Charles Martin
Apple has some significant changes in mind for both future versions of the Apple Watch, and the software for existing recent models.
Amid rumors that future Apple Watch models could gain cameras and additional health sensors, a new report suggests that software changes are also on the way.
A new report from Bloomberg suggests that the Apple Watch won't be gaining Apple Intelligence on its hardware directly. However, watchOS 12 will be able to display results from the technology that is powered on a user's other devices.
While this alone would make the device even more useful, recent and future versions of the Apple Watch will also gain a new look from changes Apple has planned across its line of hardware. The device will reflect previous reports of interface and design changes coming to the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
According to previous reports, watchOS 12 could inherit the visionOS-inspired style changes planned for iOS 19 and and macOS 16. This would include semi-transparent and revamped menus, icons, and more.
Previous rumors have said that while the Apple Watch itself will lack the hardware capabilities to run Apple Intelligence, some features — such as notification summaries — will be coming to watchOS 12. Further improvements, such as the long-promised Siri overhaul, could be relayed to the Apple Watch via a user's iPhone.
It's seen as unlikely that the Apple Watch will gain major hardware changes in the near term. Even so, previous reports have said that Apple is also looking into new designs for the product.
One report has claimed that Apple could produce an all-glass Apple Watch, while another has suggested a less-expensive Apple Watch SE that would be made of plastic or a similar material.
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Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Wesley Hilliard
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6 Comments
I am on an AW 8 because there’s not enough of a change in hardware yet. Plus, with this silly lawsuit over the pulse oximeter, the new watches can’t tell me my blood oxygen levels, so I’d actually lose that ability. I know I’ve read about the ability to read blood sugar, which is great if you have say diabetes. But what I’m really interested in is blood pressure. That would be very useful and helpful for me. It would be good to have more intelligence on the watch itself so it could process more things internally, but having the phone do it instead works for now.
No surprise that after revising the regular Apple watch last year, nothing new for this year. But no design tweaks or hardware changes for Ultra 4? Nevermind that Apple didn't even bother with an Ultra 3 at all, and just added a black color. That would leave Ultra essentially unchanged since its debut, except Ultras imported into the US and sold since Jan 2024 no longer have pulse oximetry. (Kinda surprised that Apple and Masimo haven't figured out a settlement after the forced exit of CEO Joe Kiani, who seemed to be the stumbling block. So maybe it's Apple that's the real obstacle.) Not that I would be unhappy keeping my Ultra 1 for another year, but Apple just lengthens the upgrade cycle when they provide no meaningful reasons to upgrade. I'd like to see Apple improve on Ultra battery life, which is the one area where it remains seriously behind in the adventure watch space.
I have an Apple Watch Series 6 and I have very little reason to upgrade. And that’s not because the Apple Watch is a bad product or anything. It’s actually the exact opposite. The Apple Watch is such a good product that I’m still very happy to continue using mine almost 5 years after it was released. Everything that I need my Apple Watch to do, it does.
My Series 6’s battery health is getting a little long in the tooth (at completely normal and expected level after all these years). So that’ll probably be my reason for eventually upgrading (rather than paying $100 or so for a battery replacement). But for now, I can probably get another year or so out of it.
Also… my Series 6 has the blood oxygen feature that the Series 10 and Ultra 2 lack (in the US), lol.
Still not buying unless they activate the pulse oximeter in the United States. It's a must have feature for me. It's holding me back from buying new iPhone and watch due to this and had to switch over Samsung until they license the technology they were accused of copying.