No Major Apple Watch Redesign Expected This Year

[MacRumors]

In addition to indicating that a new full-sized HomePod is in the works, and that the foldable iPhone will likely ship later than the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said he does not expect any major design changes for the next-generation Apple Watch models coming later this year.

Gurman revealed all of this information in a live Q&A call today on the Bloomberg website, where listeners were invited to ask him anything about Apple.

Over the years, there were rumors about everything from a radically redesigned "Apple Watch X" to a new style of watch band that attaches magnetically, but nothing like that has ever materialized. And based on Gurman's latest commentary, it sounds like the next Apple Watch will continue to look more or less the same this year.

Of course, the Apple Watch Ultra did usher in an all-new design when it launched in 2022, but that model has only received iterative design changes since.

A redesign is not necessary just for the sake of change, but users who are looking forward to something new might have to be patient, as it was recently rumored that a major Apple Watch redesign will not arrive for at least two more years.

Article Link: No Major Apple Watch Redesign Expected This Year

 

[Lukomaldini]

horological designs usually moves at a glacial pace, but I doubt this is apples intention…

 

[CarAnalogy]

No surprise. I’ll just be happy if they don’t make the software worse again this year like every year for the past three years or so.

 

[pugxiwawa]

Same thing over and over and over and over again. Least innovative products from Apple.

 

[jz0309]

That is such a bold prediction since AW historically is on a 3 year cycle which would put an update to - next year, 2027.
And, past rumors about AW changes have mostly been false...

Apple really needs to up the ante on health features/sensors, there has been nothing really since the S8 for wrist temp. And hypertension and sleep apnea are SW data...

 

[jz0309]

Same thing over and over and over and over again. Least innovative products from Apple.

Yep, hypertension alerts and sleep apnea are not useful to anyone and just not innovative at all ... really should check the capabilities before such a comment

 

[ceddy]

What design? It's a flatted blob. The ultra has some design.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

No surprise. I’ll just be happy if they don’t make the software worse again this year like every year for the past three years or so.

They completely destroyed the workout app in watchOS 26 which, for me, is the only real reason to have the watch.

 

[ps3zocker]

Honestly I don't need major changes. But thinner bezels would look good and the display resolution could increase to 3x. Tiny circles like page dots on the right side of the screen barely appear circular but just some kind of pixel mess.

 

[usersince86]

Not sure how much substantial "redesign" can be done to a watch... (maybe more in the realm of software, but mostly iterative on the hardware side?)

 

[tennisproha]

Needs better tech and battery life, design is fine for now

 

[johannnn]

Same thing over and over and over and over again

And? That's completely fine. It's just a piece of glass on the arm. I dont want Apple to try to innovate a piece of glass every year. Incremental updates over time is good.

 

[JosephAW]

Can’t wait for the innovative new round Apple Watch, everyone will copy its design. Oh wait… 🤔

 

[WilliApple]

Just give us a new processor so I will stop complaining about software support.
And if everyone says dont upgrade and get a Series 11 instead, remember, the Series 12 might have the same software support as the 13 and 14.

 

[Alex.ne]

They completely destroyed the workout app in watchOS 26 which, for me, is the only real reason to have the watch.

They kinda "fixed" it in 26.4 (not so much tho). Really hoping that they will make a meaningful redesign in watchos 27.

 

[jbachandouris]

Own the Ultra 3. No desire to upgrade. Honestly if it wasn’t for it nagging me to workout I’d have sold it long ago.

 

[Ctrlos]

Honestly it doesn’t need one.

 

[brewcitywi]

I don't really mind that the design doesn't change. It would be great to get a wave of new features that are meaningful.

 

[gusping]

Same thing over and over and over and over again. Least innovative products from Apple.

For me (key two words in this comment), there have been no new useful features since the series 4 or so. AoD is not useful, the screen size increase is minor, and the new sensors are not that accurate anyway (e.g temperature). I suspect I will feel this way until the blood glucose breakthrough in 10+ years. And I'm ok with that. I buy the aluminium version and keep it 4 years or so.

 

[bluecoast]

Yep, hypertension alerts and sleep apnea are not useful to anyone and just not innovative at all ... really should check the capabilities before such a comment

In fairness though, this is mostly down to software.

Both of these came out in the 11 and 10 cycles, but my watch 9 still got them.

 

[Alex.ne]

Innovations really needed here are the new health sensors like for glucose or blood pressure, not the design tweaks. The last time we had a new one was like 4 years ago (body temperature).

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Always on seconds hand and speaker to play music are the only updates I need so….wont really be checking for watch 12…unless it adds something otherworldly and mind blowing but I doubt it, this series 9 has been incredible, truly.

 

[bg1419]

as opposed to the last 11 years?

 

[orbital~debris]

Good.
I'm very fond of the 'stream-smoothed pebble' design, it's very human-friendly.

 

[jz0309]

In fairness though, this is mostly down to software.

Both of these came out in the 11 and 10 cycles, but my watch 9 still got them.

Yes, that's what I said in my other post, and why the poster I responded to does think those enhancements aren't innovative is beyond me.
Making good use of the data with the existing sensors is great, but new sensors need to come...