If there’s one thing that is labored like clockwork over the previous few years, it has been a brand new Apple Watch launch. Even after the pandemic struck, 2020 gave us not one, however two new Apple Watches.
The Apple Watch Series 6 introduced new case colours and blood oxygen sensor, whereas the Apple Watch SE misplaced out on ECG, the always-on show and the power to take blood oxygen measurements.
But it surely did nonetheless provide that nice core Apple Watch expertise nonetheless for a less expensive worth.
Until Apple decides to take a special launch method, we anticipate a brand new Apple Watch will arrive in 2021. The query is the way it will high what it included within the Sequence 6 and the SE?
Unsurprisingly, the rumor mill has already been in overdrive, so we have taken a have a look at what’s being pegged for the Apple Watch Sequence 7 when it lands.
This is what we expect the subsequent Apple Watch could possibly be packing.
Apple Watch Sequence 7 launch date and worth
So we all know that new Apple Watch launches are normally pegged for the Fall. We’ll hear about new watchOS updates earlier within the 12 months at WWDC they usually’ll find yourself in new Watches by the top of the 12 months.
The Apple Watch Sequence 6 was introduced on 15 September 2020 and went on sale not lengthy after that. The Apple Watch Sequence 5 was introduced on 10 September 2019. So it is secure to imagine that the Sequence 7 goes to drop round September time too.
With the arrival of the SE in 2020, it must also imply we see a brand new model of that too. Whether or not that can be referred to as Apple Watch SE 2 or persist with the identical SE identify can be fascinating to see. It could nicely confuse issues having already had an Apple Watch Sequence 2.
As for pricing, we do not suppose Apple goes to budge from the baseline $399.99 it gives the Sequence 6 with a worth leap for including LTE or going for particular version fashions. That may additionally possible imply any new Watch SE mannequin would stick round on the $279 too.
It is unlikely the Sequence three, which is the most cost effective choice out there by way of Apple at $199, will stick round so it is attainable one thing is available in at that worth level.
A design change
The final main design adjustments made to the Apple Watch got here with the Sequence four, when it switched to 40mm and 44mm case sizes. The form additionally subtly modified to be much less boxy.
For Sequence 6, we received new colours and finishes. We would anticipate that Apple will persist with providing multiple case choice and in accordance with one common Apple analyst that appears to have an concept of what is within the works, there could possibly be adjustments afoot for the subsequent Apple Watch.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the next Apple Watch will, “benefit from innovative health management functions and improved form factor design“. Kuo doesn’t elaborate on how that improved form factor design will manifest on the next Apple Watch, just that’s it’s going to get one.
That could mean more case looks just like we saw with the Series 6, or something more dramatic.
We could see a thinner or sleeker Apple Watch, and we wouldn’t be surprised to get some kind of visual overhaul, not least as a way of keeping the Series 7 fresh. The Series 6’s benefits over the Series 5 were fairly incremental, and we’d imagine that Apple wouldn’t want to follow up with another more-of-the-same device.
Apple has got a lot right with its smartwatch design so far, so we are intrigued to see how Kuo’s prediction plays out.
Battery life boost
The single day Apple Watch battery life has always been a bugbear, but with the introduction of native sleep tracking it’s now becoming problematic. Finding time to charge the device now requires thought â and that’s not cool.
Longer battery life will surely be a focus for the Series 7, but achieving that will be difficult.
The Series 6 introduced fast charging, so we could see an expansion of that.
And an Apple Watch patent has landed that explores the idea of using the strap as an extra battery. Might we see that for the Sequence 7? It will definitely be a characteristic value getting enthusiastic about.
A larger Apple Health+ companion
Apple’s smartwatch is just about integral to how Apple’s new Fitness+ service operates, letting you monitor your coronary heart fee and powering that Burn Bar.
For the reason that service’s launch in December final 12 months, Apple has been making enhancements together with its new celebrity guided workouts and including assist to stream exercises to AirPlay enabled TVs.
There’s clearly scope to enhance what the Apple Watch could possibly be able to monitoring throughout exercises.
In watchOS 7, it added the power use the onboard accelerometer and gyroscope movement sensors to trace physique motion throughout health dance courses. Apple might look to enhance that motion monitoring on provide for extra actions and workouts you may presently take part in on Health+.
Apparently, it launched a Movement API for builders for the AirPods Professional to allow head monitoring. Apple’s notes on this API does speak of the potential to be used with health apps. So there could possibly be potential to mix Watch with Pods to higher monitor motion and provide that richer movement monitoring in a extremely sensible means.
Blood glucose monitoring
This holy grail for wearables looks like a daring one, however there have been studies which have surfaced this 12 months suggesting an Apple Watch that can track blood glucose could possibly be on the best way. In accordance with Chinese language information website ETNews, Apple is testing âreliability and stabilityâ of the performance earlier than a launch.
The flexibility to supply non-invasive blood glucose monitoring from the wrist can be mark a serious breakthrough for wearables. It is one thing that Apple has apparently been exploring for a while, having introduced on a group of scientists to look into the potential for such a tool. It was additionally a ardour level for Steve Jobs throughout his time at Apple.
In 2017, Tim Prepare dinner was check driving a prototype machine to trace blood sugar that was related to his Apple Watch, so it is clearly one thing that present Apple CEO has a eager curiosity in too. There’s additionally been Apple Watch patents which have surfaced to recommend it is being labored on.
The Apple Watch already works with blood glucose monitoring kits like those produced by One Drop and Dexcom. The concept that diabetics and even severe athletes might get these wealthy well being metrics from a smartwatch is an thrilling prospect.
Blood strain monitoring
Now there hasn’t been any large rumors about including this type of performance to Apple’s Watches, however there’s been some interesting patents filed by Apple in relation to it. There’s been a little bit of a rising development that wearable makers are searching for to supply the power to measure blood strain from the wrist.
Apple is not normally one to hurry out a characteristic as a result of others are doing it and it is unlikely that it will try this with a severe well being monitoring characteristic too. Although Samsung has been in a position to provide blood strain monitoring from its most up-to-date Galaxy Watches.
As soon as you have calibrated it with a devoted blood strain monitor. It is a comparable story for startup Aktiia who’ve created a band that does the exact same factor from optical-based PPG sensor know-how. Optical coronary heart fee firm Valencell additionally says it is cracked blood pressure monitoring from the wrist.
There looks like there is a been a little bit of breakthrough with current sensor know-how. If Apple feels its sensors can behave in a dependable means, then it could comply with Samsung into providing a less complicated method to monitor your blood strain.
Unlock by wrist
At the moment, the one method to lock an Apple Watch is utilizing a passcode, however let’s be trustworthy, it is no enjoyable making an attempt to faucet out these numbers. So what if there was a less complicated different to securing your smartwatch?
Apple filed a patent, which was printed in January 2021 that discusses a technique that might provide that easier method to get entry to the Watch. It discusses a wearable machine that fires gentle towards the floor of the pores and skin to generate a lightweight subject picture from part of the physique that’s distinctive to each particular person. A bit like taking a fingerprint, it can match that towards a saved match to allow you to unlock the machine along with your wrist.
We do in fact must remember the fact that this can be a patent, and Apple, like different ingenious firms, file numerous patents which will or might not come to fruition. It does although really feel like it will be a helpful one so as to add to the Apple Watch. If that gentle subject digicam tech can precisely work to verify another person can whip in your Watch to unlock it.
