Apple: Apple may be working on a ‘10th anniversary’ Watch X: All the details

With the Series 9 due next month, Apple Watch could finally have a new chip after years since the Series 6. But those waiting for a major overhaul will have to wait another year, as Apple has been saving some big changes for the 10th-anniversary of the Apple Watch, the “Apple Watch X,” which should be the most significant overhaul yet, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter.

The Apple Watch X should be thinner than all the previous Apple Watches and even the coming one. Designers at Apple are exploring ways to attach bands differently and make the watch case thinner.
Since the original Apple Watch, bands have been attached to the chassis with a locking mechanism. While this design maintains compatibility with old and new models, designers say it takes up valuable space for a bigger battery or other components. And so, the company is exploring a new magnetic band attachment system, which comes with the Watch X revamp, but it remains to be seen if it will be ready in time for the 10th anniversary.

Gurman has been talking for months about a more vibrant and colourful microLED display for the Apple Watch. But, the new screen technology is relatively new and incredibly expensive. Also, Apple has faced significant obstacles in getting the display shrunken down while keeping it cost-effective for the Apple Watch. However, Gurman says that microLED could show up in Apple Watch X, which coincides with his earlier timeline, where he suggested that an Apple Watch with microLED is expected in 2024 or 2025.
Apple has reportedly been planning to add a blood pressure sensor to the Apple Watch for years, and it may come out in time for the 10-year anniversary.
A two-year refresh cycle for Apple Watch?
In the newsletter, Gurman reiterates that the only upgrade Apple Watch is poised to get this year is a new chip, which, if rumours are to be believed, is based on the A15 Bionic. Additionally, Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra are said to retain their current screen sizes.
Gurman notes that Apple has been considering offering less frequent but more significant updates for the Apple Watch, as the latest upgrade is deemed the least significant in the product’s history. He points out that while the iPad used to have annual upgrades, it now refreshes every 18 months. Even the Apple Watch SE refreshes once in two years, and the same could be the case with “Series” models.
Considering the first Apple Watch was announced in 2014, it is likely that the Apple Watch X could be coming as early as next year. If Gurman is to be quoted, Apple plans to bring the Watch X either in 2024 or 2025.