Gurman: Apple Planning Major 'Apple Watch X' Redesign to Introduce New Band System and More

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning a complete revamp of the Apple Watch for the device's tenth anniversary, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman dubs the overhauled device "Apple Watch X," similar to 2017's iPhone X that celebrated ten years of the iPhone. Since the original Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014 and launched in 2015, Gurman is unsure whether the Apple Watch X will be released in 2024 or 2025.

Apple is apparently working on a thinner casing for the Apple Watch X, as well as different ways for bands to attach to the device. The mechanism for connecting bands to the Apple Watch's casing has remained the same since the device's introduction, allowing bands to be compatible throughout different generations of the Apple Watch.

Individuals involved in developing new Apple Watch models told Gurman that the existing band system takes up a large amount of space that could be better utilized for bigger batteries or other internal components. As such, Apple is now considering a magnetic band attachment system, but it is currently unclear whether it will be ready or present on the Apple Watch X.

The Apple Watch X could also coincide with Apple's introduction of microLED display technology, which surpasses the color and clarity of existing OLED screens. It may also be the first Apple Watch to feature blood pressure monitoring.

Gurman added that the Apple Watch Series 9 is due to be only a "minor refresh," similar to the incremental updates that the device has received in recent years. The new devices are expected to receive faster processors and new color options, but will otherwise be largely the same as the existing models. Gurman says it is "arguably the most minor upgrade in the product's history."

As a result, Apple has recently been considering switching the Apple Watch away from an annual upgrade cycle to offer more substantial updates less frequently, Gurman says. He noted that the iPad started with an annual upgrade cycle, but this has now slowed to a refresh around every 18 months or so.

Article Link: Gurman: Apple Planning Major 'Apple Watch X' Redesign to Introduce New Band System and More

 

[sniffies]

aka Apple Watch Twitter

 

[btrach144]

How would magnets take up less space than the current system? They'd have to be really strong, and thus heavy and bulky.

This seems off

Edit: someone with hairy arms is going to have arm hair pulled out non stop.

 

[HeavenDynamic]

Thinking about the 50+ official Watch bands I bought since 2015

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

That’s good stuff!

Hopefully, battery life can be extended to 7 Days on a single charge.

 

[kildraik]

Imagine a device with a fold-out screen. Let’s make these puppies standalone!

 

[Adelphos33]

1) If it is just a redesign, the Apple Watch 9 may be something to buy - as it will be the last Apple Watch to work with all prior accessories, and will be the most up to date "legacy watch" in terms of processor / battery

2) That said, if the blood pressure monitor works, that will be an important upgrade for millions. New health sensors are one of the few things they to do to really move the needle.

 

[xxray]

@Hartley literally called this purely on speculation on the MacRumors podcast episode from Friday!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It would be nice if Apple Watch X comes in Ceramic Edition. ⚪️

 

[FNH15]

1) If it is just a redesign, the Apple Watch 9 may be something to buy - as it will be the last Apple Watch to work with all prior accessories, and will be the most up to date "legacy watch" in terms of processor / battery

2) That said, if the blood pressure monitor works, that will be an important upgrade for millions. New health sensors are one of the few things they to do to really move the needle.

It's worth noting that the processor hasn't changed from the Series 6 - so it will be interesting to see if they wait for the X for the next processor upgrade.

The SE will also be around for a while still with the old design - that will be the last "legacy watch" I'd wager.

 

[jz0309]

Apple kept the "band design" even for the Ultra - I'm not buying that they will change any time soon, esp not magnetic.

more important, Apple needs to offer new health functions, better display and such is nice, but not essential.

 

[tomtad]

This is nonsense. Gurman talks about making the watch chassis thinner. I mean if anything they’ll be wanting to make it thicker unless some magical battery has been invented given battery life isn’t exactly one of the Watches strong suits.

And the magnetic attaching bands have two major flaws which is why they didn’t go this route in the first place. It would make your watch easy to steal, just grab your watch and it will detach. And you won’t be able to have your watch strap tight for workouts.

Clearly if Apple was going to fundamentally change the watch straps they’d have done it will the launch of the Ultra. And they stuck with the same mechanism so it’s clearly not changing any time soon.

This is complete fiction from Gurman other than it being likely a redesign for the Watch is coming next year. And given it’s been the same for a number of years now anyone could make a good guess at that.

Personally I’d look to the Ultra for any changes. Think we’ll see a flat display with a subtly redesigned chassis along with some new materials/finishes/bands and maybe a new sensor. But it won’t be thinner and the bands won’t be magnetic.

 

[abowlby]

Thinking about the 50+ official Watch bands I bought since 2015

Introducing the Ba-Dapter, only from NOMAD. Starting at $99.99.

 

[jz0309]

Apple has recently been considering switching the Apple Watch away from an annual upgrade cycle to offer more substantial updates less frequently

well, isn't that true for almost all products? phones have plateau'd, so have AWs, people are rarely upgrading every year ...

 

[JPack]

Looks like big form factor refreshes next year - iPhone 16 and Watch X. Hold your upgrades if possible.

It's about time Apple redesigned the Watch band system. The Vision Pro is all magnetic - they can take inspiration from that.

 

[jz0309]

Gurman is going the way of Prosser ...

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don’t believe it.

 

[imamacperson]

Apple Watch X will probably look like the Ultra in a smaller size.

 

[RaoulDuke42]

I mean, Apple does sometimes break with continuity, but this feels like a rumor about a magnetic watch band got mixed up with the Watch itself. Really would be like a Twitter becoming "X" move.

 

[Xangelkiller]

Introducing the Ba-Dapter, only from NOMAD. Starting at $99.99.

With a free shipping threshold of $100 and a 20% coupon that ends up not even covering the shipping costs.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Looking forward to the new form factor of the 3rd gen AW Ultra.

 

[jz0309]

Looks like big form factor refreshes next year - iPhone 16 and Watch X. Hold your upgrades if possible.

It's about time Apple redesigned the Watch band system. The Vision Pro is all magnetic - they can take inspiration from that.

VERY different use cases, magnetic for a watch does not make any sense at all

 

[JPack]

This is nonsense. Gurman talks about making the watch chassis thinner. I mean if anything they’ll be wanting to make it thicker unless some magical battery has been invented.

Wider and flatter. The internal volume remains the same for the battery. Think iPad Pro. The S8 SoC is still 7nm. The cellular baseband used in Watch Ultra is still a 14nm Intel chip. Lots of places for power efficiency gains.

Clearly if Apple was going to fundamentally change the watch straps they’d have done it will the launch of the Ultra. And they stuck with the same mechanism so it’s clearly not changing any time soon.

This is complete fiction from Gurman other than it being likely a redesign for the Watch is coming next year. And given it’s been the same for a number of years now anyone could make a good guess at that.

Watch Ultra is selling great. Apple gets sales from 2022-2024. That's a whole 24 months of sales and millions of units. It's like people thinking, Apple wouldn't launch MacBook Air with M2 and then refresh it 6 months later with M3. Revenue is king.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Gurman added that the Apple Watch Series 9 is due to be only a "minor refresh,"

So I guess this year's Apple Watch is the... iPhone 7? 8? before the iPhone X Apple Watch X?

 

[addamas]

Imagine a device with a fold-out screen. Let’s make these puppies standalone!

Scratches at level 2 with deeper grooves at level 3, nope.

But my heart also would like to see it one day