The Vision Pro might be the most high-profile launch from Apple this year, but the rumored Apple Watch X is also worth keeping an eye on.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of Apple announcing its first smart watch, and the Watch is expected to undergo a major overhaul to commemorate the occasion, according to Bloomberg. The name is reminiscent of 2017’s iPhone X, which saw a dramatic shift from Apple’s previous design and coincided with the device’s 10-year anniversary.
The Apple Watch X (unofficial name) could have a leaner design and a new mechanism for attaching bands magnetically. We could also see added health features such as blood-pressure monitoring, according to several Bloomberg reports.
Apple could take the wraps off the Apple Watch X, alongside the latest iPhone, at its annual launch event in the fall. However, the Watch X could also make its debut in 2025 since the first-gen Apple Watch shipped in 2015, even if it was announced in 2014.
Until then, here’s what you can expect based on the most credible sources.
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Apple Watch X: New health tech
After pivoting from fashion, Apple has found success in positioning the Apple Watch as a health device. Apple introduced various new health tracking tools in recent years, including blood-oxygen monitoring, temperature sensing and new software features for cyclists and runners. It’s worth noting, however, that the blood oxygen feature is no longer available in new Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches sold in the US because of a patent dispute.
Next year’s Apple Watch could see the addition of a few more health-tracking features, potentially furthering its usefulness as a wellness and fitness device. Apple may add a new feature that can show when a person’s blood pressure is high, according to a November article by Bloomberg. It will reportedly be accompanied by a blood pressure journal, allowing people to note down when the elevation happened. But it won’t provide exact systolic and diastolic measurements, Bloomberg reported.
The report also suggests the Apple Watch could get a new system for detecting sleep apnea 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 glucose levels without pricking your finger, thanks to infrared and other sensors. It’s unlikely that will make its way to the Apple Watch this year, though, if ever does.
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