Apple Watch Series 10: new features on the horizon

This autumn, the tech giant plans to unveil substantial changes to its ‘Series’ models, marking a decade of innovation in wearable technology.

Larger displays and thinner design

The upcoming Series 10, codenamed N217 and N218, will feature larger displays, comparable to the screen size of the Apple Watch Ultra. While the new models will be thinner, they will retain the familiar design that has become iconic over the past decade.

Under-the-hood enhancements

Both the Series 10 and the new Ultra 3 will be powered by a new chip, potentially setting the stage for future AI enhancements. However, Apple Intelligence – the forthcoming suite of AI features – will not be available on the Apple Watch just yet. Initially, these features will roll out to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, followed by the Vision Pro, with no current plans to extend them to the watch.

Health monitoring features in development

Apple has been working on integrating advanced health tools into its watches, including technology to detect high blood pressure and sleep apnea. However, these efforts have faced significant hurdles. The high blood pressure detection feature has shown inconsistent reliability during testing, potentially delaying its release. This feature is designed to monitor baseline blood pressure and alert users to relative spikes, rather than providing precise readings like existing heart rate and blood oxygen apps.

The sleep apnea detection feature, linked to blood oxygen saturation levels, is also encountering challenges due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo Corp.

Future goals: glucose monitoring

Long-term, Apple aims to incorporate glucose monitoring into the Apple Watch. This feature has been in development for nearly a decade, with significant progress Bloomberg has reported. However, it remains a future goal rather than an imminent release.

Manufacturing innovations and Apple Watch SE update

Apple is exploring manufacturing advancements, including the potential use of 3D-printing for some Apple Watch chassis, which could accelerate production and reduce material usage. Additionally, a new version of the lower-cost Apple Watch SE is in the works. Apple is considering replacing the aluminium shell with a rigid plastic to lower costs, potentially making it more competitive with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE.