Apple considered dark titanium Apple Watch Ultra, could come with second-generation

Apple considered two Apple Watch Ultra titanium color options prior to the device’s launch last year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who claims that in addition to the natural titanium finish that Apple offers with the wearable, a new dark titanium finish was also tested.

Gurman says that Apple deciding not to produce a dark titanium edition of the original Apple Watch Ultra was solely aesthetic and designers just didn’t like it, opening the possibility that the next-generation wearable, which is rumored to launch later this year, could introduce the dark titanium finish.

A post on Chinese social network Weibo (via MacRumors) claims Apple is looking to reduce the total weight of the wearable, which is considerably more heavier than the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8, namely due to the device’s larger display and titanium chassis.

Image: Apple

In a separate report, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would use new new 3D-printed parts for the next-gen Apple Watch Ultra, including the Digital Crown, Side Button, and Action Button.

The report, based on checks on Apple’s supply chain, suggested that some of the titanium mechanical parts for the next Apple Watch Ultra would be 3D-printed, replacing the CNC process that components go through for the current version of the wearable, helping Apple improve the production time and reduce the production cost.