Apple Watch X Model With New Design, Magnetic Band System in Development: Mark Gurman

Apple Watch X could also be equipped with a MicroLED display and support for blood pressure monitoring.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 14 August 2023 11:46 IST

Apple Watch X Model With New Design, Magnetic Band System in Development: Mark Gurman

Apple Watch bands currently use a press-to-release locking mechanism

Highlights

Apple Watch X could be released by the company next year
The next-generation smartwatch could feature magnetic band attachments
The purported Apple Watch X could also feature vastly improved displays

Apple Watch X is in development as a completely redesigned version of the company's popular smartwatche, according to a report. The Cupertino company previously launched a revamped version of its smartphone — the iPhone X — in time for its tenth anniversary, and the Apple Watch could get the same treatment as soon as next year. The purported Apple Watch X will reportedly change how users wear the smartwatch, by swapping the existing locking mechanism for bands with a magnetic attachment system.

The new smartwatch has been dubbed the Apple Watch X by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter. Gurman's sources say that the company's next-generation smartwatch will sport a slimmer chassis, and that Apple is now considering a magnetic mechanism to hold the bands in place. A report earlier this year claimed that Apple would launch an advanced smartwatch with the same name in 2023, along with watchOS 10.

Until now, Apple Watch bands have used a press-to-release locking mechanism that has offered compatibility across generations. Replacing the existing band locking mechanism could mean that existing bands would no longer work with upcoming models, but the space freed up with the redesign could make way for additional internals or a larger battery for improved battery life.

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Gurman has previously reported that Apple has been working on adding support for MicroLED technology to its smartwatches for several months, but the company is yet to unveil such a device. Gurman suggests that the Apple Watch X might be the first smartwatch from the company to feature these advanced screens. Another feature that is rumoured to be in development for a while now — blood pressure monitoring — could make its way to Apple's next-generation smartwatch.

Customers shouldn't expect the purported Apple Watch X to be launched in the near future — the company is expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 9 alongside the iPhone 15 series of smartphones. While the handsets are set to bring a few notable hardware upgrades, the smartwatches are tipped to offer new chips and colour options.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch X could be released in 2024 or 2025, according to Gurman. This is because the Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014 and went on sale in 2015, so the launch of the smartwatch could coincide with whichever date the firm considers to be the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch. The company doesn't announce any details of products that it plans to release except at the actual launch event, so enthusiasts will have to wait until at least next year until the Apple Watch X is unveiled.

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Apple iPhone X

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Variants

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Stunning design and display
Great cameras
Wireless charging
Assured, timely software updates

Bad
Costs a small fortune
First party apps not great in India
Fast charger not bundled

Read detailed Apple iPhone X review

Display 5.80-inch

Processor Apple A11 Bionic

Front Camera 7-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 3GB

Storage 64GB

Battery Capacity 2716mAh

OS iOS 11

Resolution 1125x2436 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Choose a variant

iPhone 15

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Big upgrades over the 14
Excellent ergonomics, build quality
Very good all-round performance
Apple ecosystem benefits

Bad
Relatively slow charging
Expensive
Still a 60Hz display

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Apple Watch X, Apple Watch bands, Apple Watch, MicroLED, Apple

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More