Gurman: Apple Watch 'Pro' to Offer First True Redesign Since Series 4, but No Flat Sides

The upcoming high-end variant of the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature the device's first redesign in years and a new titanium casing, but will not feature the long-rumored squared-off look, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

apple watch series 7 mystery
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that this year's high-end Apple Watch model will be "a good bit bigger" than the current Apple Watch models, so much so that "it might only appeal to a subset of customers." The device is expected to feature a display that is seven percent larger.

Gurman reaffirmed rumors that the high-end Apple Watch will feature the first new design since the launch of the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018. It will apparently not be circular, and contrary to reports of a squared-off design, "it also won't have those rumored flat sides." Instead, Gurman described the new design as being "an evolution of the current rectangular shape."

He added that it will have a casing made of "a more durable formulation of titanium to make it extra rugged." The device is also expected to feature longer battery life that could last multiple days on a single charge via a new Low Power Mode, according to Gurman.

The only new health feature expected for the Apple Watch Series 8 is still a body-temperature sensor, with blood-pressure monitoring not expected to arrive until 2025, and blood-glucose monitoring not set to be ready until "nearer to the end of the decade."

Gurman added that "the upcoming Apple Watch release is shaping up to be one of the company's more exciting product launches this year."

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Top Rated Comments

Denzo Avatar
16 months ago
Forgive me.. but all we got is that it’s a little bigger, not much of a design change and potentially more battery. And mentions feature expected at the end of the decade?

Then the article ends with a comment "the upcoming Apple Watch release is shaping up to be one of the company's more exciting product launches this year."

Did I miss something?
Score: 118 Votes (Like | Disagree)
desmond2046 Avatar
16 months ago
I don’t care about the design. A blood pressure and blood glucose monitor would be the true game changer and will save millions of lifes.
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gpat Avatar
16 months ago

Forgive me.. but all we got is that it’s a little bigger, not much of a design change and potentially more battery. And mentions feature expected at the end of the decade?

Then the article ends with a comment "the upcoming Apple Watch release is shaping up to be one of the company's more exciting product launches this year."

Did I miss something?
This sentence, alone, is enough to summarize what a yawn-fest this 2022 is for Apple, and for consumer electronics in general.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
16 months ago
I’m starting to think the ‘flat-sided’ information was bait for potential leakers.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
16 months ago
If a titanium body will be the only way to get a larger display I may not be able to get one with a larger display this year. Rumors at this point but my eyes want more screen, my budget does not.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Traverse Avatar
16 months ago
I understand that “pro” simply means the more expensive or higher-end model in Apple terms, but I thought that’s what the “edition” was?

I hope they find a better term. A “Pro” Apple Watch/user outside of a rugged outdoor watch doesn’t seem sensible to me.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Concerns Highlighted in Two More Reports

Thursday September 28, 2023 6:25 am PDT by
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max overheating concerns continue to make headlines this week, with the topic highlighted by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Both of the reports document anecdotal complaints from customers, and outline potential causes, but it's unclear how many devices are actually affected. Bloomberg said the overheating could be caused or compounded by the iPhone's setup...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
iPhone 15 USB C Port Keynote

Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhone 15

Thursday September 28, 2023 2:06 pm PDT by
Apple added a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 lineup this year, allowing it to work with USB-C cables, USB-C power banks, and more. It turns out that some USB-C battery packs are not working properly with Apple's iPhone 15, resulting in charging issues. As highlighted on Reddit and the MacRumors forums, not all existing USB-C power banks can be used with the iPhone 15 models, perhaps due to the...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...