Apple Plans Major Apple Watch Redesign with New Strap Mechanism for 2027 Release

Apple is preparing a significant redesign of its Apple Watch, expected to launch in 2027, according to new reports. The most notable change will be a new strap attachment system, which may render current Apple Watch bands incompatible. The leak, shared by Instant Digital on Weibo, advises users planning to buy the 2027 model to avoid purchasing additional bands now.

This redesign, sometimes referred to as the "Apple Watch X," was initially reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in 2023 as the biggest upgrade in the watch's history, coinciding with the product's tenth anniversary. Gurman mentioned a magnetic strap system, a thinner case, and a microLED display. However, the 2024 Apple Watch Series 10 launched with only minor updates and retained the old strap mechanism, suggesting the major redesign was postponed rather than canceled.

The 2027 timeline aligns with Apple's historical three-year design refresh cycle: Series 1-3 shared one design, Series 4-6 another, and Series 7-9 a third. The current design debuted with Series 10 in 2024, so a new design is expected with Series 13 in 2027.

Additional rumored features for the 2027 high-end models include eight health sensors arranged in a ring on the watch’s underside and advanced OLED panel technology. These changes aim to free internal space for a larger battery. Meanwhile, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 for 2024 is expected to maintain the current thin case and larger screen without visual changes.