Tech giant Apple is reportedly making a significant leap in its wearable technology by introducing 5G connectivity to its Apple Watch models, according to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (spotted on 9To5Mac). The move would mark the first time Apple Watches have adopted the 5G standard, in line with the broader mobile industry transition that began several years ago.
According to the publication, Apple's wearables have relied on 4G LTE since their debut with cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017. While the company embraced 5G on its iPhones in 2020, the Apple Watch has yet to make the same transition. However, this may change with the expected arrival of new Apple Watch models, possibly featuring the advanced connectivity standard.
Gurman's report shows that Apple plans to replace Intel modems in its Apple Watch mobile versions with 5G modems supplied by MediaTek, the publication said. Notably, this shift includes support for 5G RedCap, a lower-tier 5G service designed for wearables and internet-connected devices. RedCap prioritizes efficiency over speed and focuses on gadgets that don't require high data transfer speeds, making it ideal for the Apple Watch.
Reportedly, the decision to integrate MediaTek's 5G technology not only modernizes the Apple Watch's connectivity, but also represents another move away from Intel's components within Apple's product ecosystem. Apple had previously transitioned its Mac computers away from Intel processors entirely in favor of its own silicon.
In addition to the upgrade in cellular technology, Gurman's report hints at an exciting new satellite connectivity feature being developed for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
In other news, Apple is also reportedly making strides to improve the gaming capabilities of its Vision Pro headset by introducing support for third-party VR hand controllers.
According to Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, Apple has teamed up with Sony to integrate PlayStation VR2 controllers into the Vision Pro ecosystem, 9To5Mac reports.
