Apple Watch last saw a major redesign in 2024 with the Watch Series 10. The company went with a familiar design with the Watch Series 11 and Watch Ultra 3 . The next big design change may be a while, if the new leak on Weibo is anything to go by. The next major Apple Watch redesign apparently won’t happen until 2028 . This means the Cupertiuno giant will continue using the same design for its wearables in 2026 and possibly 2027.
Apple Watch redesign may not happen until 2028
In a Weibo post, leaker Instant Digital claims that the Apple Watch launching in 2026 won’t look all that different than the current models. He adds that Apple will not bring a new design until the year after the launch of its 20th anniversary iPhone, which may debut in late 2027.
This suggests that the Apple Watch with a brand new design may not happen until 2028 . Apple may make up for this with improved hardware and new features. Despite that, the leak may come as a disappointment for those planning to upgrade next year.
Contradicting reports
A report from DigiTimes back in August said that at least one new model launching in 2026 would bring “significant” changes to the external design, courtesy of new sensors. This led to widespread speculations that the changes could be linked to Apple’s development of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology. But the feature is still a few years away, as the company works on further miniaturization.
Furthermore, Mark Gurman in 2023 reported on the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch with a thinner case and a magnetic band attachment system. While the former became a reality with Watch Series 10, the magnetic case is yet to materialize.
Furthermore, leaks from a few months ago suggested that Apple is experimenting with TouchID biometric authentication for 2026’s Apple Watch lineup. However, this could be an under-screen implementation and may not change the Watch’s overall appearance. Either way, it’s best not to jump to conclusions just yet. We may come across more concrete reports in the days to come.
