Apple Watch without a redesign: why the 2026 models will keep the same look
The long-anticipated redesign of the Apple Watch has been postponed indefinitely. Leading industry experts, including Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, confirm that there will be no major design changes in the coming year. This means the upcoming Series 12 will be released in a familiar case, while a large-scale redesign of the device has been pushed back at least until 2028.
The main reason for this pause is said to be preparations for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027. Apple plans to focus all its designers and engineering resources on revamping its smartphones, leaving the watch lineup without visual changes for the next couple of cycles. Rumors about a radically new “Apple Watch X” or a switch to magnetic band attachments remain plans for the future.
However, the lack of external changes does not make the 2026 models “boring.” The main focus will be on internal technologies: discussions include implementing an under-display Touch ID fingerprint scanner and new sensors for more accurate health monitoring. In addition, Apple is working on improving battery life, which remains one of the most requested upgrades among users.
For those using Series 7 or older models, upgrading to newer generations will still bring noticeable improvements in performance and display quality. However, for owners of Series 10 or 11, upgrading purely for design reasons this year would not be worthwhile, as the device will remain virtually unchanged in appearance.
ORIENT
