Do you want a redesigned Apple Watch, or are you happy with the way it is?

[The Cockney Rebel]

I quite like the current design, but it's been like this since the first gen.

I know bezels have been reduced, but that's hardly a redesign.

I think Apple will go with a more squared off design with the next redesign.

What do you think?

 

[tomtad]

I quite like the current design, but it's been like this since the first gen.

I know bezels have been reduced, but that's hardly a redesign.

I think Apple will go with a more squared off design with the next redesign.

What do you think?

I’m really not too sure about the squared off redesign. It’s not as ergonomic for a wearable device and if the Vision Pro is anything to go by Apple is leaning back into the curved form factor.

I can see them maybe making the screen more flush and some other minor tweaks but that’s about it for the foreseeable.

 

[lasthope2006]

Let the Apple Watch be Apple Watch, and stay with its usual design

 

[BenGoren]

Eh … last year did see a major redesign, in the form of the Ultra.

Knowing Apple, there’ll be these two styles for at least a few years, probably several, with minor aesthetic tweaks every now again as technology improves. The Ultra will assuredly get smaller bezels and won’t be as tall off the wrist — but incrementally, and it’s all but guaranteed that the form factor won’t change in the slightest in the Fall. (New internals, especially the CPU, are a reasonable expectation, but I also won’t be shocked if they either don’t revise it at all or only do something trivial like offer it in different colors.)

We can expect a steady march of new health-related technology. It’s no secret that Apple wants to put both blood pressure and blood sugar monitors in the watch — but it’s even less of a secret that, though we can be reasonably sure that we’ll get there some day, these are very difficult things to do that won’t be here for years.

Personally, I’d love to see a rudimentary camera in the watch. Two cameras, actually: the one under the face that everybody imagines to make it a Dick Tracy watch, but also one on the side, just above the strap. That way, you can point your wrist sideways at something and take a picture — perfect for scanning / QR code type things, but also for quick documentation. Doesn’t have to be particularly high quality; this would be for, “Do you think the way we set up the chairs is okay?” rather than “Expect to see this in the next Arizona Highways.” But probably mostly for all those times we’re currently taking pictures of things rather than having to type the same information into the phone.

b&

 

[slythfox]

I am not an Apple watch customer but I have been tempted. Speaking as someone not into the depths of this watch, I think it is too thick, the rectangular design is ugly, and the battery life is embarrassing. Would love to see an aggressive revision of the Watch, like with an eink screen and fewer sensors

 

[jz0309]

The Ultra is a significant redesign.

AW look is recognizable at first glance, Apple is going to keep it that way. Supports the brand… so I highly doubt that Apple will do something majorly different. Plus, band comparability is a major factor, Ultra kept that band design.
And I’m not an expert on mechanical watches but believe that eg a Rolex is instantly recognizable and so are probably others…

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I like the flat screen of the Ultra but not the bulk so if they brought that to the series I would be happy.

 

[Vangeli]

Devices from Apple that the user wears will likely never have hard edges. AirPods, Watch, Vision Pro, etc. They could take the Ultra design and make the body less bulbous but it would look like the many cheap fitness watches that have that design already because fully copying the Apple Watch design is too costly.

Much like how the AirPods have the iconic white stalks that will never go away, the shape of the Watch is iconic and instantly Apple Watch and anything else has already been done and ruined by poor quality and/or poor user experiences. Don’t need it instantly looking like a Fitbit instead, that would be disgusting.

With a “redesign” I’d like to see the displays be slightly larger in the same size case, True Tone on the display so faces can actually match their respective bands, and some new health sensors that have been rumored for a while, all while the body stays mostly the same rounded design and eight years of band compatibility isn’t abruptly ended. Maybe a smaller Ultra with 41mm band compatibility for folks who crave something different but smaller could exist.

 

[avalon68]

I have a very small wrist and all of the apple watches now feel too big for me to wear. I would love to see a small version offered alongside the current ones - or a round version. Round watch faces fit on skinny hands better as they don't stick out as much. I currently use a garmin but would love to get an apple one in the future if one would fit. I imagine a lot of people have this issue and the watches just keep getting bigger - especially women.

 

[Vangeli]

Circular smartwatches have too much wasted screen space for viewing things like menus and text messages as the only viewable area is a small rectangle in the middle yet there’s not enough space for things like keyboards. Rectangles are best suited for a dynamic UI. If the only thing the display would be used for was showing a clock face then a circular display would be ideal but if that’s the only thing your smartwatch does then it doesn’t need to be a smartwatch or at least isn’t at the caliber of an Apple Watch.

Also rectangular cases have less wasted internal volume, circular smartwatches generally have horrific battery life, etc. And then, how do watch bands attach? Keep in mind it’d need to be tool-free, preferably more accessible and elegant than spring pins while not being janky. No current circular smartwatch has managed to solve this.

 

[avalon68]

Circular smartwatches have too much wasted screen space for viewing things like menus and text messages as the only viewable area is a small rectangle in the middle yet there’s not enough space for things like keyboards. Rectangles are best suited for a dynamic UI. If the only thing the display would be used for was showing a clock face then a circular display would be ideal but if that’s the only thing your smartwatch does then it doesn’t need to be a smartwatch or at least isn’t at the caliber of an Apple Watch.

Also rectangular cases have less wasted internal volume, circular smartwatches generally have horrific battery life, etc. And then, how do watch bands attach? Keep in mind it’d need to be tool-free, preferably more accessible and elegant than spring pins while not being janky. No current circular smartwatch has managed to solve this.

The garmins are circular, lots of strap options and pretty comfortable. Samsungs are circular too I believe. I wouldn’t say the Apple Watch battery is anything special tbh - has to be charged daily doesn’t it? Rectangular is probably better for many reasons, but I’m talking about fit. I don’t mind missing some features to have a watch that actually fits. I don’t want or need to type on my watch. I just want the fitness stats recorded, Siri, notifications Etc. my issue is the rectangular ones keep getting bigger and it’s too big to fit. It hangs over each side of my wrist and just gets stuck on things. I would want something that’s 36-38mm maximum. An Apple Watch mini I guess. I have a withings around at the moment too and the tiny screen doesn’t bother me. I would like to have the Apple Watch for better compatibility with everything else and to make use of apple fitness app but I’m cursed with scrawny hands.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

I would like to see an even thinner and streamlined design. Black color.

 

[DontGetTheCheese]

Want the sensor bump gone.

 

[mikedis]

Devices from Apple that the user wears will likely never have hard edges. AirPods, Watch, Vision Pro, etc. They could take the Ultra design and make the body less bulbous but it would look like the many cheap fitness watches that have that design already because fully copying the Apple Watch design is too costly.

Much like how the AirPods have the iconic white stalks that will never go away, the shape of the Watch is iconic and instantly Apple Watch and anything else has already been done and ruined by poor quality and/or poor user experiences. Don’t need it instantly looking like a Fitbit instead, that would be disgusting.

With a “redesign” I’d like to see the displays be slightly larger in the same size case, True Tone on the display so faces can actually match their respective bands, and some new health sensors that have been rumored for a while, all while the body stays mostly the same rounded design and eight years of band compatibility isn’t abruptly ended. Maybe a smaller Ultra with 41mm band compatibility for folks who crave something different but smaller could exist.

Circular smartwatches have too much wasted screen space for viewing things like menus and text messages as the only viewable area is a small rectangle in the middle yet there’s not enough space for things like keyboards. Rectangles are best suited for a dynamic UI. If the only thing the display would be used for was showing a clock face then a circular display would be ideal but if that’s the only thing your smartwatch does then it doesn’t need to be a smartwatch or at least isn’t at the caliber of an Apple Watch.

Also rectangular cases have less wasted internal volume, circular smartwatches generally have horrific battery life, etc. And then, how do watch bands attach? Keep in mind it’d need to be tool-free, preferably more accessible and elegant than spring pins while not being janky. No current circular smartwatch has managed to solve this.

Vangeli, as always, nails it. Perfect write up of my thoughts exactly.

The Apple Watch is fine as it is. I'd never want a circular watch, because yes, mechanical watches look pretty, but circular smart watches all look ugly, at least to me.

For a future revision, I think a display that flows over the edges more could be cool. I basically want the whole top of the watch to be the display, allowing faces to push all the way to the side of the watch. This would open Apple up to a lot more possibilities, giving watch faces dynamic edges and borders. They could certainly get creative with that.

 

[dk001]

I have an Ultra and would like it redesigned.
Wearing while doing chores or activities involving gloves, it can and has pressed the button and initiated emergency help. It has become common for me to remove it when I do these types of activities.

 

[xxray]

The design change of the Apple Watch Ultra is a big reason why I decided to upgrade to it. I’ve just gotten so sick of the standard Apple Watch design. I’m normally picky about bezels on my devices, but I don’t even care about the just about bezel-less S7/S8/S9 design because it otherwise just looks like every other Apple Watch. The Ultra’s flat screen and edges and different shape is so much more appealing to me even with its bigger bezels.

So yes, I’m very ready for a redesigned regular Apple Watch, though I wouldn’t buy it for a while considering my Ultra should fit my needs for 4-5 years.

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

Sharp edges are a hard no

I’d offer the AWU in polished titanium, aside from that it’s pretty on point

Maybe also a version that’s more a tradition round shape like Garmin has done

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

I have an Ultra and would like it redesigned.
Wearing while doing chores or activities involving gloves, it can and has pressed the button and initiated emergency help. It has become common for me to remove it when I do these types of activities.

You can remap the buttons

 

[dk001]

You can remap the buttons

I have. Didn't really help.
Currently these features are turned off whenever I wear gloves.

Reached out to Apple and they said it was likely it was getting trapped between the glove wrist edge and my wrist and the buttons could trigger an alert. My options were to either turn off the functionality or take off the watch.

 

[Night Spring]

I like the Ultra's flat screen and raised edges. I hope they make a smaller Ultra or bring those elements to the regular watch.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I like the Ultra's flat screen and raised edges. I hope they make a smaller Ultra or bring those elements to the regular watch.

Interesting, as I don’t care for the Ultra’s design.

So you wear the same 41 size as me?

 

[Night Spring]

Interesting, as I don’t care for the Ultra’s design.

So you wear the same 41 size as me?

Yes, I've always worn the smaller size watch.

As for the design of the Ultra, the way it looks isn't my style, but the flat screen is much easier to see than curved, and the raised edge makes me feel like the screen is better protected. So I like the Ultra design because it's more functional, not because I prefer how it looks.

 

[tcphoto1]

I just upgraded from a Series 4 Nike+ to the Series 8 and am happy with it, my only issue is that the faces aren't customizable enough. The old watch had options to change both inner and outer apps, who wants a stopwatch only on the upper righthand?

 

[Night Spring]

I just upgraded from a Series 4 Nike+ to the Series 8 and am happy with it, my only issue is that the faces aren't customizable enough. The old watch had options to change both inner and outer apps, who wants a stopwatch only on the upper righthand?

Huh? I don't think any of the complication layouts changed *that* much. Are you talking about the Infograph face?

 

[tcphoto1]

I figured it out and changed to the Chronograph Pro, it seems to be more flexible to changes.