Apple just released a hardware refresh of the Apple Watch in 2024, but a new leak suggests we may not see another one until 2028. It's possible the refresh might not come even then.
The latest rumor comes from leakmaven Instant Digital who posted on Weibo in a machine-translated message that the Apple Watch series will “likely continue with its usual schedule next year,” referring to 2026. They added that anything new in 2027 is unlikely because of the iPhone.
The 20th anniversary of the iPhone is in 2027, so Apple’s focus will likely veer heavily in that direction. The Apple Watch just hit its 10-year anniversary this year, as the first smartwatch launched in 2015.
Apple did celebrate 2025 with the release of three new watches in the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Contradicting rumors
Instant Digital posits that a redesign might not be announced until after 2027, suggesting 2028 or later as a possible update. The Apple Watch tends to be iterative longer than the iPhone, and Apple has stuck to a fairly regular three-year update schedule for its smartwatches.
This rumor contradicts previous ones, including one from August that claimed the Apple Watch would see additional sensors on its underside, possibly the long-awaited blood glucose monitor. A timeline leak from June suggests that we’ll only see the Apple Watch Series 12 next year, with blood monitoring launching in 2027.
Meanwhile, Apple just lost a patent lawsuit with Masimo over blood oxygen monitoring and faces a potential ban from the International Trade Commission, which could hamper plans for future watches.
With that in mind, now might be the perfect time to pick up a new Apple Watch and fortunately, they’re all on sale.
