Apple Researching Totally Redesigned Apple Watch With Wrap-Around Display

[Arctic Moose]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

First of all, the concepts in those drawings are not even remotely Rolex-shaped, they look much more like a Franck Muller or a Richard Mille. Secondly, Cartier Tanks and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reversos (to name a few) have always been pretty successful.

 

[deckard666]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

Um no its not out in the wild yet and why play with a iconic unstoppable totally top-of-the-pile design ?

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Why would I want a round display on a smart watch? Why would I want the display to wrap around my wrist? To twist and turn my wrist awkwardly back and forth, when reading something on my Apple Watch?
🤔

 

[jonnyb098]

Interesting concept, though I wonder how Apple would accommodate different wrist sizes.

Or interchangeable watch bands. Which is what they make all their money on.

 

[UndefinedxJoker]

To me Apple Watch design is perfectly fine. Just improve battery life and add functionality.

Jeez with that attitude we’d still be with the iPhone 5 design. Wait...

 

[gabino1962]

Check out the Amazfit X for a curved watch face.
Amazfit X - Born to The Future - Amazfit

 

[Mikman]

Wrap around watch? Seems like a perfect match for a folding phone

 

[dgdosen]

So breakable... What they need is sensor improvements - somehow make an unobtrusive BP monitor? Blood glucose monitor? Ketone monitor?

 

[orbital~debris]

My watch band collection 😩!

 

[rmoliv]

Looks TACKY. I want a Watch not a SCREEN on my wrist.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

Why is a round face for an electronic watch better than a round face for an analog watch? How many round computer screens do you have sitting on your desk? How many round computer screens do laptops have?

 

[Wahlstrm]

I might be in minority but what I like the most about the Apple Watch is how it doesn’t look like alien technology.

Almost all other smart watches/fitness trackers do their absolute best to look as out of place as possible when wearing anything other than gym clothes.

 

[Kleber20]

First they change my airpods and now my Apple Watch design... why?!!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

This reminds me somewhat of the Surface Band. That was a great little piece of hardware.

 

[Rychiar]

why do watches always have to be shaped like that? I like straight cuff designs and have only cuff bands for my current Apple Watch

 

[anthogag]

I think all the negative comments are the same people who said the iPhone mini would sell like hot cakes,

I like this concept of a wraparound watch. It is one potentially good application for a flexible display. Maybe something that resembles a wide wrist band would work better.

I have the current Watch. A larger thinner display/case could be very good.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Looks pretty expensive - but the way to go!

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Yeah, I wouldn’t get too excited. Most of these are for a watch concept I did for LuxVue 8-9 years ago. Still fun to think what could could be! https://www.ull.mn/luxvue-smart-watch-concept

View attachment 1747990

Thats not a could anymore - something like this will come - if not from apple then from someone else.

 

[opiapr]

Personally not a fan... think this may confirm no design refresh this year... I am hoping for removal of the Digital Crown, and maybe a touch sensor to replace it on the side for scrolling and Touch ID...

I love the Digital Crown hopefully it won't go away.

 

[cmaier]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

Apple has had patent applications on all sorts of different watch shapes for more than a decade. This particular one doesn’t mean anything more than any of the others that apple has filed. In 2015 they got a patent on a watch with a band that automatically adjusts. In 2014 they got a patent on a watch with a band that’s held together by magnets. In 2020 they filed a patent on a watch with a woven display.

None of these patents or applications mean a thing.

The macrumors headlines are always “apple researching X.” For all we know, some apple engineer hit his head in the shower and came up with this, and so they filed a patent on it.

 

[citysnaps]

Seems to be a lot of "Why would I want a thousand songs in my pocket?" here. Unexercised imaginations.

 

[Wolf Of Infinite Loop]

How about improving the battery life first. Thanks in advance.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

???

Square?

Funny... all the expensive watch manufacturers offer square faces. So, I guess Rolex doesn't know what shape a watch should be?

 

[MJaP]

I don't know how patents work, but surely there's some clause about "natural evolution of design" and "prior art" that would prevent things like this getting a patent, I've definitely seen concept smart watch images with displays on the watch strap before.

 

[Cyprusian]

Finally, after a decade Apple admits they didn't know more about what shape a watch should be than Rolex.

Design is a matter of personal taste and/or fashion. With regard to Rolex, my personal taste doesn't favour what I perceive as an ugly magnifying bubble over the date which is one of their signature design cues.