The next Apple Watch redesign will include an overhaul of the band system, according to reports, potentially leading to compatibility issues with existing straps and loops.
A known Weibo leaker ‘Instant Digital’ reckons a fresh approach is on the horizon for next year’s Apple Watch models. The leaker says that existing watchOS device owners should hold off on buying additional band options if they envision upgrading in 2027.
“After three years of waiting, Apple Watch is finally about to make a big change,” the leaker writes in a machine translated series of posts. “You can now reduce the frequency of buying new watch straps if you plan to buy a new watch next year.”
Apple has not yet altered the band attachment system since launching the Apple Watch over a decade ago. However, the leaker cites a 2023 rumour that suggested an ‘Apple Watch X’ design overhaul that would introduce a new band attachment system, a thinner case, and a microLED display, in order to make space for a larger battery.
That design change did not materialise for the tenth anniversary Apple Watch last year, but now might be back on the agenda for the 2027 Apple Watch Series 13. This year’s Apple Watch 12 isn’t expected to be a major update, while the Apple Watch Ultra Series 4 might see more significant change.
If Apple does decide to break with convention and launches a new band attachment, it would essentially make a host of legacy bands useless. Apple fans aren’t strangers to forced obsolescence of their accessories. The company has changed charging solutions twice, from the 30-pin connector, to the lightning connector and then finally to USB-C – leaving millions of cables and speaker docks in its wake. The loss of the 3.5mm jack on iPhone also made it more difficult for users to use wired headphones.
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