This Apple Watch Series X concept and other images might be a look into the future. Image: concept_central
Apple Watch Series X is expected to bring in a redesign, new sensors and other changes later this year. A designer created several images of a concept device that includes the leaked/rumored features.
Take a look.
Gorgeous Apple Watch Series X concept brings the leaks to life
In 2017, Apple celebrated the tenth anniversary of its handsets with iPhone X, a significantly redesigned device. 2024 is the tenth anniversary of Apple Watch, and another redesign is supposedly in offing.
The leaks say Series X will be slimmer Image: concept_central
concept_central on X (formerly Twitter) turned these into a series of images and a short video. These are “based on the latest leaks and rumors as well as our own predictions,” according to the creator of the Apple Watch Series X concept.
Apple Watch Series X concept close up Image: concept_central
It was created in collaboration with AppleTrack, who published a YouTube video to discuss the wearable:
More about the 2024 Apple Watch
Leaked features of the Apple Watch Series X that won’t show up in a concept image are its ability to detect hypertension and sleep apnea. And the device will supposedly hit a goal Apple has been work toward for years: detecting high blood pressure.
We’ll know for sure this autumn when the tenth anniversary model is expected to be announced to the world.
Apple today began selling certified refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in the U.S. for the first time since the device was released in September.
As of writing, refurbished Ultra 2 models with the Blue, Orange, or White Ocean Band are available for $679, compared to $799 brand new.
Like new Ultra 2 models sold directly by Apple in the U.S. currently, we expect that the Blood Oxygen app is deactivated on the refurbished models, due to a legal battle with medical technology company Masimo. Last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) banned Apple from importing and selling Apple Watch models with blood oxygen sensing after it ruled that the feature infringed on Masimo’s patents. Apple is appealing the decision, and could re-enable the Blood Oxygen app with a watchOS update if it is overturned.
Availability began in the U.K. and China earlier this week, and the Blood Oxygen app remains functional outside of the U.S. currently.
There are no refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 models available on Apple’s store in the U.S. yet.
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of…
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple’s rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/”homebrew” games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any…
Last September, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch …
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel …
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
Since Google and Samsung merged Wear OS and Tizen, Google has been rapidly improving Wear OS by adding new and useful features to it, such as introducing new applications for the platform, including Google Calendar and Gmail, improving existing apps, including Google Home and Google Maps, introducing new Tiles, and offering new watch face and health data systems to offer a better user experience. Well, the company is now working on offering another improvement to Wear OS that could come to Galaxy Watches.
According to the Google News channel on Telegram, version 2.3.0 on the Google Pixel Watch app for Android contains an option called ‘Sync permission from phone’ which will “Give your watch the same app permissions that you’ve allowed” on your smartphone. In other words, once you enable the option, the app will sync permissions between your Android smartphone and the Pixel Watch for the common apps on the two devices.
For example, if you give Google Maps on your Android smartphone permission to access your location, with the new option enabled, the Google Pixel Watch app will extend the same permission to Google Maps on your Pixel Watch, saving you from the hassle of giving permissions to the app on your smartphone as well as the smartwatch. The option is located inside the ‘Device details’ menu which is currently hidden behind a flag.
At the moment, there’s no information about when Google will make the new option available to the public or if it will offer this feature to other Wear OS smartwatches, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup. We hope that the company extends the new feature to other Wear OS smartwatches as it would offer people more convenience and a better user experience. In the meantime, you can check out the all-new Shazam app for Wear OS.
Refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 units are now on sale in China – the first and only country in which the device is available refurbished directly from Apple.
The refurbished models are discounted by approximately 15 percent compared to equivalent brand new configurations. Apple tests, inspects, cleans, and repackages all refurbished devices to ensure they are fully functional and in good condition, and they are covered by a one-year limited warranty and eligible for AppleCare+ coverage.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched in September 2023, featuring the S9 chip, a brighter display, and the double-tap gesture. Apple is highly likely to soon begin selling refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in other countries now that it has started to do so in China, but it is unclear if availability will expand to the U.S. due to Apple’s ongoing legal battle with medical tech company Masimo over the Blood Oxygen app.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of…
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple’s rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/”homebrew” games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any…
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut’s open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,…
Last September, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch …
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that…
Apple will launch its next Apple Watch activity challenge on Saturday, April 22 in celebration of Earth Day.
To complete the challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer, with the activity recorded through the Workout app or an app that adds information to the Health app.
Let’s get moving for the planet. On April 22, do any workout for 30 minutes or more to earn this award. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds to Health.
Apple Watch owners who earn the award will unlock a dedicated in the Fitness app, plus they will get a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages and FaceTime apps.
After the Earth Day challenge, Apple will also launch another challenge for International Dance Day, which takes place on April 29. The Dance Day award can be earned by completing a dance workout that lasts 20 minutes or longer, and it too will unlock a badge and animated stickers.
The April Earth Day challenge and Dance Day challenge follow the the February heart month challenge, and for those curious, it does appear that Apple has trimmed down the number of activity challenges that it is offering in 2024.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that…
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year. We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including new all-time low prices on the M3 MacBook Air, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Pro, iPad, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get free 2-day shipping, an…
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut’s open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,…
Apple’s first set of new AI features planned for iOS 18 will not rely on cloud servers at all, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on device,” said Gurman, in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today. “That means there’s no cloud processing component to the…
Apple Watch SE2 may be inexpensive compared to higher models, but it’s plenty of smartwatch for most people. Photo: Apple
Amazon just offered 40mm Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation) for $189.00. Not far from an all-time low, that’s $60 off the regular price of $249.00. And you can get a similar Apple Watch SE 2 bargains on other versions of the wearable, too.
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Apple Watch SE 2 bargains available at Amazon
Launched in 2022, Apple Watch SE 2 is the least pricey new Apple Watch. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of higher lines like Apple Watch 9, like ECG readings, but it packs plenty of features for a low price.
You can get the deal mentioned above on the 40mm GPS only aluminum-case version of the wearble in silver, midnight and starlight colors — just $189.00.
And if you prefer the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE, you can get it for $279.00 $219.00. That’s pretty much the same deal as above, but a little more pricey because it’s a bigger timepiece. You can grab that deal on midnight and starlight color options.
Apple Watch SE 2 packs a solid feature list. Photo: Apple
Cellular models on sale, too
The two models that add cellular coverage to GPS are on sale, too.
40mm cellular Apple Watch SE with cellular plus GPS, midnight and starlight colors — $299.00 $239.00
44mm cellular Apple Watch SE with cellular plus GPS, midnight, silver and starlight colors — $329.00 $269.00
Apple’s 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is on sale for $189.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is just $10 higher compared to its all-time low price on the wearable. This deal is available in the Silver, Midnight, and Starlight Aluminum Case options, and only Amazon has the discount.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $219.00 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another near all-time low price that’s just $10 away from the lowest price on the Apple Watch SE, and it’s available in Midnight and Starlight Aluminum options.
Additionally, both cellular models have hit record low prices this week on Amazon. The 40mm cellular Apple Watch SE is on sale for $239.00, down from $299.00, and the 44mm cellular model is on sale for $269.00, down from $329.00. You can find these all-time low prices available in multiple colors right now on Amazon.
This model of the Apple Watch SE launched in September 2022 and remains Apple’s most affordable Apple Watch. The Apple Watch SE lacks some of the upgraded features you’ll find in some Series 9 or Ultra 2 models, like temperature sensing and ECG functionality, but it will otherwise provide you with all key Apple Watch features, and at the cheapest price possible.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that…
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year. We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including new all-time low prices on the M3 MacBook Air, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Pro, iPad, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get free 2-day shipping, an…
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut’s open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,…
Apple’s first set of new AI features planned for iOS 18 will not rely on cloud servers at all, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. “As the world awaits Apple’s big AI unveiling on June 10, it looks like the initial wave of features will work entirely on device,” said Gurman, in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today. “That means there’s no cloud processing component to the…
Last month, we exclusively reported that Samsung will launch three variants of the Galaxy Watch 7. Along with that, we also revealed the model numbers of the three versions of the smartwatch. Earlier this month, one of the variants of the Galaxy Watch 7 was spotted on the Bluetooth SIG platform. Today, the battery of another version of the upcoming smartwatch has been spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) platform.
A battery from Samsung bearing the model number EB-BL705ABY has been spotted on BIS (via 91Mobiles). Going by the model number, it seems to be the battery for the cellular version of the top-end variant of the Galaxy Watch 7, which carries the model number SM-L705. The listing indicates the company is planning to launch the smartwatch in India. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reveal the battery capacity or other details about the device.
According to a previous report, the Galaxy Watch 7 might feature a 578mAh battery, which Samsung could advertise to be a 600mAh pack. The upcoming smartwatch is expected to feature a 3nm processor, which would be a first for Samsung, and is reported to be 50% more power efficient than the Exynos W930 from the Galaxy Watch 6. It should also come with an increased storage capacity of 32GB.
All being well, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 should be with us at some point during July – and if there were any doubts that Samsung‘s next flagship wearable is indeed coming soon, a new leak may have dismissed them for good.
As spotted by SamMobile, a Samsung wearable with the product code SM-L305U has just appeared on the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) database, as all Bluetooth-capable gadgets must do before they’re released to the public.
That code is thought to refer to the US version of the 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 with LTE. This doesn’t tell us very much about the watch, besides Bluetooth 5.3 LE support (as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 had), it does indicate a launch is imminent.
We certainly haven’t been short of Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 rumors to date. The thinking is that we might get three models this year, for the first time: the Galaxy Watch 7, the Galaxy Watch 7 Classic, and possibly a cheaper model as well.
A significant chipset upgrade has been rumored for this year too, as well as a squarer design – a bit like the Apple Watch, then. There’s also been talk that sleep apnea detection will be added to the Galaxy Watch 7.
Other leaks point to improvements in battery life – always welcome when it comes to wearables of course – and so it looks like there are going to be plenty of reasons to choose these smartwatches over, say, Samsung’s new smart ring.
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Rumors emerged this week that the Apple Watch 10 would arrive with a more power-efficient OLED display, which offers more control over the screen’s power draw than the Liquid Retina OLED displays used by the best Apple Watches in previous years.
This could place much less demand on the battery than the current screen and might just lead to a longer-lasting battery. For me, that’s the single biggest change Apple could make that would convince me to take the plunge and wear an Apple Watch as my main timepiece.
For context, I’ve worn many watches during my role as Fitness and Wearables Editor, but every time a review unit circulates off my wrist, I have just a few I tend to go back to as my standard picks. If I’m in the middle of an intense training block (at the time of writing, the London marathon is a little over a week away) I’ll wear a Garmin Epix Pro, which can last up to two weeks between charges, or even an Apple Watch Ultra 2 if I’m using an iPhone, which gives me 36 hours – just shy of two days.
If I’m taking things easy – with training largely restricted to yoga, the gym, and the climbing center – I’ll probably revert to my beloved Casio digital watches, such as the one our editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff has been wearing recently. Cheap and cheerful with a timer, alarm, and stopwatch, they also crucially have a seven-year battery life. If I want to track sleep or other metrics, I’ll pair that with one of the best smart rings such as an Oura ring, which likewise lasts a full week between charges.
(Image credit: Future)
Notice anything here? It’s all about battery life. While testing the Apple Watch Series 9, I found the 18-hour battery life to be a bugbear compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. When testing an Apple Watch that isn’t an Ultra, I’ll often go to bed wearing it, and wake up cursing that my wrist-mounted squircle has transformed from one of the best smartwatches into a useless piece of metal and plastic.
As someone who enjoys running, I use the battery-sucking GPS workout function four to five times a week during a training block, often for long periods, so keeping a spare charger at work has become a necessity during testing.
If something makes you swear more than smile, it isn’t fit for purpose. It’s long past time the Apple Watch had a decent battery upgrade. The OnePlus Watch 2 can reach 100 hours with some clever dual-OS wrangling, and even the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 range, Apple’s nearest Android rival, is now cresting 40 hours. Although the Apple Watch is still the best-selling smartwatch by a huge margin, having a battery performance still stuck at 18 hours simply isn’t good enough in 2024.
(Image credit: Samsungh 6)
Now the Samsung Galaxy Ring is on the horizon, alternative wearable formats are reaching the mainstream, and the era of peak smartwatch may very well be over. Wearable tech is getting slimmer and less obtrusive, and this trend lets them last longer, becoming less of an inconvenience to users.
Health and wellness wearables are also redoubling their focus on sleep: the Galaxy Ring briefing I attended was almost entirely focused on rest and recovery, and Fitbit’s just redesigned the Sleep page on its excellent app. As it stands, Apple can’t compete in this arena, because so many users have to charge their watches overnight.
To remain at the head of the pack, Apple needs to evolve. Bringing the Ultra’s 36-hour battery life to the flagship Apple Watch 10 would be the single biggest quality-of-life change an Apple Watch user could wish for. Every power-saving initiative Apple has implemented in previous years has been plowed right back into powering the watch’s new tricks, such as the Series 9’s double-tap functionality.
This year, I don’t want anything flashy – I want Apple to focus on giving us more time with its watches.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
