Hello!! I was wondering other people’s opinions on the upcoming Apple Watch with Series 7 I heard some design changes and when that happens I’m always worried about my watch bands I’ve had for over 4 years or so. Does anyone think apple will really create a watch that doesn’t allow people to use all those watch bands they bought in the past? I just can’t see them doing that major of a design change. Let me know what you guys think!
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Apple Watch Series 7
- Thread starter jonpodner
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No. Even if they change the design to a round form factor (unlikely) the bands would still work the same way and it would be easy to integrate into a round body. The design and way they attach is ideal, no need to change that..
Not a chance, if for no other reason than it would be a really dumb financial move on their part. They know a lot of people collect bands and would not buy the series 7 if those bands weren't compatible.
I'd like to think the watch straps mechanism to be like Lightning port on the iPhones. Apple would like to control the market, and benefitting from it. I don't think Apple would change a thing for a while. It'd be dumb to piss off lots of people collecting their already overpriced straps, only to make them all obsolete 7 years later.
Your straps collection will be safe for at least a decade, in my opinion.
Your straps collection will be safe for at least a decade, in my opinion.
Never happen - too iconic to go round. Makes me laugh about the apple watch shape and AirPods - Shows how wrong this forum and the posters can be.....
There was that patent for a different design, but I doubt that'll see the light of day in the next few years at least.
www.macrumors.com
Apple Researching Totally Redesigned Apple Watch With Wrap-Around Display
Apple is researching a potential radical redesign for the Apple Watch, including a rounded watch face, wrap-around flexible display, and...
www.macrumors.com
Not changing the band attachment. They didn't change it when the small watch went from 38mm to 40mm and the large from 42mm to 44mm.
The number of bands offered is already very, very un-Apple. Requiring stores inventory them in four sizes instead of two... unimaginable. Carrying the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop in 9 sizes and 2 widths of each color is bad enough... 36 sizes in each color is (wait for it) Inconceivable! (Well at the least, highly improbable.)
The number of bands offered is already very, very un-Apple. Requiring stores inventory them in four sizes instead of two... unimaginable. Carrying the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop in 9 sizes and 2 widths of each color is bad enough... 36 sizes in each color is (wait for it) Inconceivable! (Well at the least, highly improbable.)
They also ditched MagSafe/MagSafe 2 on the MacBook for USB C. I think it is fully plausible the the watch band attachment mechanism could be "updated" for an evolving design, like if the watch could be thinner or a different shape.but.. at some point, they ditched the 30 pin dock connector
Maybe.. if they do, there might be a 12$ adapter available!
have a great easter weekend!
I will otherwise be reusing my existing watch band collection until they are no longer compatible.
True, but human wrists are so varied in size, they had to accommodate everyone. The same goes for AirPods to a lesser degree.
Personally, I’d love to see a round option. I just think aesthetically it looks better.
But honestly, I doubt it and we’ll likely see minor improvements in battery and perhaps a slimming down in thickness.
And perhaps the introduction of the rumoured rugged outdoorsy version.
I could have been more explicit - "very un-Apple" has more to do with the many styles of band offered (an inevitability, due to the fashion aspect of watches). However, this is not the first time Apple has offered a range of styles/colors.
What's somewhat surprising was the Solo Loop decision (although it seems successful). Traditionally, Apple has offered a "size" range (regardless of product) equivalent to "small, medium, large, and extra-large." Solo Loop sizing is closer to trouser sizing (inch-by-inch increments in waist size and each waist size available in a variety of inseam lengths).
Having two sizes of Watch effectively doubled the number of SKUs (stock keeping units/inventory items) in both complete Watches and accessory bands, but that also seems to have been the right marketing choice.
Introducing a round watch body as an additional option might sell additional Watches. However, it wouldn't be necessary to change anything about the watch bands - the same fastening arrangement and the same band styles could be compatible with both rectangular and round watch bodies.
The whole Apple-like thing is a matter of whether the company is sticking rigidly to the historic Steve Jobs-instituted inventory housecleaning after his return to the company. That moment in history is often interpreted as a permanent decision about the company's future, rather than a pragmatic decision to address the current situation (a company near bankruptcy and far too many products, each selling far too few units).
Yes, Apple continues to favor the "fewer SKUs" side of the consumer goods sector. There are real benefits to keeping a tight rein on SKU proliferation. However, Apple sells enough product that they certainly can produce many SKUs and still maintain their legendary gross profit margins. They seem to do an admirable job of determining when "more choice" will be more profitable and when "less choice" is the right way to go.
When it comes to the original question - is Apple likely to change the watch band fastening arrangement - again, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what they could improve , the 6 imo is virtually perfect
Apple would piss a lot of people off if they suddenly made those expensive bands redundant. People have collections of those things and I can’t ever see them changing the design away from this interface. Not a chance.
Is the 6 really that much faster than a 3?
I am thinking of upgrading but really prefer to wait for the 7. If it is truly coming out in 5 months.
When I bought it I thought it would just be a gimmick ,I now use it more than my iPhone .
Taking phone calls on it never gets old . Feels very futuristic
Taking phone calls on it never gets old . Feels very futuristic
Keep in mind that Apple just introduced 3 new band styles with the S6 (Solo, Braided, Leather Link). Seems unlikely they would do that if they were moving to a new connector with the next watch. I also agree that the lack of any hardware leaks at this point suggest no new design this year.
All that being said, a new design will come at some point. I’d say any time from the S8 on is possible. Whether that new design will be compatible with old bands is up to Apple. It could end up being like when the 2018 iPad Pro was introduced: completely new design with new accessories. But the older iPads stuck around and continued to use the old accessories. I could see Apple leaving the SE and maybe the S6 in the lineup with a redesign and continuing to sell old bands for a while alongside new bands only comparable with the redesigned watch.
Or maybe we’ll get lucky and all our bands will still be compatible like with the S3 to S4 transition!
All that being said, a new design will come at some point. I’d say any time from the S8 on is possible. Whether that new design will be compatible with old bands is up to Apple. It could end up being like when the 2018 iPad Pro was introduced: completely new design with new accessories. But the older iPads stuck around and continued to use the old accessories. I could see Apple leaving the SE and maybe the S6 in the lineup with a redesign and continuing to sell old bands for a while alongside new bands only comparable with the redesigned watch.
Or maybe we’ll get lucky and all our bands will still be compatible like with the S3 to S4 transition!
iFixIt found a slightly larger Taptic Engine in the S6 compared to earlier models. I haven’t noticed much difference in real world use. But I know there are others here and on YouTube that say they can really tell a difference. Bottom line, there is definitely new, larger vibration hardware but it’s hard to say if that will translate to a difference in your user experience.
There's a big difference here in that Apple sells watch bands and watches at an enormous profit. If Apple were to render our existing watch bands incompatible with a new model, they would undermine the consumer confidence necessary to get people to spend $100 (give or take) on new watch bands, and they might even undercut sales of the new watch. It's very strongly in Apple's interest to make watch bands compatible with new watches as long as it is feasible to do so.
Personally, I am guessing the next big thing in AW will be a thinner watch otherwise very similar to the current S4/5/6 series.
This. There were rumors that the S7 will borrow some design cues from iPhone 12 and if I had to guess the Watch will get thinner by making the display glass completely flat.
Hopefully advances in battery technology mean they can do that without affecting performance. Personally I like the bulk of the current watches. They are certainly smaller already than a lot of watches out there.