Apple reportedly explores screenless and round smartwatch designs
Apple is said to be evaluating new wearable form factors, including screenless models and round displays, as it prepares future updates to its Apple Watch lineup.
Apple is reportedly investigating a major redesign of its smartwatch line, which could include a screenless wearable or a device with a round display, according to Bloomberg. The company plans to launch incremental updates such as a Series 12 and an Ultra 4, and may introduce a ceramic Apple Watch for the first time since 2016. Beyond these updates, Apple is said to be considering various screen types and sizes, potentially offering both higher-priced premium models and lower-priced alternatives to its current $799 Ultra and $1,249 Hermès versions and the $249 SE.
The anticipated changes are expected to align with Apple’s broader push into artificial intelligence. The forthcoming watchOS 27 will allow users to interact with Siri AI from the wrist and feature a predictive menu that suggests apps, but it has not been fully redesigned for AI integration. Future wearables are projected to be more "AI-centric," possibly extending Apple’s rumored plan to provide an AI-driven health coach.