We’re only a year out from the last hardware redesign for the Apple Watch, and a new leak suggests we may be several more years away from the next one. Based on the latest rumor, it may not happen until 2028 or later.
Regular tipster Instant Digital posted on Weibo in a machine-translated message that the Apple Watch series will “likely continue with its usual schedule next year,” referring to 2026. They added that even 2027 is unlikely.
The 20th anniversary of the iPhone is in 2027, so Apple’s focus will likely veer heavily in that direction. The Apple Watch just hit its 10-year anniversary this year, as the first smartwatch launched in 2015.
Contradicting rumors
Instant Digital posits that a redesign might not be announced until after 2027, suggesting 2028 or later as a possible update. The Apple Watch tends to be iterative longer than the iPhone, and Apple has stuck to a fairly regular three-year update schedule for its smartwatches.
This rumor contradicts previous ones, including one from August that claimed the Apple Watch would see additional sensors on its underside, possibly the long-awaited blood glucose monitor. A timeline leak from June suggests that we’ll only see the Apple Watch Series 12 next year, with blood monitoring launching in 2027.
Meanwhile, Apple just lost a patent lawsuit with Masimo over blood oxygen monitoring and faces a potential ban from the International Trade Commission, which could hamper plans for future watches.
With that in mind, now might be the perfect time to pick up a new Apple Watch and fortunately, they’re all on sale.
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