Apple Watch Series 8 Model Rumored to Feature 5% Larger Display

[AndiG]

Depending on the location, Apple may not have gotten it certified as a medical device and thus can't include those features. Not Apple's fault.

What exactly are you talking about? Every Smartwatch can share its heart rate data - except Apples Watch. The reason is that every other Smartwatch uses a standard Bluetooth GATT protocol to expose heart rate data. But Apple blocks this and requires third parties to implement GymKit (tied to Apples MFI) for one and only reason: Money!!

And this is only possible since Apple has a Wallet Garden business model. So it blocks every App that would transfer heart rate data using bluetooth, which the Apple Watch is capable of.

So this is an artificial limitation to lock competition out and lock users in. And since there are no bicycle computers, that implement Apple GymKit you will never be able to use the heart rate monitor outside of Apples Wallet Garden.

Oh man, Apple is so to blame ...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Let me guess - most of yur customers were guys...

Yes, but why? I was embarrassed for the males of the species. One 'guy' bought a whole new setup, and the 'new' models came out the next year, and he HAD TO HAVE IT!!! ad in spite of not even paying off the first setup, signed up to replace all of it. For more money, of course. I tried to talk him out of it, and the manager stopped me. Retail, and capitalism took on a harsher appearance to me. Yes, people like him helped pay my wages, but they also end up under the thumb of the industry that collects on the back-end of that mess.

People will line up to buy this rumored new Apple Watch. Larger, rounder, whatever... If it works for them, do it.

People looking for round Apple Watches need to realize that round is easy to do. Most of the industry puts out round watches. Round also cuts down on the available screen 'real estate' for the display. Should Apple come out with a round one? If they do, they still need to have the same style/shape too, IMO. I'm not buying a round AW...

 

[Channan]

Will it be called the Apple Watch Plus or Apple Watch Pro Max?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I am so bored with my Apple Watch these days that I wear it - at most - once per month. Seems like everyone is wearing the same watch — how incredibly boring that is. And for someone who sees no value in the exercise rings any longer they really annoy me when I do. Why can't we just switch the rings completely off — everywhere?

So, for me, a redesigned Watch would have to be a radical departure from the current design. That will probably not happen.

'Rings'?

I don't have a problem with wearing the same watch as 'everyone else', because I don't care. Apple has gone quite a way to satiate the need for uniqueness, from faces to bands and even third party 'cases'. But the AW, to me, is like a belt. A belt holds my pants up, and a watch communicates time, and the AW is much more usable. But sell it, let someone else enjoy it. I, personally, don't understand the need for bling/fashion, but if it has to be exciting, there are options. I know people that had several watches in different colors just to be 'bling'. I did used to have a 'dress watch'. Far to fragile for daily wear. But rock on, do what you need to do.

 

[jlc1978]

So this is an artificial limitation to lock competition out and lock users in. And since there are no bicycle computers, that implement Apple GymKit you will never be able to use the heart rate monitor outside of Apples Wallet Garden..

That's different than not having the functionality available; which is how I read the OP. You knew Apple was a walled garden when you bought it, so it should come as no surprise data isn't shared.

Retail, and capitalism took on a harsher appearance to me. Yes, people like him helped pay my wages, but they also end up under the thumb of the industry that collects on the back-end of that mess.

I learned long ago there are two ways to sell things: Convice guys whatever it is will overcome their shortcomings and make them attractive, and ladies they can be a model if only they bought this. Cynical. Yes. Screwed up. Yes. But it is what forms the basis for marketting; which is why I on't do retail or marketting.

People looking for round Apple Watches need to realize that round is easy to do. Most of the industry puts out round watches. Round also cuts down on the available screen 'real estate' for the display. Should Apple come out with a round one? If they do, they still need to have the same style/shape too, IMO. I'm not buying a round AW...

I would like a choice. Neither is better, just different. I prefer the old school look of a round watch face, like a classic Longines, or Speedmaster, or even the 40's and 50's vintage small case ones that were in vogue. Just a different set of tastes and why I wear a watch. To be honest, my iPhone keeps better time than any watch I own besides my Apple Watch.

 

[AndiG]

That's different than not having the functionality available; which is how I read the OP. You knew Apple was a walled garden when you bought it, so it should come as no surprise data isn't shared.

This makes no sense - A wallet garden doesn't mean that no data is shared. Of course you can send and receive SMS, eMail, you can listen to mp3 and so on.
Apple abuses its app monopol and I hope the upcoming DMA regulation nukes this wallet garden model. Because without Apple's blocking of apps, there's no reason why you shouldn't share your heart rate data. And there's already a law that says your data is yours - regardless of who owns the sensor or who builds the sensor. You are even allowed to hack the system to gain access to your data.

This just adds another reason to the fact that DMA is absolutely necessary to control tech giants like Apple- The sooner the better.

 

[svish]

A redesign with a larger screen will be great.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Flat Design, Hopefully?

I hope. It would look much better.

 

[yossi]

Honestly, that iPhone 12/13 slab design mock-up for the Watch 8 we’ve been predicting for a while now has not grown on me. It just looks like it would be uncomfortable to wear. Not to mention, it wouldn’t age well. Looks like a cheap Chinese knockoff.

My recommendation would be more of the rounded, contour edges of the new MacBook Pro’s and Air. It’s a squared off design yes, but it’s a little softer.

My primary concern about the sharp edges is that they will damage must easier when your wrist hits a wall or some other object compared to the current sloped shape where it kinda just slides off

 

[mansplains]

All I know is that it better support stage manager or there will be hell to pay on these forums

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I learned long ago there are two ways to sell things: Convice guys whatever it is will overcome their shortcomings and make them attractive, and ladies they can be a model if only they bought this. Cynical. Yes. Screwed up. Yes. But it is what forms the basis for marketting; which is why I on't do retail or marketting.



I would like a choice. Neither is better, just different. I prefer the old school look of a round watch face, like a classic Longines, or Speedmaster, or even the 40's and 50's vintage small case ones that were in vogue. Just a different set of tastes and why I wear a watch. To be honest, my iPhone keeps better time than any watch I own besides my Apple Watch.

Sex sells, but apparently hatred, fear, and paranoia sells better.

Apple *could* come out with both shapes. They 'build to order' anyway, so what is the cost, aside from the development and tooling. They could offset that cost with the first thousand or so they sell.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

My primary concern about the sharp edges is that they will damage must easier when your wrist hits a wall or some other object compared to the current sloped shape where it kinda just slides off

Likely. The other related issue is that a sharp edge would create inherent stresses in the natural crystal that they would use in some models. Stresses that would cause more cracking and failures. Yes, they could lead to the crystal shattering when the wrong edge hits the right surface at the wrong angle: *SMASH*

Ever wonder why planes don't have square windows? Because one of the earlier ones did, and they failed costing many lives. Stresses on the fuselage built up around those sharp corners, and the windows popped out, or the fuselage skin ruptured. Nature doesn't tend to like sharp angles...

 

[Saturn007]

Also, for the Series 5 44 mm vs 40 mm:

1.78 / 1.533 = 16% change in diagonal.

(448x368) / (394x324) = 1.29 or 29% increase in area.
Similarly, 977 / 759 = 1.29 or 29% increase in area.

For Series 7 45 mm vs 41 mm:

1.901 / 1.691 = 1.12 or 12% change in diagonal.

(484x396) / (430x352) = 1.266 or 26.6% increase in area.
Similarly, 1143 / 904 = 1.264 or 26.4% increase in area. (Rounding error)

This makes perfect sense for a near square rectangle, as area change varies closer to the square of the diagonal change.

So, for Series 8 ?? mm vs Series 7 45 mm:

1.99 / 1.901 = 1.047 = <5% change in diagonal.

(~506x414) / (484/396) = 1.093 = ~9-10% increase in screen area.

^^^^^^

This!

The critical issue is not mm vs. in., but differentiating diagonal length vs. display area.

In addition, as several people have noted, Apple's Watch measurements, 41mm and 45mm, refer to the vertical height of the watch — not the diagonal or the display area!

Indeed, the Series 7 Watch, with only a 1mm increase in height ended up with a whopping 20% increase in display area over the Series 6!

The article here on the Watch 8 keeps referring to the diagonal as a “display size”, which is incorrect or, at least, misleading. For example,

”A 1.99-inch Apple Watch display size compares to 1.691-inches on the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 and 1.901-inches on the 45mm ‌Apple Watch Series 7‌.”​

​

Square inches or square millimeters are called for when discussing *area*. And, as with the Watch 7, the size and area of the bezels needs accounting for, too!

The entire business of referring to the diagonal of a device to represent display area can be quite misleading. After all, a standard #2 pencil (e.g., the classic Dixon Ticonderoga #2 is 7” long and has a diagonal of nearly 7”! But it certainly wouldn't have a screen area equivalent to that of phones with a 7” diagonal screen.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0827/1023/products/5025ticonderoga_1200x1200.jpg?v=1533716509

The same would be said of the Apple Pencil. If it had a screen, its diagonal would hardly reflects its display area!

The diagonal is only a useful proxy if the aspect ratios are the same or similar. However, as in the case of Apple Watch 7, the size and area of the bezels matter, too!

I agree with the calculation here that a 5% increase in the diagonal of the Apple Watch, assuming the same aspect ratio and bezel size, would translate into a 9-10% increase in area.

What is staggering is what that means for comparing the Watch 8 to Watch 6. To keep things simple, let's say that a Watch 6 has a display area of 10 (square whatevers). With that as the base, then the Watch 7 has a display area of 12 (20% more). So, a Watch 8 would have about 13.2 (10% more than the 7).

Overall, that means the Watch 8 would have more than a 30% increase in display area over the 6!

 

[Michael Scrip]

Too. Much. Math. at 10:30am

 

[jlc1978]

This just adds another reason to the fact that DMA is absolutely necessary to control tech giants like Apple- The sooner the better.

I have no issue opening up the walled garden, as long as the option remains to deny access to anything on my device. I want to be able to decide what gets shared, whether its contacts, health data, texts, block advertising data, etc.

Sex sells, but apparently hatred, fear, and paranoia sells better.

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. Which is sad.

Apple *could* come out with both shapes. They 'build to order' anyway, so what is the cost, aside from the development and tooling. They could offset that cost with the first thousand or so they sell.

That would be an elegant but un - Apple like solution.

 

[NightFlight]

OOOoooOOOOooooo 5% larger display, the crowd goes wild! 😏

How about they give us something that we users actually care about, like 50% better battery life. The battery life now is atrocious.

 

[Someyoungguy]

There is more than ample battery capacity if one actually plans a little. And I use the watch phone option quite often cause I left the iPhone in the house when I went out into the yard.

Life is too short to “plan” around my watch’s battery, especially when competitors can offer around a week of life.

Did anyone else notice that there were no fireworks on the Apple watch today? It seems that every other July 4th the watch would display fireworks. Maybe Apple is too 'woke' to recognize Independence day any more?

Maybe your battery was too low.

Form should usually follow function. Apple is good at making form still look good. aW is about the data and apps, not the requirements of cogs and watch hands.

Tons of graphics on the square watch are round. We’re not reading books on the watch. Somehow all other manufacturers can handle this.

 

[Expos of 1969]

OOOoooOOOOooooo 5% larger display, the crowd goes wild! 😏

How about they give us something that we users actually care about, like 50% better battery life. The battery life now is atrocious.

Yet you and others continue to buy these things...

 

[CaptainV]

I really dig this design. However, would hope the edges are not feeling to sharp.

 

[George Dawes]

Tbh it looks very tempting….

Nice design , like the straight edges too

 

[Michael Scrip]

RE: Flat-sided Apple Watch in the article image

Looks good. I like it.

Not shown: The bulbous lump on the back of the Apple Watch

🤣

 

[AndiG]

OOOoooOOOOooooo 5% larger display, the crowd goes wild! 😏

How about they give us something that we users actually care about, like 50% better battery life. The battery life now is atrocious.

honestly - nobody even cares. The 5% larger display is caused by the flat surface of the new watch and there is absolutely n-o-t-h-i-n-g special about it.
A design change is long overdue - but if the watch stays the same with all its pitfalls it‘ll still be a pure lifestyle product and cannont compete with e.g. a Garmin watch if you‘re considering battery life and fitness/health data.

Is it worth 4,5 or $600 just because it features a new watch face and some new emojis?

 

[EugW]

^^^^^^

This!

The critical issue is not mm vs. in., but differentiating diagonal length vs. display area.

In addition, as several people have noted, Apple's Watch measurements, 41mm and 45mm, refer to the vertical height of the watch — not the diagonal or the display area!

Indeed, the Series 7 Watch, with only a 1mm increase in height ended up with a whopping 20% increase in display area over the Series 6!

The article here on the Watch 8 keeps referring to the diagonal as a “display size”, which is incorrect or, at least, misleading. For example,

”A 1.99-inch Apple Watch display size compares to 1.691-inches on the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 and 1.901-inches on the 45mm ‌Apple Watch Series 7‌.”​

​

Square inches or square millimeters are called for when discussing *area*. And, as with the Watch 7, the size and area of the bezels needs accounting for, too!

The entire business of referring to the diagonal of a device to represent display area can be quite misleading. After all, a standard #2 pencil (e.g., the classic Dixon Ticonderoga #2 is 7” long and has a diagonal of nearly 7”! But it certainly wouldn't have a screen area equivalent to that of phones with a 7” diagonal screen.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0827/1023/products/5025ticonderoga_1200x1200.jpg?v=1533716509

The same would be said of the Apple Pencil. If it had a screen, its diagonal would hardly reflects its display area!

The diagonal is only a useful proxy if the aspect ratios are the same or similar. However, as in the case of Apple Watch 7, the size and area of the bezels matter, too!

I agree with the calculation here that a 5% increase in the diagonal of the Apple Watch, assuming the same aspect ratio and bezel size, would translate into a 9-10% increase in area.

What is staggering is what that means for comparing the Watch 8 to Watch 6. To keep things simple, let's say that a Watch 6 has a display area of 10 (square whatevers). With that as the base, then the Watch 7 has a display area of 12 (20% more). So, a Watch 8 would have about 13.2 (10% more than the 7).

Overall, that means the Watch 8 would have more than a 30% increase in display area over the 6!

The article title needs to be updated, since it appears to be incorrect.

 

[jlc1978]

How about they give us something that we users actually care about, like 50% better battery life. The battery life now is atrocious.

That would be great but is a challenge - technological as well as user. People want a small watch that does much of what a phone does, i.e. messaging, emails, phone calls, play music, monitor vitas, etc., with a long battery life. Until battery tech improves were stuck with either only work as a watch, which some do to get long battery life, or do everything but charge every day or so.

 

[PrecisionGem]

OOOoooOOOOooooo 5% larger display, the crowd goes wild! 😏

How about they give us something that we users actually care about, like 50% better battery life. The battery life now is atrocious.

I have never had an issue with the battery life. I put my watch on the charger today while taking a shower and it still had 45% life.