The Apple Watch took small however essential steps ahead in 2023. Though the Apple Watch Collection 9 is a modest improve over the Collection 8, its new Double Faucet gesture launched a brand new technique of interacting with the watch — the primary such change in years. The brand new widget-centric interface in WatchOS 10 additionally makes it simpler to see bits of knowledge at a look.
However Apple could have massive plans in retailer for this yr’s Apple Watch, if a report from Bloomberg seems to be correct. Apple might break free from its typical naming conference and name its subsequent smartwatch the Apple Watch X (learn as 10) in honor of the system’s tenth anniversary, just like the iPhone X, in line with the report.
The so-called Apple Watch X, which can debut this yr or in 2025, might reportedly have a thinner design, a brand new mechanism for attaching bands, a microLED display and blood strain monitoring, Bloomberg says. The brand new watch can also be extra power-efficient because of a brand new sort of OLED show panel, in line with Korean information outlet The Elec.
There are many different methods Apple might enhance its smartwatch, too. The corporate might flip its watch into a fair smarter and extra useful well being assistant with extra AI integration. Since Double Faucet is comparatively new, there’s a number of alternative for updates and optimizations that make it extra handy than really tapping the display. Modifications like these may very well be significantly essential as Apple faces recent competitors from Google’s Fitbit, which plans to launch new AI-powered options this yr, and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Ring.
Then there are the upgrades I have been wanting for years, like longer battery life, exercise restoration metrics, extra customizable exercise objectives and extra sleep insights. I nonetheless hope to see these enhancements arrive both in a brand new mannequin or by way of a software program replace. However listed below are some further methods the Apple Watch might evolve in 2024.
Extra AI smarts, particularly for health-related options
Siri will have the ability to reply health-related questions on the Collection 9, because of a future software program replace.
Apple gave the Apple Watch Collection 9 an AI increase by making it the primary mannequin that may course of sure varieties of Siri requests domestically. Queries that do not require a solution from the web — similar to setting alarms or timers — could be carried out on the system itself with out pinging the cloud, dashing up the entire course of. Siri may reply to health-related questions on this manner, enabling it to reply requests about your sleep from the night time earlier than and about Exercise Ring progress.
However Apple might make its watch an much more intuitive well being agent, and it appears like this new Siri performance is only one step in that path. The rise of generative AI has opened up new prospects for making knowledge simpler to know by delivering solutions in a extra conversational manner. Google’s Fitbit, one in all Apple’s opponents within the health-tracking house, is already experimenting on this space. In October, Fitbit teased a brand new program, referred to as Fitbit Labs, that’ll arrive this yr. It will initially join the dots between sure knowledge factors and use generative AI to reply questions similar to why you have been extra drained than ordinary after your morning run. The corporate additionally thinks AI could be useful for serving to customers set practical health objectives, as Google’s Ajay Surie lately informed CNET.
That sort of perception would transcend merely logging knowledge and turning it right into a graph or chart. It will make it simpler to really change your habits based mostly on the knowledge coming out of your smartwatch. The Apple Watch’s Exercise Rings already encourage you to stand up and transfer or take just a few further steps. Now think about how far more motivating it may very well be with observations like these.
Future Apple Watches might certainly embody extra AI-powered well being instruments. Bloomberg reviews that the tech big is engaged on an AI-fueled teaching program that’ll present Apple Watch wearers with tailor-made strategies and recommendation. Apple can be stated to be engaged on a extra refined model of Siri, says one other Bloomberg report, and I hope it arrives on the watch if and when it will definitely launches.
Extra Double Faucet performance
To Double Faucet on the Apple Watch Collection 9, you faucet your index finger and thumb collectively.
Apple ought to double down on Double Faucet by including extra customization choices. The movement, which includes tapping your thumb and index finger collectively twice, at the moment permits you to scroll by way of your widgets, reply a cellphone name, snooze an alarm, pause a timer and extra.
However I would like to see extra methods to personalize Double Faucet. You’ll be able to resolve whether or not Double Faucet advances your widget stack or selects a widget, or whether or not it pauses music or skips to the following monitor. Whereas I admire this flexibility, I want there have been different choices. For instance, you need to have the ability to choose whether or not to repeat a timer as an alternative of ending it, or snooze an alarm versus dismissing it. Proper now Double Faucet merely dismisses timers and snooze alarms, with no choice to resolve to carry out the opposite motion. I want I might select, or maybe triple-tap to carry out the opposite possibility as an alternative.
Double Faucet is not meant to be a alternative for touching your watch, so its performance is understandably restricted in comparison with different gestures like tapping and swiping. If Apple does have updates in retailer for Double Faucet, chances are you’ll not have to attend for a brand new Apple Watch mannequin. Apple might theoretically embody adjustments like these in its subsequent software program replace.
An up to date design
From left: The Apple Watch Collection 9 in stainless-steel and in aluminum.
The Apple Watch has obtained just a few design tweaks through the years, nevertheless it’s the pricier Apple Watch Extremely that is gained extra vital bodily upgrades, like a much bigger display and extra sturdy construct. Although Apple should not stray too removed from the present mannequin’s look, I would prefer to see some adjustments. Apple revamped the iPhone’s design for its tenth anniversary, so I might think about the corporate doing one thing particular for the tenth technology Apple Watch — like maybe a brand new end or colour.
Bloomberg reviews that Apple could have some design adjustments in its pipeline for the rumored Apple Watch X. The corporate is reportedly engaged on a slimmer case and microLED screens for the Apple Watch, which might make its tiny show look extra vivid.
A brand new magnetic technique of attaching wristbands may additionally be in improvement for a future Apple Watch, in line with the report, although it is unclear if it will debut on the Apple Watch X. Such a change would doubtless include benefits and downsides for Apple Watch house owners, nonetheless. On the upside, it might make it simpler for Apple to slim down the watch’s case, since Bloomberg’s report says the present attachment technique occupies a number of house. However it will additionally doubtless break compatibility with the previous decade of present Apple Watch wristbands.
Design is not all the time an important component relating to tech devices. However smartwatches are the exception, contemplating they’re meant to be worn in plain view all day lengthy. It is one of many uncommon situations wherein a recent design could also be sufficient to persuade individuals with older watches to improve.
An Motion button on the common mannequin
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 (pictured) and Apple Watch Extremely have an Motion button.
Ever because the Apple Watch Extremely debuted in 2022, I have been awaiting the Motion button’s arrival on cheaper Apple Watch fashions. The Motion button turned out to be a useful strategy to rapidly launch a exercise or soar between apps, and I’ve lengthy argued that it needs to be part of the default Apple Watch expertise. After I tried the Apple Watch Extremely in 2022, for instance, I cherished utilizing it to begin an outside stroll exercise with simply a few faucets. Utilizing the OnePlus Watch 2, which has a customizable shortcut button, additionally made me understand the worth of getting a devoted key for sure duties.
Now that Apple has introduced the Motion button to the iPhone 15 Professional, I am hoping it will trickle all the way down to different gadgets, just like the anticipated Apple Watch X. Placing the Motion button on premium merchandise just like the Apple Watch Extremely and iPhone 15 Professional was start line.
Since widgets play a much bigger function in how we usually navigate the Apple Watch’s interface because of WatchOS 10, there’s extra room for bodily buttons to shine relating to particular focused circumstances, like shortcuts. And that is particularly essential on a display as small because the Apple Watch’s. The usual iPhone 16 fashions are additionally anticipated to get the Motion button, in line with Bloomberg and MacRumors, additional strengthening the argument that it ought to make its debut on cheaper Apple Watches, too.
The Apple Watch has come a good distance since its arrival virtually 10 years in the past. I would prefer to see Apple push it to the following degree by infusing extra intelligence into well being monitoring. Apple might additionally convey the Watch on top of things with helpful options we have seen in different merchandise, just like the Motion button. And it might embrace the system’s roots as a style accent with a recent look.