number of prototypes of the device in different color options and designs before, suggesting the company has been taking the same approach for a while.