Wait, what? Kuo says 2018 Watches will be bigger??

[the future]

From the new note from Ming-Chi Kuo, before it gets lost in the discussion of the main article:

Apple is working on two new Apple Watch models for 2018 that will have bigger displays and enhanced heart rate detection features. The two Apple Watch models will measure in at 1.57 inches (39.9mm) and 1.78 inches (45.2mm), compared to the current 38 and 42mm sizes. Rumors have not been clear on whether the Apple Watch itself will be larger or if the bigger display will come from a reduction in bezels.

With the info given, it would seem to indicate that it is indeed not as previously rumored (i.e. that the body of the Watch will stay the same size with smaller bezels) but that the body itself will get bigger. The 38/42 designation of the current watches refers to the height of the body (in mm), so new 40/45 Watches would be larger at least in this dimension. Question remains if the width will stay the same (i.e. the screen ratio changing) or if the Watch will get wider as well (rendering all previous Watch bands obsolete).

I sincerely hope that it‘s either the former or the info/rumor is just wrong and the Watch body will stay the same only with smaller bezels!

 

[shyam09]

I hope the prices are the same (as in they don't introduce $600/$700 watches with advanced features).

 

[Krayzkat]

lol I have a 38mm AW3 and always thought that the 38mm referred to the diagonal length of the actual display (like TV's etc are measured) and not the height of the body.

(for a science experiment i have dusted off my old measuring tape and using a white photo as a background to measure, i find that the 38mm has a 33/34mm diagonal screen)

 

[PeteS1963]

I find it hard to believe that Apple would make the watch taller. Unless it’s curved so it follows the contour of your wrist. That way it could also have the same band port. Who knows!

 

[Julien]

Old rumors:

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/27/apple-watch-series-4-redesign-rumor/

 

[seatton]

Sigh.. I hate to throw away all of my current bands if the new one is not compatible.

 

[PeteS1963]

Old rumors:

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/27/apple-watch-series-4-redesign-rumor/

It’s different. that old rumour only said that the DISPLAY would be bigger, not necessary the overall physical dimensions. This new rumour gives a specific watch size that cannot fit into the Series 3 display area.

 

[bunnicula]

Sigh.. I hate to throw away all of my current bands if the new one is not compatible.

All the rumors so far have indicated that bands will be compatible. It's still too early in the AW development cycle for Apple to ditch that connector or piss off the loyal fans by making the bands not fit anymore.
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It’s different. that old rumour only said that the DISPLAY would be bigger, not necessary the overall physical dimensions. This new rumour gives a specific watch size that cannot fit into the Series 3 display area.

I think they're making it a bit larger, and making it thinner in the process. I don't think this equals bands not fitting, because the connector design alone cost them a fortune to engineer and there are just too many people with lots of bands that would no longer fit. This is only series 4.. I would give them a couple more years, at least, before they even think about making everyone have to buy all new bands.

 

[the future]

It’s different. that old rumour only said that the DISPLAY would be bigger, not necessary the overall physical dimensions. This new rumour gives a specific watch size that cannot fit into the Series 3 display area.

Exactly. With such precise dimensions quoted from Kuo, it‘s hard to imagine the Watch body staying the same as before.

Making the Watch just higher (and not wider) could make sense as the height is all that matters for scrollable content. So maybe a screen ratio change towards a „taller“ shape (just like the change from iPhone 4S to iPhone 5 and later from iPhone 7 to iPhone X) would make the most sense.
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All the rumors so far have indicated that bands will be compatible. It's still too early in the AW development cycle for Apple to ditch that connector or piss off the loyal fans by making the bands not fit anymore.
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I sincerely hope you are right!

 

[PeteS1963]

All the rumors so far have indicated that bands will be compatible. It's still too early in the AW development cycle for Apple to ditch that connector or piss off the loyal fans by making the bands not fit anymore.
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I think they're making it a bit larger, and making it thinner in the process. I don't think this equals bands not fitting, because the connector design alone cost them a fortune to engineer and there are just too many people with lots of bands that would no longer fit. This is only series 4.. I would give them a couple more years, at least, before they even think about making everyone have to buy all new bands.

Of course. Apple measures watch sizes veritically. So IF the size in this rumour is true it could still be the same width and the band port would be exactly the same. But that means it’ll be rather “tall” and look a bit weird IMHO if not curved.

 

[JPack]

The people who assumed the case size would stay the same were in the minority. Those people were hopeful the bezels would simply decrease and the case remain the same size.

But realistically - and it should be obvious - the case size would increase. Apple has a bezel on the current Watch not because of hardware limitations, but because it's necessary to protect the display. Apple isn't likely to change this design.

 

[ddrulez]

Rather then a bigger screen I would like to have more watch faces to choose from. There are pretty ones but you have to buy the right watch to get the watch faces.....

 

[sean000]

Sigh.. I hate to throw away all of my current bands if the new one is not compatible.

I wouldn't worry about watch band compatibility. If they make the case itself slightly wider, there might be almost a millimeter gap on either side when you attach a 38mm band to a 39.9mm case. 1.6mm gap when attaching a 42mm to a 45.2mm case. It will be less than the gap you'd see attaching a 38mm band to a 42mm watch case.

I think Apple would make a lot of customers unhappy if they completely redesign the band attachment and render their customers' growing band collections obsolete. It might happen at some point, but I wouldn't expect it to happen anytime soon. Fortunately my most utilized bands are third party bands that wouldn't be very costly to replace. My Clockwork Synergy strap has removable Apple Watch adapters anyway, so I'd just be able to swap out the adapters. Of course there are many people who own large collections of expensive Apple Watch bands with integrated adapters.

 

[bunnicula]

Of course. Apple measures watch sizes veritically. So IF the size in this rumour is true it could still be the same width and the band port would be exactly the same. But that means it’ll be rather “tall” and look a bit weird IMHO if not curved.

I think the size change will be more subtle and will definitely be the result of smaller bezels plus a slight bump in size. If that's the case, the band sizes won't be a big deal and the connector will work just fine as is.
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I wouldn't worry about watch band compatibility. If they make the case itself slightly wider, there might be almost a millimeter gap on either side when you attach a 38mm band to a 39.9mm case. 1.6mm gap when attaching a 42mm to a 45.2mm case. It will be less than the gap you'd see attaching a 38mm band to a 42mm watch case.

I think Apple would make a lot of customers unhappy if they completely redesign the band attachment and render their customers' growing band collections obsolete. It might happen at some point, but I wouldn't expect it to happen anytime soon. Fortunately my most utilized bands are third party bands that wouldn't be very costly to replace. My Clockwork Synergy strap has removable Apple Watch adapters anyway, so I'd just be able to swap out the adapters. Of course there are many people who own large collections of expensive Apple Watch bands with integrated adapters.

I do. I think I have around 15 AW bands that are Apple. I may have more, but I refuse to admit it.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Apple has a bezel on the current Watch not because of hardware limitations, but because it's necessary to protect the display.

That seems to be your speculation, and not something which is rooted in fact.

If they make the case itself slightly wider, there might be almost a millimeter gap on either side when you attach a 38mm band to a 39.9mm case.

Considering how Apple users obsess over everything regarding their products, any sort of gap between band lugs and the case would make people go absolutely nuts.

Call me extremely sceptical. I wouldn't expect Apple to change the case size at this late stage. Not when many users have built up substantial band collections - and which is something Apple themselves have encouraged one might add.

 

[JPack]

That seems to be your speculation, and not something which is rooted in fact.

If you look at the teardown of the Watch along with replacement displays, the purpose of the bezel is obvious. Apple is already using OLED on Watch and could manufacture a thin-bezel display yesterday if they wanted to.

The idea that Apple wouldn't change the case size to appease band owners would be like Apple maintaining the iPhone form factor, just because consumers already invested in a few leather cases. Bands are consumable accessories.

 

[44267547]

Sigh.. I hate to throw away all of my current bands if the new one is not compatible.

There’s no indication at all that they’re changing the band port for Series 4, even if they do increase the larger display size, it doesn’t mean the band port is changing, I think some are just automatically assuming that they are changing it because a ‘New Apple Watch is coming’, but being that Apple refresh the watchbands twice in the last three months, is not an indication that they are changing the band port at this point for this next Model.

The idea that Apple wouldn't change the case size to appease band owners would be like Apple maintaining the iPhone form factor, just because consumers already invested in a few leather cases. Bands are consumable accessories.

One thing that you did not take in consideration, is that the band port is a very small monopoly for Apple in profit with their mark up prices for their OEM bands, which nothing has been speculated that the band port is going to change for this model. Can Apple change the band port? Absolutely. But there isn’t any reason to change it, _unless_ engineering specifications say otherwise.

 

[The Game 161]

Sigh.. I hate to throw away all of my current bands if the new one is not compatible.

I’m sure they will be

 

[the future]

There is no need to change the band port to make existing bands basically obsolete/useless – as one of the posts above you said, almost no-one would wear their existing bands with a wider watch body (and gaps on both sides), even though they theoretically could. Right now, you can theoretically wear 38 mm bands with the (wider) 42 mm Watch, but no-one does because it looks wrong and stupid.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

If you look at the teardown of the Watch along with replacement displays, the purpose of the bezel is obvious.

Ok, so you admit this is your own speculation. Thank you.

The idea that Apple wouldn't change the case size to appease band owners would be like Apple maintaining the iPhone form factor, just because consumers already invested in a few leather cases. Bands are consumable accessories.

They might ADD another case size, like they did with iphones, but what would be the point; iphones grew because a bigger screen can fit more information. A watch wouldn't have that need, nor requirement. You wouldn't expect a watch to grow proportionally from iphone's 3.5 inch screen up to 5.5 inch for example, that would be a ridiculously large watch. And even after growing that much it would still be too small to comfortably do things like say, surf the web for example. The usage scenario for a smartwatch would certainly not change in any substantial way by growing the screen a mere 15%.

Also, Apple is well known for being loathe to increase the size of their products at all. What they do most of the time is shrinking them. I don't know why some of you people have such a hardon for the idea that the watch case is growing. Why would you want that? What advantage would it bring you? It would just mean a bigger heavier more expensive watch. That's it. And no, contrary to Merican tradition, bigger isn't automatically better.

Also, watch bands are not just a consumable, according to Apple themselves they're a way to express yourself, since the band is visible on your person all the time while wearing the watch, unlike phone cases, because most people don't actually walk around with their phone out for everyone to see all the time, even though sometimes it appears that way. Apple is also charging substantial money for their bands, a piece of cloth or rubber goes for 50 friggin' bucks. You buy a handful of them and that's several hundred dollars just in bands.

If they change the case size, or even worse, the band port itself, these expensive, 'self-expressive' bands will act as a roadblock for people to upgrade. Maybe a customer who would otherwise have bought a "Series 4" watch, but being unable to (elegantly) use their existing collection of bands with a new larger case watch will instead go for a 2nd hand Series 3 bought from ebay. That'd be money lost for Apple.

 

[PeteS1963]

Personally I think that the article has got a bit confused and Mr Kuo is actually referring to the diagonal length of the display. For example, a diagonal of 45.2mm fits neatly into the 42mm Series 3 front allowing for a slim bezel.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Sooner or later the watch will change. It can not stay at the same form factor. As far as people have 20 different bands, they will still work fine on the Gen3 and lower.

 

[bunnicula]

Sooner or later the watch will change. It can not stay at the same form factor. As far as people have 20 different bands, they will still work fine on the Gen3 and lower.

I am thinking the bands won't, even if the watch does. I say this because if you look at watches in general, there isn't THAT much variability in watch band lug sizes for the same brand of watch.
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Personally I think that the article has got a bit confused and Mr Kuo is actually referring to the diagonal length of the display. For example, a diagonal of 45.2mm fits neatly into the 42mm Series 3 front allowing for a slim bezel.

I think that is likely. I also think the watches will get a bit "taller" and not really much "wider" so that could be where some of it is coming from. They are already rectangular. It's not like they're square.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I am thinking the bands won't, even if the watch does. I say this because if you look at watches in general, there isn't THAT much variability in watch band lug sizes for the same brand of watch.
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I think that is likely. I also think the watches will get a bit "taller" and not really much "wider" so that could be where some of it is coming from. They are already rectangular. It's not like they're square.

Does not matter to me as I only like the leather loops and only have a few as they still look brand new. If it needs a new band, I will but one.

 

[rayward]

I think they're making it a bit larger, and making it thinner in the process. I don't think this equals bands not fitting, because the connector design alone cost them a fortune to engineer and there are just too many people with lots of bands that would no longer fit. This is only series 4.. I would give them a couple more years, at least, before they even think about making everyone have to buy all new bands.

You have more faith in this post-Jobs Apple than me. They have allowed product incompatibility to explode across all product lines. I hope you're right, that they don't start making Model 0-3 watch bands obsolete so quickly, but it wouldn't be out of character with Cook's Apple.