Apple Executives Explain Challenges of Adding Larger Display to Apple Watch Series 7

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch Series 7 comes in new 41mm and 45mm size options and it has the largest display of any Apple Watch to date, a design challenge that Apple executives called "unique" in an interview with The Independent.

Implementing the new design without major increases to the casing size required "completely re-engineering the display, the front crystal, the internals and the internal enclosure," according to Apple's vice president of product marketing, Stan Ng.

Apple was able to reduce the borders on the Series 7 to 1.7mm, down from 3mm in the Series 6, and it's a noticeable change. The Apple Watch Series 7's launch was delayed until October after its September introduction, and rumors suggested that was due to the complicated design necessitated by the updated display.

The size increase was implemented only because Apple found a way to do it without compromising on other Apple Watch features. The touch sensor was integrated into the OLED panel, which kept the height of the Apple Watch the same and the general case size consistent.

"The re-engineered display on Series 7 is a major technical innovation. Growing the display is such a huge benefit to users, but only if it doesn't compromise any other part of the experience, such as comfort or aesthetics or battery life or band compatibility."

Apple's vice president of interface design, Alan Dye, said the company's goal with the update was to "make the user experience more clear and more accessible." The size increase required Apple to make hundreds of small UI changes.

"We knew this was an opportunity to optimize the design of the entire experience. So, we went about over the past couple of years reconsidering and recrafting every element, making hundreds of really small but we think important and impactful changes to make the UI to work in harmony with the new display design and making the UI even easier to use."

Text input on the Apple Watch has always been "a huge challenge," according to Dye, so the QWERTY keyboard that was implemented with the larger display was an achievement. Dye says that Apple always wanted a QWERTY keyboard. The bezels around the keys were removed to make it feel less cramped, a move that also conveys to customers that "precision isn't critical" because the keyboard uses machine learning to correct what you want to type.

Going forward, Apple plans to continue to innovate on the Apple Watch user experience, the information that's displayed, and cutting down on wasted space.

The full interview, which goes into more detail on design decisions like the new Apple Watch faces and Apple's obsession with typography, can be read over at The Independent.

Article Link: Apple Executives Explain Challenges of Adding Larger Display to Apple Watch Series 7

 

[BarredOwl]

7 is the best Apple Watch.

 

[jz0309]

"... rumors suggested that was due to the complicated design necessitated by the updated display."

What? where does that come from? rumors suggested it was a last minute change for the watch and/or manufacturing issues ...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What challenges? The screen was just stretched out? Was it that complicated?

There is a high chance we may never see a boxier design of the Apple Watch. Wonder if Apple Watch 8 will look the same as series 7.

 

[midkay]

It's a minor thing, but I'd really like to see enhancements to the workout metrics display. It hasn't changed in years, despite the screen size increasing twice, it still just shows a few lines of plain text, and the entire top 1/3 of the display is wasted on the huge workout icon in the top-left. I'd love to see a redesign, with more detail and maybe a graph or two showing heart rate/pace/calories over time, maybe a couple different 'views' to swipe between, etc.

 

[standing]

Not practical, maybe, but sure would look nice having the entire watch body made from one piece of a glass with a display wrapping around inside of it.

Edit: found it. Ok no wrapping going on here but…

 

[Naraxus]

You mean the QWERTY keyboard Apple ripped off from a developer? That QWERTY keyboard?

 

[midkay]

You mean the QWERTY keyboard Apple ripped off from a developer? That QWERTY keyboard?

Yes, that developer totally invented QWERTY keyboards. /s

 

[BootsWalking]

This afternoon I solved a major lunch challenge by inserting an extra slice of tomato onto my turkey sandwich without causing said sandwich to increase vertically in size. Stay tuned - I'll be filing a patent later this month.

 

[Naraxus]

Yes, that developer totally invented QWERTY keyboards. /s

Cute. But you know exactly what I'm talking about but in the event you've forgotten (or conveniently ignored), here's a refresher: https://www.verdict.co.uk/apple-watch-keyboard-app-store/

 

[nutmac]

I am personally glad that Series 7 does not use the rumored flat edge design. The current design is dated to be sure, but with a larger edge-to-edge display and new colors, it still looks great.

What's less great is the selection of watch faces.

 

[sirdir]

I would be totally amazed by that keyboard. If I could actually use it for any other language than English. But hey, minor details.

 

[fel10]

7 is the best Apple Watch.

Well, lets hope so since its the latest one.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The QWERTY keyboard is nice and such a welcome change. I love it.

 

[dumastudetto]

This is a phenomenal piece. It really underscores Apple‘s deep commitment to achieving the impossible in pursuit of crafting the very best products.

 

[kiensoy]

It’s funny they mention the QWERTY keyboard is now possible because of the larger screen while still adding it to the smaller Series 7 but not the large Series 6.

 

[jmgregory1]

I don’t buy the narrative that they worked hard making the screen larger, either the physical or software aspects of it. Adding thickness to the glass and saying that was to make it stronger - tell me who was complaining that the glass was too thin and prone to cracking on any of the previous Watches?

Going further with the glass, this idea that the curved edge is “cool” in how you can sort of see on-screen elements wrapping around the edge - that’s bs marketing for something that provides ZERO consumer benefit, which is exactly why Apple didn’t offer a waterfall edge screen on the iPhone.

The fishbowl reflections caused by the curved top of the screen could have been eliminated by going to a flat glass lens that sits inside the frame of the watch case, which would have provided additional scratch protection. It would also allow for a more seamless view of the screen, like what Apple has been doing with the iPhone and iPad over the past few years.

Is it obvious I am not happy with the series 7 Watch “update”?

 

[Johnnyponken]

I am so surprised that a marketing person is telling us that this is a groundbreaking device just because the screen is larger.

 

[siddavis]

The design challenge was unique because we had to scramble after scrapping the rumored wholesale design change.

 

[_Spinn_]

I really like the screen on my Series 7. The onscreen keyboard also works much better than I thought it would.

Still a little disappointed that we didn't get any new health sensors this year though.

 

[alexandr]

right, it is amazing that they managed to fit the qwerty keyboard on the 41mm screen, yet it just won't fit a 44mm one from previous gens...

 

[Johnnyponken]

right, it is amazing that they managed to fit the qwerty keyboard on the 41mm screen, yet it just won't fit a 44mm one from previous gens...

This ?

 

[midkay]

Cute. But you know exactly what I'm talking about but in the event you've forgotten (or conveniently ignored), here's a refresher: https://www.verdict.co.uk/apple-watch-keyboard-app-store/

I just don't see what's remarkable about the story. You think nobody at Apple ever considered or conceived of adding a QWERTY keyboard to the watch before this one guy tried it? Apple surely had this (very obvious) idea before the Series 0 even launched and have just been waiting for the right opportunity to add it.

 

[satchmo]

"We knew this was an opportunity to optimize the design of the entire experience. So, we went about over the past couple of years reconsidering and recrafting every element, making hundreds of really small but we think important and impactful changes to make the UI to work in harmony with the new display design and making the UI even easier to use."

Years? Are we sure it wasn’t weeks? ?

 

[Johnnyponken]

I just don't see what's remarkable about the story. You think nobody at Apple ever considered or conceived of adding a QWERTY keyboard to the watch before this one guy tried it? Apple surely had this (very obvious) idea before the Series 0 even launched and have just been waiting for the right opportunity to add it.

They didn’t wait for the right opportunity. They chose the opportunity that suited them the most to persuade people to buy the latest series. It’s obvious it would work on the series 4 but no that would mean they would have one less argument for folks to upgrade.