Major Apple Watch Redesign Won't Arrive Until 2028, Claims Leaker

[MacRumors]

Next year's Apple Watch lineup will not include any major design changes, with a redesign not expected before 2028, according to the leaker Instant Digital.

In a Weibo post in Chinese (machine translated), the leaker said Apple's watch 2026 lineup would not look significantly different, and suggested Apple would not reveal a new design until the year after the release of its 20th anniversary iPhone, expected in late 2027.

The claim puts a dampener on expectations that Apple is readying a major Apple Watch redesign next year.

In August, DigiTimes reported that at least one new model launching in 2026 would have "significant" changes to its exterior design that would be related to new sensors. This led to speculation that the changes could be linked to Apple's development of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology, but the Apple Watch feature is still believed to be a few years away while Apple works on further miniaturization.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported long ago on the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch with a thinner case and a magnetic band system. While the Apple Watch Series 10 debuted a thinner case, no magnetic band has materialized, and there were no additional design changes in the Series 11 released earlier this year.

Leaked Apple code has suggested the company is experimenting with biometric authentication in the form of Touch ID for 2026's Apple Watch lineup, but it's possible that could be an under-screen implementation which doesn't change the watch's outward appearance.

Instant Digital has a mixed but occasionally reliable track record. The account previously revealed accurate details such as the Yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus finishes and the Titanium Milanese Loop for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, though not all of its past claims have proven correct.

Article Link: Major Apple Watch Redesign Won't Arrive Until 2028, Claims Leaker

 

[Sirious]

I wonder how long band compatibility will last. You can still use bands for Series 0 on Series 11.
Hope it continues for some time longer!

 

[Kylo83]

Just make the series 10 and 11 with thinner bezels so bigger display, the update from series 10 to 11 was so minor

 

[TechRunner]

I'm familiar with all the arguments for and against, but I wish Apple made a round watch.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Make some round watches, and figure out what you have to do (even if it means feature tradeoffs) to offer some models with better battery life.

For some of us, that is important item #1, #2 & #3.

On my Garmin I charge about every 8 days, despite tracking 3-5 workouts a week, a few walks and sleep every night. I recently tried a newer Garmin with a bit worse battery life and I returned it. I just really really love not having to think about battery life very often. That's how I want my watch to be.

 

[Gherkin]

didn't Apple call the 9 (or 10?) a major redesign? I don't expect it'll ever change that much really unless they release another model alongside the typical release.

 

[the future]

Apple has redesigned the Series Watches every 3 years, like clockwork. So the next redesign should be in 2027. The Ultra has not been redesigned yet, but it is in it‘s third iteration of the same design, so it would be a candidate for a redesign in 2026 if the mentioned 3-year rule is also valid for the Ultra.

 

[TechRunner]

On my Garmin I charge about every 8 days, despite tracking 3-5 workouts a week, a few walks and sleep every night.

This is the top reason I haven't tried an Apple watch yet. I'm too addicted to NOT charging my Garmin.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

This is the top reason I haven't tried an Apple watch yet. I'm too addicted to NOT charging my Garmin.

I used a Garmin until the Series 3, and then left the Apple Watch ecosystem about six months ago. Too much charging and the inability to fully use the watch without the touchscreen, among other things.

I do like the Apple Watch band system..but I don't change bands all that often.

 

[Darth Tulhu]

I always found the design of the Apple Watch to be a bit feminine for my taste (due to its... curvy bulbous-ness), but I grew to accept it due to its functionality.

The Ultra, on the other hand, seems like Apple couldn't make up their mind on whether they wanted curves or straight edges on its design, resulting in a schizophrenic design and an UGLY watch, IMHO.

Samsung watches look like watches, which I'd prefer, but they are definitely more "masculine" looking to me, which creates an opposing problem.

That said, I wish Apple (and others) offered both a "softer" (current bulbous design) and "harder" design, like perhaps like the flat top of the Ultra without the bulbous mess below it.

 

[Mr. Nice]

The rumors surrounding the Apple Watch are always so ridiculous:

First, it's always the next Apple Watch that's supposed to get a super cool new design.
Of course, that never happens🤣.

And now they're coming up with this.

The biggest weakness of Apple watches:

watchOS -> far too few features for sports compared to Garmin.

Google is already way ahead with its new Fitbit Health Coach:
A new, personal health coach is coming to Fitbit

Public preview is out:
Fitbit's personal health coach in public preview is here

But without Apple AI... I have no idea what Apple is trying to do there.😅

 

[WarmWinterHat]

.....Google is already way ahead with its new Fitbit Health Coach:
A new, personal health coach is coming to Fitbit

Public preview is out:
Fitbit's personal health coach in public preview is here

But without Apple AI... I have no idea what Apple is trying to do there.😅

Nor does Apple.

 

[Mikep976]

Ah, good to see the Garmin users have arrived. The “did you know I’m a doctor” of the wearables crowd.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I always found the design of the Apple Watch to be a bit feminine for my taste (due to its... curvy bulbous-ness), but I grew to accept it due to its functionality.

The Ultra, on the other hand, seems like Apple couldn't make up their mind on whether they wanted curves or straight edges on its design, resulting in a schizophrenic design and an UGLY watch, IMHO.

Samsung watches look like watches, which I'd prefer, but they are definitely more "masculine" looking to me, which creates an opposing problem.

That said, I wish Apple (and others) offered both a "softer" (current bulbous design) and "harder" design, like perhaps like the flat top of the Ultra without the bulbous mess below it.

What this highlights, to me anyhow, is that they need many more models with actual differences and variations.

These are accessories we wear. People see them. They are quite often considered in conjunction with what we are wearing.

It's mind boggling to me that Apple just "stopped" at little computer rectangle on the wrist and I guess figured just swapping bands is enough?

 

[blairh]

Really disappointing. The Apple Watch needs a much larger screen.

 

[PowerButton]

Instead of promoting “a thinner case with the same battery life,” perhaps “a thinner bezel with improved battery life” would be more compelling. Call me old-fashioned, but battery life has never been a concern with my chronograph watches.

 

[ELman]

The rumors surrounding the Apple Watch are always so ridiculous:

First, it's always the next Apple Watch that's supposed to get a super cool new design.
Of course, that never happens🤣.

And now they're coming up with this.

The biggest weakness of Apple watches:

watchOS -> far too few features for sports compared to Garmin.

Google is already way ahead with its new Fitbit Health Coach:
A new, personal health coach is coming to Fitbit

Public preview is out:
Fitbit's personal health coach in public preview is here

But without Apple AI... I have no idea what Apple is trying to do there.😅

But Apple has Workout Buddy. I'm sure that blows Health Coach out of the water.

 

[ELman]

I would be happy for an Apple Watch that allows you to set the time zone on the watch. Anytime my watch is away from my phone it jumps ahead an hour since I live close to a time zone boundary. No way to set a time zone manually on the watch.

 

[jarman92]

Gurman: "Apple to release radically redesigned Apple Watch in 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 some day"

<Apple redesigns Apple Watch in 2030>

Gurman: "As Bloomberg exclusively reported..."

 

[BB8]

im not gonna lie sometimes i wonder what the apple watch team does all year

 

[turbineseaplane]

im not gonna lie sometimes i wonder what the apple watch team does all year

Thank you for asking!

The Apple Watch team are busy, year round, innovating the next breakthrough insights and additional features to empower your health and make things better by every measure.

-Tim

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Really disappointing. The Apple Watch needs a much larger screen.

They are already big enough.

If I was coming back to Apple Watch, I'd want a smaller Ultra.

 

[groove-agent]

Apple Watch doesn't need a hardware revision as much as it needs a software revision.

It still doesn't do stress tracking, proper sleep analysis etc. I've been using a Garmin watch for a few years now which still does health/ wellness tracking better than WatchOS. I'd love to go back to the Apple Watch but you have to buy 3rd party apps/ subs to get WatchOS to do what the Garmin does already.

Hopefully next summer WatchOS will step it up.

 

[groove-agent]

They are already big enough.

If I was coming back to Apple Watch, I'd want a smaller Ultra.

As for looks, I really like the look of round smart watches. I understand why Apple uses a square face but a big chunky square on the wrist?

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

Really disappointing. The Apple Watch needs a much larger screen.

Much larger? Just strap a phone to your wrist at that point