Due to development hurdles, Apple’s upcoming watches might not get new health features at launch.
Apple is expected to introduce its 10th generation smartwatch — Apple Watch Series 10, which could also be called Apple Watch X, in September alongside the launch of the iPhone 16 series. The upcoming Apple Watch, codenamed “N217” and “N218,” will come in two sizes, both featuring a bigger display and a new chip, suggests a Bloomberg report.
Earlier reports claimed that the Apple Watch X might include a design overhaul; however, new reports claim that it might not look much different from its predecessor, while it is said to be thinner and lighter. Besides the regular models, Apple is also expected to introduce the Watch Ultra 3, which is reported to look identical to its predecessor.
The upcoming Apple Watches are said to benefit from 3D-printed components, which are said to have helped Apple in making these devices thinner and lighter, without compromising on features or build quality.
While most of the other popular Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac are getting new AI features, also known as Apple Intelligence, it is said that Apple currently has no plans to introduce the same for Apple Watches.
It was earlier reported that Apple was developing special health features for the Watch Series 10, such as hypertension and sleep apnea detection. However, the latest report from Bloomberg suggests that Apple has hit several roadblocks in development, and these features are still said to be in the development stage.
It is said that the hypertension detection feature is unreliable at the current stage, and the sleep apnea detection is also said to be facing trouble, as it requires blood oxygen monitoring, which is currently under legal dispute with Masimo in the US.
According to the report, it’s unclear if Apple will introduce the special anniversary edition watches with a design overhaul at its next launch event in September 2024 or if they will only be coming in 2025.
