What happened to the Apple Watch Series X?

Rumors of a redesigned Apple Watch with a flat design once swirled around the internet when the Series 7 was about to come onto the market. Although this rumor persisted, it never materialized and all we got at the time was a slightly larger Series 6.

History tends to happen twice – once as tragedy and once as farce – so Apple watchers will remember a similar rumor ahead of the Series 10 launch this year. Reputable leakers claimed that the 2024 Apple Watch would see its biggest overhaul yet, only to follow in the Series 7’s footsteps with the Series 10. And what’s going on?

What we expected

Just like the iPhone Rumor has it that they would bring radical changes, including a new, flatter design with a much thinner case and a new magnetic attachment mechanism for the bracelet. (Ok, we got a thinner case, anyone who has already held the Series 10 in their hands or even worn it will have to notice the difference compared to its predecessors – note D. Red.)

Front page Tech

Front page Tech

Front page Tech

Aside from the superficial changes, the rumors point to an additional blood pressure monitor that will alert the user if it detects high blood pressure. This would have further enriched the Apple Watch’s health-related capabilities and potentially helped affected users become aware of underlying medical conditions.

Considering Tim Cook introduced the first Apple Watch as “One More Thing” exactly a decade before the Glowtime event, it made sense for Apple to mark the occasion through the slimmer form factor and new health sensor. Expectations for the event were high as it was expected to be the biggest Apple Watch overhaul ever.

What we got instead

Of course that didn’t happen. All we got was an incremental upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 10 with very few notable new features.

While the iPhone maker claims that the Apple Watch Series 10 features a completely new design, our eyes see something different. The case still looks the same as the previous models. While Apple boasts about making the case 10 percent thinner, that’s only a single millimeter compared to the Series 9 (10.7mm versus 9.7mm), which many users didn’t notice.

I admit that slimming down an advanced smartwatch by even 1mm is no easy task, but calling it an entirely new design is a little disingenuous. Especially when there were rumors claiming there would actually be a completely new design.

Apple

Apple

Apple

Additionally, the aluminum models are now about two grams lighter, which won’t really impact your life. (Yes, the millimeters saved and, above all, the grams saved are particularly noticeable in everyday life. I now wear a Series 10 alongside the Series 9 on the other arm; the previous watch feels like a medieval shackle compared to the light Series 10. – Note D. Red). In Apple’s defense, however, the new titanium variants are significantly lighter than their (now retired) stainless steel counterparts, despite having the same external appearance. And don’t forget that previous Apple Watch Editions were also available in titanium.

Blood pressure measurement cannot be found in the health department due to technical difficulties.

And while the Apple Watch Series 10 will be able to detect sleep apnea, this feature won’t be exclusive, as the Series 9 and Ultra 2 will also offer it. Not an exclusive feature either.

Jim Martin / Foundry

Jim Martin / Foundry

Jim Martin / Foundry

Otherwise, the Series 10 offers a new built-in speaker that allows Apple Watch users to listen to music or podcasts without having to use Airpods – which is good, but please not when you’re in public. It also inherits other functions from the Apple Watch Ultra 2, such as the depth gauge (with some limitations) and the water temperature sensor.

Is it a notable upgrade for someone coming from a Series 6? Yes, without a doubt. But does it take the same giant leap forward as the iPhone X and make groundbreaking changes to celebrate its tenth anniversary? Far from it.

Is there still hope?

I find it frustrating that we’ve now seen two rounds of rumors about a new Apple Watch design that haven’t come true. Although Apple has significantly improved the aesthetics of the smartwatch over the years, it still ultimately looks the same. We have of course seen some increases and decreases in the size of the bezel.

However, the case is largely unchanged, and the way we interact with the watch hasn’t changed much either. And no, it’s not the double tap gesture.

Nevertheless, I still have hope. The Apple Watch was announced in September 2014, but didn’t go on sale until April 2015. It is also possible that Apple will not celebrate its tenth anniversary with a new model until 2025. This could happen through a special edition with the supposedly mentioned magnetic bracelets and a further slimming down of the Apple Watch that foregoes some of the higher-end health features.

Finally, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to put an emphasis on the ultra-thin body rather than the high-end features in its debut, and Apple could take an approach with its smartwatch and give customers the choice between a sleek design and high-end features. Leave end functions.

Ultimately, it’s still too early to say what products we’ll see next year. Plans change, prototypes are canceled and airpower is forever locked in underground basements. What I do know for sure is that I won’t fall for any leaks about Apple Watch design changes in the future.