The Vision Pro may be the most high-profile hardware launch from Apple this year, but the rumored Apple Watch X is also worth keeping an eye on.
This year marks 10 years since Apple announced its first smartwatch, and the company’s popular wrist wearable is rumored to be getting an overhaul to mark the occasion.
The Apple Watch X (unofficial name) may have a slimmer design and a new magnetic strap attachment mechanism. According to several Bloomberg reports, we could also see added health features, such as blood pressure monitoring. The name is reminiscent of 2017’s iPhone X, which saw a dramatic change from Apple’s previous design and coincided with the device’s 10th anniversary.
Apple may take the wraps off the Apple Watch X, along with the latest iPhone, at its annual unveiling in the fall. However, the Watch X could also debut in 2025, as the first-generation Apple Watch shipped in 2015, even if it was announced in 2014.
Until then, here’s what you can expect based on the most reliable sources.
Read more: What happened to the Apple Watch when it was about fashion
Apple Watch: Bigger screen, slimmer design
The Apple Watch screen keeps getting bigger — and this year it could happen again, or at least the option to sport a larger size. According to a June report by noted Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, Apple will provide larger screen size options for the next-generation Apple Watch, increasing it from 41mm to 45mm and from 45mm to 49mm. Meanwhile, the design of the Apple Watch will become thinner, according to Kuo.
Apple Watch X: New health technology
After straying from fashion, Apple has been successful in positioning the Apple Watch as a health device. In recent years, Apple has introduced a variety of new health-tracking tools, including blood oxygen monitoring, temperature measurement, and new software features for cyclists and runners. It’s worth noting, however, that the blood oxygen feature is no longer available on the new Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches sold in the US due to an ongoing patent dispute.
Next year, the Apple Watch could see the addition of a few more health-tracking features, potentially increasing its usefulness as a wellness and fitness device. Apple may add a new feature that can indicate when a person’s blood pressure is high, according to a November Bloomberg article. It will reportedly be accompanied by a blood pressure diary, allowing people to note when the rise occurs. But it won’t provide accurate systolic and diastolic measurements, Bloomberg reported.
The report also suggests that the Apple Watch could get a new sleep apnea detection system by monitoring an individual’s sleeping and breathing habits. This would be a significant expansion of the Apple Watch’s current sleep-tracking features, which are limited compared to those offered by Oura, Fitbit and others.
Apple is also reportedly developing a way to check blood sugar levels without pricking your finger, thanks to infrared and other sensors. However, this is unlikely to make it to the Apple Watch this year, if ever.
Sleep tracking has gained sleep stages with WatchOS 9.
Apple Watch X: Blood Oxygen Feature?
Given the current patent dispute, it’s unclear whether the Apple Watch X will include blood oxygen monitoring. Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 do not currently ship with this feature in the US. The International Trade Commission recently ruled that the blood oxygen sensors in the Apple Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 infringe patents held by medical device maker Masimo.
Apple Watch X: Magnetic straps
If you own or have ever owned an Apple Watch, you know that the bands slide into the edges of the chassis and snap into a locking mechanism. In about a decade, that could change with the Apple Watch X. As early as this year, Apple could introduce a mechanism that allows bands to attach to the watch face magnetically. This would obviously help free up space internally to make room for other components such as larger batteries.
Read more: How Apple Watch X can make Apple’s smartwatch even better
Apple Watch X: MicroLED display
There have been rumors for years that the Apple Watch will get a microLED display. It’s possible we’ll finally see those rumors come true this year or next.
Bloomberg reporter Mark German expects microLED to arrive in the Apple Watch X, but it’s unclear whether the smartwatch will debut this year or next year. But a report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the wait could be longer. According to Kuo, the Apple Watch will have a microLED display in 2025 or 2026, but not in 2024.
MicroLED is more energy efficient than the OLED technology currently used in the Apple Watch. But it’s also brighter and more responsive than OLED screens, which would allow for more consistent viewing from all angles.
Apple Watch in the future
Apple is investing heavily in the health and wellness category as it works to push the Apple Watch forward as a health tracker. By adding new health features and improving display technology, Apple can attract more customers who want a smartwatch that can help them stay healthy and fit. The company is reportedly working on a non-invasive glucose monitoring feature. This could change the way millions of people around the world check their blood sugar levels, which currently requires people to prick their finger as part of the process.
Watch this: The Apple Watch patent dispute isn’t over yet – what happens next?
