Exciting changes could be coming for the Apple Watch in 2024 based on a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He claims Apple is working on a significant redesign for the Apple Watch Series 10 that will introduce an all-new, incompatible band attachment system.
While this overhaul aims to reduce device thickness and enable advanced new bands, it would render existing Apple Watch bands obsolete. For current Apple Watch owners, this creates a dilemma about whether to upgrade now or wait for the more transformational Series 10 models.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down Gurman’s report, examine Apple’s related patents, and provide analysis to help guide your Apple Watch purchase decisions.
Seeking a Thinner Apple Watch Design
The main motivation behind the Apple Watch Series 10 redesign is to reduce thickness by eliminating the protruding side button and streamlining the band attachment points.
Here are the key changes Gurman claims Apple is prototyping:
- New band attachment method – Using magnets instead of sliding pins
- No more side button – Will rely on touch input and digital crown
- Thinner casing – Slimmer profile closer to iPhone or iPad
This new industrial design will achieve Apple’s goal of a thinner Apple Watch profile. And shifting to a magnetic band system mirrors the MagSafe tech introduced on iPhones and MacBooks.
But as we’ll explore next, enhanced band connectivity has major implications beyond just a thinner device.
Impacts on Apple Watch Band Compatibility
The downside of a redesigned band attachment method is that it will break compatibility with all existing Apple Watch bands.
This means bands purchased for Apple Watch Series 1 through 9 will not work on Series 10 and beyond. Owners with large band collections will essentially have to start from scratch.
Apple has not yet confirmed this incompatibility publicly. But changing physical attachment points intrinsically breaks support for older bands.
For Apple, this transition will allow them to deeply integrate advanced functionality into next-gen bands, as we’ll cover next. But consumers stand to lose existing band investments.
Advanced Features Enabled by New Bands
While ditching legacy Apple Watch band support has downsides, the flip side is that it enables exciting new capabilities through redesigned “smart bands”.
Apple patents have already surfaced depicting bands with:
- Built-in batteries for extended battery life
- Integrated sensors like EKG, glucose monitors, etc
- Adjustable tension for health tracking and fit
- Direct connections for data transfer and power
These concepts showcase the potential of reinvented bands designed from the ground up for deeper device integration.
Features like non-invasive glucose monitoring may only be possible with an advanced band design closely coupled with the watch’s sensor array. Apple is laying the foundation to make their smartwatch radically more capable.
Timing: Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024?
Mark Gurman asserts the new Apple Watch design will arrive in 2024 as the Apple Watch Series 10. This launch timeline aligns with past release patterns:
| Model | Release Year |
|---|---|
| Series 1-4 | 2015-2018 |
| Series 5-8 | 2019-2022 |
| Series 9 | 2023 |
| Series 10 | 2024 (expected redesign) |
The Apple Watch Series 9 is still expected in September 2022 with only minor updates. The Series 10 in 2024 would introduce the rumored thinner redesign and new band connectivity.
This gives Apple time to perfect the complex engineering behind their band and device overhaul. If the timeline holds, expect the redesigned Series 10 models to launch around Fall 2024.
Buying Advice: Upgrade Now or Wait?
For current Apple Watch owners, the Series 10 redesign poses an interesting dilemma about whether to upgrade now or wait.
Here are some factors to consider:
Reasons to Upgrade to Series 9:
- Take advantage of current Apple Watch deals
- Make use of existing band collection
- Series 10 may be significantly more expensive
Reasons to Wait for Series 10:
- Major redesign with thinner size
- Exciting new capabilities from redesigned bands
- Largest health sensor and feature upgrades in years
In summary, buying the Apple Watch Series 9 makes sense if you want to maximize value from existing bands and get the latest model at a discount.
But waiting for the overhaul coming with Series 10 provides the most transformative changes since the original Apple Watch. Just be prepared to reinvest in new bands when that future generation arrives.
For buyers seeking the ultimate Apple Watch experience, the rumored Series 10 redesign will be well worth the wait. We’ll keep an eye out for any new details as Apple’s ambitious 2024 vision for the device takes shape.