Apple Watch enthusiasts who are looking forward to a significant design overhaul in the near future may need to be patient, as recent leaks suggest that a major redesign won't come until 2028.
According to a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo by Instant Digital, the Apple Watch set to launch in 2026 (likely part of the Series lineup) will maintain a similar appearance to current models.
The source indicates that Apple is reserving a new design for the year following the anticipated 20th-anniversary iPhone, which is expected to debut in late 2027, suggesting a substantial hardware revamp around 2028.
If accurate, this would mark a notable departure from the company's usual practice. Historically, Apple has updated the Apple Watch's design every four generations. The first major change was introduced with the Series 4, followed by the Series 7, and most recently, the slimmer, larger-screened Series 10 in 2024, which was slightly modified for the Series 11.
Based on past trends, we would generally anticipate a new design with the Series 13 in 2027. However, pushing it to 2028 implies that Apple might be extending the current design's lifespan to four years.
How plausible is this new design update cycle?
This rumor contradicts earlier reports that hinted at significant external changes as early as 2026, possibly driven by new sensors like non-invasive blood glucose monitoring.
Given that such technology is still believed to be several years away, it's reasonable to assume that Apple's design team is waiting for the internal tech to be ready for a major upgrade.
Although this leaker has had a mixed record, they have accurately predicted details in the past, such as the yellow iPhone 14 and the titanium Milanese Loop. We should, however, remain cautious about this prediction, as it is still several years out, and Apple's plans could still evolve.
If this forecast holds true, it suggests that the upcoming Apple Watch updates will focus more on health and sensor enhancements rather than a dramatic visual transformation.
