Apple wants to bring the wow factor back to the Apple Watch after a series of minor upgrades.
The tech giant is planning a major overhaul of its bestselling smartwatch as part of a tenth-anniversary edition expected in 2024 or 2025, reports Bloomberg.
Several major changes are on the cards including a more dynamic screen, a massive design shift that also bodes well for its battery power, and an eye-catching health feature.
Referencing its special status, the new device will reportedly be dubbed the Apple Watch X. If true, the move would echo the massive upgrade Apple offered with the iPhone X in 2017, which came with face recognition technology that was relatively uncommon at the time.
As far as looks go, Apple is reportedly working on two significant design changes. Firstly, the Apple Watch X could come with a thinner watch case. That may convince traditional watch wearers to give the comparatively chunkier Apple Watch a go. It could also help Apple to slim down last year’s larger Apple Watch Ultra.
Elsewhere, Apple is flirting with replacing the traditional watchband lock mechanism with magnetic bands. Although this would be bad news for owners who have purchased multiple bands, it is expected to work wonders for the device’s functionality. Specifically, it would save space that could be filled with a bigger battery or other components.
Speaking of new parts, the Apple Watch X could come with a brand new microLED screen that boasts better colour and clarity. Apple has reportedly spent at least $1 billion researching and developing the new display tech over the past decade, as per recent reports. The company is also said to be considering the new screens for future iPhone models.
Finally, Apple will reportedly add a blood pressure monitor to the Apple Watch X. The feature is already available on rival smartwatches including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Apple has been working on the tech, alongside a separate blood sugar checker, for a few years.
Health and fitness have gradually become one of the Apple Watch’s key selling points. Since 2020, the smartwatches have added features including sensors that can measure blood oxygen and body temperature. Apple also has a workout subscription service called Fitness Plus that syncs with the Apple Watch.
So, should you skip this year’s Apple Watch Series 9 for the 2024 model? That depends on whether you like the sound of its rumoured new features, like a snappier processor, improved power consumption, and better location tracking.
Older models may also get a much-needed refresh if Apple releases a software update alongside the new smartwatch.
In the meantime, the Apple Watch Series 9 is expected to launch with the iPhone 15 in mid-September.
