When the Apple Watch was first released, it relied on a nearby Apple Watch for processing. But this changed with the release of the Apple Watch Series 3 back in 2017. The first Apple Watch to offer cellular connectivity which allowed the Apple Watch to make calls without an iPhone present. The year before, in 2016, the Apple Watch Series 2 added its own GPS system although the timepiece deferred to the GPS on a nearby iPhone whenever possible.
The Apple Watch Ultra GPS uses a dual-frequency system
In other words, older Apple Watch models relied on the GPS system on a nearby iPhone to save battery life on the watch. It makes sense to allow the Apple Watch Ultra to use its own GPS thanks to the larger battery that keeps the lights on for “up to 36 hours.” The battery on the Apple Watch 8 (308mAh) is the same as the battery on the Series 7 and provides 18 hours of power. The battery is large enough in Apple’s eyes to allow the timepiece to employ its own GPS. Same with the 296mAh battery on the second-gen Apple Watch SE.
So yeah, the Apple Watch has come a long way from being dependent on the iPhone to become independent enough to live its own best life.
