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The Apple Watch Series 7 offers quite the upgrade compared to its predecessor, with smaller bezels allowing for a bigger display, improved always-on display performance, dust resistance and more, but it wasn’t the complete redesign of the Apple Watch that was rumoured heavily prior to launch.
Is it possible that we’ll be seeing the rumoured redesign with the Apple Watch Series 8? We discuss the potential redesign, along with every other Apple Watch Series 8 rumour, right here.
When will the Apple Watch Series 8 be released?
The Apple Watch release schedule is so regimented that you could, ahem, set your watch to it.
Even during the height of the pandemic which saw the release of the iPhone delayed until October, Apple still revealed and released the Apple Watch Series 6 in September 2020, as it had in previous years, and that dedication was just as apparent with the Apple Watch Series 7 launch. Despite the fact that the Series 7 wasn’t released until mid-October amid rumoured production issues, the wearable was still revealed alongside the iPhone and iPad in September 2021.
So, with all that in mind, it’s a safe bet that we’ll be seeing the Apple Watch Series 8 sometime in September 2022, but we’ll update this section if we hear anything different.
If you can’t wait that long to get your hands on an Apple Watch, take a look at our best Apple Watch Series 6 deals.
How much will the Apple Watch Series 8 cost?
While it’s far from confirmed at this early stage, we expect the Apple Watch Series 8 to largely cost around the same as the existing Apple Watch Series 7, which starts at £369/$399 for the 41mm variant. Here’s a breakdown of the entry-level pricing:
Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, Aluminium, GPS) – £369 / $399
Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, Aluminium, GPS) – £399 / $429
Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, Aluminium, GPS + Cellular) – £469 / $499
Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, Aluminium, GPS + Cellular) – £499 / $529
The Apple Watch has remained consistent in its pricing through the years (it even got cheaper in the UK in 2021) and it’s already very much a premium wearable, so messing with the core pricing could be a risk for Apple.
What about the rumoured third, larger model rumoured for release? Going by the £30/$30 gap between the 41mm and 45mm variant, we expect that the larger model could cost somewhere around the £429/$459 mark.
We will, of course, update this section once we learn more, so check back soon for the latest on the Apple Watch Series 8 pricing.
What should I expect from the Apple Watch Series 8?
Three case sizes instead of the regular two
New sensors, including a blood glucose sensor
Possible redesign
Though the Apple Watch Series 8 is still some time away from seeing the light of day, there are already rumours that give us a good idea of what to expect.
Redesigned form factor
There were plenty of rumours suggesting that the Apple Watch Series 7 would get a big redesign – the biggest in the history of the Apple Watch – bringing the design closer to that of recent models of iPhone and iPad, with flatter sides and a generally more industrial look.
It was outlined by notable analysts including Ming-Chi Kuo, and Jon Prosser went a step further by revealing a range of mock 3D renders showcasing a significant form factor change based on alleged real-world images of the wearable.
Apple Watch Series 7 in collaboration with @jon_prosser pic.twitter.com/AtfxgwSIOM
— Ian Zelbo (@RendersbyIan)
May 19, 2021
It seemed to be a certainty before launch, but of course, as we now know, it never happened. It’s unusual for multiple notable sources to get something so big so wrong, leading us to believe that Apple could still be working on the redesigned Apple Watch, and that we might finally get to see it showcased on the Series 8.
The Apple Watch has, fundamentally, stayed the same since the release of the first Apple Watch back in 2015. The Apple Watch Series 4 saw a reduction of bezels and more screen real estate, and that was further enhanced with the Series 7, but it has kept the same square form factor.
Switching up the design to something more modern would be an easy way not only to tempt those who have never had an Apple Watch before but also existing owners looking for something new and exciting. We just hope that the redesign doesn’t come at the cost of strap compatibility, as existing owners will likely have a collection of straps that they use regularly (I certainly do!).
It’s worth pointing out that the redesign isn’t a given. In fact, @LeaksApplePro – a leaker with a decent track record – suggests the opposite, sharing an official render of what’s claimed to be the chassis of the Apple Watch Series 8 with only a single change: a new speaker grille. While that’ll likely improve the quality and overall volume of the onboard speaker used for calls, Siri, notifications and more, it’s not a huge change compared to the Series 7.
Told you it was disappointing.Upon receiving CAD files and images, this will be the only noticeable change in design from the Series 7 to the Series 8.More info soon at @iDropNews pic.twitter.com/GQC40eIwk3
— LeaksApplePro (@LeaksApplePro)
November 18, 2021
A new, bigger case size
Apple shrank the bezels of the Apple Watch Series 7, allowing it to increase usable display space without changing the physical dimensions – but what about those of us who simply want a larger version of the Apple Watch than the 45mm currently available? We might have better luck with the Series 8, according to analyst Ross Young.
The analyst took to Twitter to tease the possibility of an Apple Watch with a larger display, but unlike with previous updates, it’ll be an entirely new model to sit alongside the existing 41mm and 45mm variants. It’s not quite an outright prediction, with an unusual noncommittal tone in his tweet, but it’s an intriguing – and exciting – idea.
Don’t be surprised if there are 3 sizes next year…
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss)
October 12, 2021
Ross Young has only made a handful of Apple-related predictions, weighing in on previous iPhone 13 rumours and the MacBook Pro too, but he has an impressive track record without a single incorrect prediction so far.
For now, he’s one of the most accurate analysts in the Apple arena, and it’s worth paying attention to what he has to say, though the usual pinch of salt should be applied.
Blood Glucose sensor
A January 2021 report from ETNews claims that both Apple and Samsung are gearing up to include a blood glucose sensor in upcoming smartwatches, with the aim of being able to alert diabetics when their blood sugar levels are dropping.
When it comes to the Apple wearable, it has been suggested that Apple will include a skin-top monitoring solution that doesn’t require an implant, reportedly instead “focusing on securing reliability and stability prior to commercialization of the technology”. It was initially thought that the tech could make an appearance on the Series 7, but as we now know, that wasn’t the case.
That’s backed up by a report from The Telegraph, which found SEC filings that confirm Apple is currently the biggest customer of Rockley Photonics, a company that specialises in sensors that track blood sugar, blood pressure and even alcohol levels. In fact, Apple has been the company’s biggest source of revenue for the past two years.
That by itself is interesting enough, but when paired with rumoured comments from the Rockley Photonics CEO suggesting the technology would be in consumer products from 2022, it seems increasingly likely that a blood sugar monitor – if not something more advanced – could make an appearance in the next Apple Watch.
That’s also in line with an October 2021 report from DigiTimes, with sources claiming Apple has told suppliers to begin prep for the short-wave infrared sensors used to measure the levels of glucose sugar in the blood.
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