The Apple Watch is set to enter a period of relative calm, with the upcoming Series 12 and Ultra 4 models expected to offer modest upgrades rather than a radical rethink. However, the future of the Apple Watch is far from certain, with rumors of a major redesign in 2027 or 2028, built around a new band attachment system that would free up internal space for a larger battery and break compatibility with the existing bands. This would resurrect the "Apple Watch X" plan, which promised a magnetic band system, a thinner case, and a microLED display for the device's 10th anniversary. Apple is also reevaluating the Apple Watch lineup as a whole, considering a broader rethink of its smartwatches, taking the resurgence of screenless fitness bands and smart rings seriously enough to consider Apple Watch style devices with no display, alongside new screen types and case sizes. A round display has been contemplated, though such a device is unlikely to ship. Apple has also weighed premium variants sitting above the Ultra and Hermès models, and cheaper options below the SE. The company is said to be "determined to reinvent the lineup in response to growing competition," with plans to make its wearables more AI-focused and an ambitious long-term revamp of the Health app. Apple also continues to develop non-invasive blood sugar detection, with a goal of shipping it by 2030.
