5 Major New Features Rumored for This Year's Apple Watch (2024)

Sunday February 18, 2024 3:37 am PST by Tim Hardwick

Thinking about upgrading your Apple Watch or buying one for the first time? If your current smartwatch is doing its job just fine and it's only the idea of a good deal that's piqued your interest, it could be worth holding out until later this year when Apple unveils its next-generation version. Here's why.

There are already several rumors from reputable sources that suggest 2024 could be a very big year for the Apple Watch. Keep reading for five reasons to hold onto your wallet for now and wait until the next model arrives.

Major Redesign

The original Apple Watch was released in April 2015, and we are coming up on the 10th anniversary of Apple's first wearable device. With such a landmark date on the horizon, rumors suggest a notable 10-year anniversary update could arrive as early as 2024.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning a major redesign for the Apple Watch to coincide with its 10th anniversary. Apple is said to be aiming to make the Apple Watch thinner than it is now, with a slimmer casing, along with different ways to attach bands. The new bands could attach to the watch magnetically, which would free up space inside the Apple Watch for bigger batteries and other internal components.

microLED Display

Analyst Jeff Pu and display analyst Ross Young believe Apple is working on a new high-end watch that will feature a 2.1-inch (diagonal) micro-LED display. The watch is rumored to be coming in 2024 or 2025, although it could be an upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra rather than the Series 9.

That said, Apple could be planning multiple sizes, or the rumored "Apple Watch X" could be a larger-sized watch with a new case design and slimmer bezels. MicroLED is more energy efficient than the OLED technology currently used in Apple Watch models. It also has a longer lifetime, faster response times, better contrast, and brighter colors.

Blood Pressure Monitoring

Apple plans to add blood pressure monitoring to the Apple Watch in 2024, according to Bloomberg's Gurman. The blood pressure monitoring featuring will reportedly let users know if their blood pressure is trending upward.

As opposed to the common methods that measure blood pressure using an inflatable cuff wrapped around the upper arm, Apple's system is believed to measure the speed of the wave of a heartbeat through a user's arteries using sensors. However, it may not provide exact systolic and diastolic measurements initially.

Hypertension Detection

As part of Apple's new blood pressure monitoring system, the Apple Watch is also expected to detect episodes of hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure, according to Gurman.

The system will provide an option for users to note what they were doing when the hypertension occurred, which could be useful for medical diagnosis. And to avoid potentially giving a misdiagnosis, the Apple Watch will direct the user to talk to their doctor or check their blood pressure with a traditional cuff, which can provide exact systolic and diastolic measurements.

Sleep Apnea Detection

Also coming this year is an Apple Watch-based sleep apnea detection feature. Sleep apnea is sleeping disorder in which the temporary cessation of breathing occurs more often than normal during sleep. It can cause hypoxemia and sleep deprivation. Symptoms include loud snoring and making choking noises during your sleep.

According to Bloomberg's November 2023 report, the Apple Watch will use sleep history and breathing patterns to estimate whether someone has the condition, and then direct users to see a physician.

Release

Apple typically releases a new Apple Watch model in September alongside the launch of its latest flagship iPhone, which in 2024 will be the iPhone 16. Apple could however have something different planned if it does indeed unveil a 10th anniversary "Apple Watch X" next year.

It's worth noting that the original Apple Watch was unveiled in September 2014, but it did not release until April 2015, so Apple could use either date for the Apple Watch anniversary. Given that 2023 marked the debut of the Apple Watch Series 9, a Series 10 or "X" would be more appropriate for 2024, not 2025, but the X naming is just speculation at this point.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra 2

Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral), Apple Watch SE (Caution), Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now)

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Top Rated Comments

Apple_Robert

13 weeks ago

I don't think it is right to encourage people not to purchase the current model because of unsubstantiated rumors for next year.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

abatabia

13 weeks ago

My AW 7 is serving me just fine. As is my 14Pro. None of them need updating before next year at the earliest. If not longer.

In fact this is the least apple purchases I’ve made in years. Just nothing compelling enough to warrant an upgrade for me. I WFH so I’m not out running around taking fancy photos anyway or using my watch all that much.

Although TBH my whole passion for wearables is on the wane anyway. I find myself wearing my AW less and less.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JCCL

13 weeks ago

I don't think it is right to encourage people not purchase the current model because of unsubstantiated rumors for next year.

It’s a site called “MacRUMORS”. What else would we expect?
I’m very skeptic about these ones. Specifically the redesign sounds just like wishful speculation from someone just based on the fact that the watch is turning ten without anything concrete, but in reality except for the iPhone X, I don’t remember Apple doing anything special for anniversary editions. iPad, AppleTV, iPods all turned 10 without much fanfare.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

rbbloom99

13 weeks ago

Buy today's version of iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or MacBook when you 'need' it.

There is always going to be the next model coming... always.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

slyronit

13 weeks ago

So you put “blood pressure monitoring” and “hypertension detection” as 2 separate points.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Robert.Walter

13 weeks ago

Wish Apple would give us consistent naming. I’m not listing everything but trying to give feel of how nice it would be to not have a non hodgepodge of names.

Such an arrangement helps on the marketing side by putting a psychological pressure on users who FFB (Fear Falling Behind).

Also would make the customer support easier:
- each serial and model number starts with model release year 24xxxxxx,
- marketing footnotes and support articles become compact and comprehensible (the notes are actually ridiculous nowadays due to nonexistent and amazingly incoherent naming strategy.) Not much easier than:

“iOS 23 runs on iPhone 18 and newer. Your features and apps may vary depending on your iPhone model, region, language, and carrier.” (as opposed to list at bottom of this note).

How it could be:

Apple Watch 24 SE
Apple Watch 24
Apple Watch 24 Cellular
Apple Watch 24 Ultra
watchOS 24

iPhone 24
iPhone 24 Pro Max
iPad 24
iPad 24 mini
iPad 24 Pro
iOS 24

Mac 24
Mac 24 Mini
Mac 24 Studio
Mac 24 Pro
iMac 24
MacBook 24 (new entry level netbook).
MacBook Air 24
MacBook Pro 24
macOS 24 San Dimas

Apple TV 24
tvOS 24

AirPods 24
AirPods 24 Pro
AirPods 24 Studio
AirPodsOS 24

HomePod 24 Mini
HomePod 24

Apple Car 25 Green Boss Pro.

Promised footnote:

Current mess (here just iPhone):

“
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]
iPhone XR ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xr-iph017302841/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone XS ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xs-iphc00446242/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone XS Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xs-max-iphcd2066870/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 11 ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-11-iphd690e36d3/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 11 Pro ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-11-pro-iph1129e876d/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 11 Pro Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-11-pro-max-iph3d5195e0c/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 12 mini ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-12-mini-ipha4eb291bf/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 12 ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-12-iphae3a2eb71/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 12 Pro ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-12-pro-iph0fd8610b8/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 12 Pro Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-12-pro-max-iphc798da0f6/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 13 mini ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-13-mini-iph7d116e557/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 13 ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-13-iphff32752d4/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 13 Pro ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-13-pro-iph4ce326e9d/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 13 Pro Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-13-pro-max-iphb58c09dcb/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 14 ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-14-iphfc2d9bc6a/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 14 Plus ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-14-plus-iph7f9e64962/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 14 Pro ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-14-pro-iph6928b4ea3/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 14 Pro Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-14-pro-max-iphed34f9f10/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 15 ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-15-iph01b3c591a/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 15 Plus ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-15-plus-iph593964827/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 15 Pro ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-15-pro-iph367ee8374/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone 15 Pro Max ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-15-pro-max-iph32f348188/17.0/ios/17.0')[/TD]

[TD]
iPhone SE (2nd generation) ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-se-2nd-generation-iph4b7cbc094/17.0/ios/17.0')
iPhone SE (3rd generation) ('https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-se-3rd-generation-iph2dd14d492/17.0/ios/17.0')[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Your features and apps may vary depending on your iPhone model, region, language, and carrier.”