Apple Watch could undergo a seismic design change for the first time in a decade – but it'll come with a caveat
The changes could change the watch for the better, but...
Quick summary
Apple could be planning to change the way the strap attaches to the Apple Watch to create more internal space.
The new design is expected to launch in 2027 and might see old bands no longer compatible.
Apple could be planning a major overhaul of the Apple Watch design, with the aim of creating more internal space to expand the battery.
The update isn't expected to happen right away – the Apple Watch 12 is expected to be much the same as the Apple Watch 11 – but with Apple Watch 13 in 2027, there could be a major change in direction.
The new design is expected to change how the bands attach, freeing up internal space, while also sending a warning to those with large collections of bands – next year, they might not fit.
This rumour isn't new: it first circulated in 2023, with Mark Gurman at Bloomberg suggesting that the Apple Watch X would see a thinner body, MicroLED display, new sensors on the back and the new watch attachment system.
While many expected Watch X to launch in 2024, instead we got the Apple Watch 10, which did have a slimmer design, but didn't make those expected changes.
Now, according to a leaker called Instant Digital on Weibo (via MacRumors) that change could come in 2027 instead. That's seen the leaker suggesting that those looking to upgrade in 2027 don't buy any bands in the meantime, because they might not fit.
This isn't the first time that this leaker has commented on Apple Watch. They previously suggested that the overhaul to the design would come in 2028, although that doesn't fit with Apple's lifecycle for Watch designs, which tend to hang around for 3 years before being updated.
At the same time, there are ongoing rumours about a change to the sensors on the back of the Watch and these could arrive with Apple Watch 12. Exactly what the new sensors will offer remains unknown, but there's speculation about refining the blood pressure trend monitoring.
Apple is a creature of habit and that leads us to suspect that in September 2026 we'll see the Apple Watch 12 with the same design but a few refinements, either in the hardware or the features that it offers.
That fits with Apple's product cycle, opening the door to a more significant redesign for the popular smartwatch in 2027. Exactly how that new strap attachment system would work remains to be seen, but wiping out over a decade worth of strap support is going to be a bold move.
I'd speculate that Apple won't wipe out watches that support the old system: it will likely create the Apple Watch 13 with the new strap style, while keeping older Watch models on sale to support existing straps, or keeping that design for the Watch SE.
