The company is exploring a screen-free wearable device as part of a broader rethink of its wearables portfolio, according to a Bloomberg report, as it looks for fresh ways to revive growth in the Apple Watch category.
Apple is reportedly evaluating several concepts, including display-free fitness trackers similar to Whoop bands, alternative display technologies and entirely new wearable form factors.
Apple’s industrial design team is also said to be examining a wider redesign of the Apple Watch range as competition grows from health-focused products such as Oura Ring and Whoop.
The bigger shift, however, could be less about the hardware and more about what Apple wants its wearables to do.
The company is reportedly preparing the Apple Watch Series 12 and a new Ultra model, with performance improvements, new colour options and additional health features.
MUMBAI: Apple may be ready to take the screen out of the wearable equation. The company is exploring a screen-free wearable device as part of a broader rethink of its wearables portfolio, according to a Bloomberg report, as it looks for fresh ways to revive growth in the Apple Watch category.
The move comes as screenless fitness bands and smart rings gain traction among consumers seeking health-tracking devices that are lighter and less distracting. Apple is reportedly evaluating several concepts, including display-free fitness trackers similar to Whoop bands, alternative display technologies and entirely new wearable form factors.
Apple’s industrial design team is also said to be examining a wider redesign of the Apple Watch range as competition grows from health-focused products such as Oura Ring and Whoop. Concepts under consideration reportedly include different watch shapes, including round displays, as well as both premium and lower-cost models.
There is no guarantee that any of these ideas will make it to consumers. The concepts remain exploratory and, according to the report, radical design changes are unlikely to arrive in the near term.
The bigger shift, however, could be less about the hardware and more about what Apple wants its wearables to do. The company is reportedly looking to make the ecosystem more AI-centric, combining artificial intelligence with deeper health and wellness tracking.
Apple’s Health app is also reportedly being redesigned to tap into growing interest in AI-powered wellness tools. The broader ambition is to give users more personalised health insights while reducing the need to constantly interact with a screen.
For now, Apple is expected to stick with incremental upgrades. The company is reportedly preparing the Apple Watch Series 12 and a new Ultra model, with performance improvements, new colour options and additional health features. Some reports have also pointed to the possible return of a ceramic case.
The rethink comes as Apple’s Wearables, Home and Accessories division has expanded more slowly than some of the company’s other businesses. With smart rings and screen-free trackers gaining attention, Apple appears to be considering whether the next big thing on the wrist might be something users barely need to look at.
