Highlights

• FCC filings unveil a prototype of Apple Watch Ultra with a distinctive dark ceramic back.
• The prototype featured a unique plastic-looking Action button, different from the final version.
• The discovery comes after the expiration of a confidentiality clause in the FCC documentation.

Recently surfaced FCC documents have unveiled an intriguing prototype of the Apple Watch Ultra, showcasing a design that Apple experimented with but never released.

Spotted by @ParrotSWD on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and reported by 9to5Mac, these images reveal an Apple Watch Ultra variant with a unique dark ceramic back, a departure from the final product’s design.

This prototype, documented in filings made to the United States Federal Communications Commission prior to the Apple Watch Ultra’s official launch in September 2022, displays a significantly darker, almost black ceramic rear case.

This design is reminiscent of earlier Apple Watch Series models.

Additionally, the prototype featured a distinct plastic-looking Action button, notably lacking the indent present in the final version.

Typically, such filings with the FCC include confidential images and sensitive details, often shielded from public view until the confidentiality clause expires.

The recent emergence of these images suggests that the clause in Apple’s filing has reached its expiration, allowing a rare glimpse into the company’s design process.

As of September 2023, Apple offers the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in its familiar natural titanium colour, mirroring the first-generation model.

Prior to its launch, there was speculation and rumours hinting at a potential darker colour option for the new model.

This speculation was likely fueled by the existence of this darker prototype, which, as revealed in these FCC images, was a design path explored but ultimately not pursued by Apple for its final release.

FAQs

What was unique about the Apple Watch Ultra prototype revealed in the FCC documents?

The prototype showcased in the FCC documents had a dark ceramic back, contrasting with the final product’s design. It was a notable deviation from the natural titanium color used in the final version of the Apple Watch Ultra.

How did the Action button on the prototype differ from the final Apple Watch Ultra?

The prototype’s Action button had a plastic-like appearance and lacked the indent found in the final version of the Apple Watch Ultra, indicating a significant design change during the development process.

Why have these prototype images only recently come to light?

The images were part of Apple’s confidential FCC filing, which had a confidentiality clause. The recent expiration of this clause has allowed these images to be made public.