The next Apple Watch, previously referred to as Apple Watch X and set to launch this September, is rumored to come with a larger screen and a thinner design compared to its predecessor. No other design changes are expected.
This information comes from the usually reliable Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg. Both sizes of the Watch X will feature bigger screens, with the larger version having a display roughly the size of the one seen in the Apple Watch Ultra.
Speaking of which, the Apple Watch Ultra won't see any major design changes this year. However, both the Apple Watch X and the Apple Watch Ultra will be powered by a new chip, which could potentially enable some Apple Intelligence features in the future. These features won't be available this year, as Apple is currently focused on integrating AI into the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.
The highly anticipated blood pressure tracking feature may not be released this year, as Apple has reportedly "run into some serious snags" with its reliability during testing, particularly when paired with the new, thinner Apple Watch X design. While the exact reasons are unclear, the thinness of the new design might be a contributing factor.
Even when it does launch, the blood pressure tracking feature won't provide precise readings. Instead, it will establish a baseline and notify you if your blood pressure is relatively higher than normal.
Another challenging feature for Apple is sleep apnea tracking, which is linked to blood oxygen saturation. Currently, Apple is involved in a lawsuit with Masimo over this technology, preventing Apple Watches from measuring blood oxygen levels until the issue is resolved. The resolution might occur by September, or Apple might find a workaround. However, the more likely scenario is that this feature will continue to be delayed.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly working on a new entry-level Apple Watch SE. To reduce costs and compete directly with Samsung's Galaxy Watch FE, which is priced at $199 compared to $249 for the current Watch SE, the new SE model could be made from hard plastic instead of aluminum.