Apple Planning 'Ten Year Celebration' Activity Achievement for Apple Watch

Apple appears to be planning an activity challenge to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which was released in 2015. In the latest iOS 18.2 beta, there's a mention of a "Ten Year Celebration" with references to an activity achievement, so it sounds like something is in the works.

apple watch series 10 blue
While the Apple Watch was introduced at Apple's September 2014 iPhone event, it was not released until April 2015. The delay between the device's introduction and its launch have raised questions about whether the Apple Watch 10th anniversary is in 2024 or 2025.

Apple celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ‌iPhone‌ with the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ X in 2017, and this year, the company highlighted the 10th anniversary of Apple Pay. Apple does see 10th anniversaries as notable, so we can expect something for the Apple Watch.

Back in 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed that Apple was planning a complete revamp of the Apple Watch for its 10th anniversary, complete with a magnetic band attachment system and a slimmer design. In September 2024, the Apple Watch did get a design update with larger displays and a thinner chassis, but the device was not branded the "Apple Watch X" as Gurman said it would be, nor did it have a new band attachment system.

It is possible that those updates that Gurman talked about in 2023 will actually come in 2025 as part of an anniversary celebration for the device, but it is unclear because the slimmed down look that Gurman mentioned has already been implemented.

Next year will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Apple Music streaming service, which came out in June 2015. Apple could also have something planned for that anniversary.

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Top Rated Comments

Radeon85 Avatar
13 months ago
That 10yrs went by fast, had the Apple Watch from day 1 in 2015 and still love it. Still have all my health data from 2015 onwards.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HeThatShallNotBeNamed Avatar
13 months ago
Can’t believe it’s been ten years! It’s amazing to think that the watch hasn’t really evolved much from the aw series 5. Honesty don’t need to update it. Still a solid watch!!

I did get a new garmin fenix 8 which is a far better sports watch than the awu.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HeThatShallNotBeNamed Avatar
13 months ago

Great fitness watch, okay smart watch.

Yep, sold my Forerunner as it couldn't make or receive calls, nor could it use my main phone number for such services. Fitness functions were great and potentially 2nd to none (I honestly feel the Pixel / Fitbit integration is better as an Android user though).

Battery was great, but the watch wasn't doing as much for me as even the 1st generation AWU that I still use daily.

Garmin was great for multi-day camping trips, but the AWU actually lets me leave my phone behind, still be fully connected when needed, and has far smarter overall functions for me.
Oh yes I don’t disagree with you at all.

I would call the garmin a dumb smart fitness watch.

I use both watches. Apple Watch for notifications and unlocking my front door. I love paying with it.

Sometimes I take calls with it.

My garmin fenix 8 super duper edition does calls as well but it sounds like poo poo.

Apple Watches are dumb at doing sports things.

Garmin watches are dumb at smart things.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
13 months ago

Next year will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Apple Music streaming service, which came out in June 2015. Apple could also have something planned for that anniversary.
Probably a price increase.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CoMoMacUser Avatar
13 months ago

Can’t believe it’s been ten years!
No kidding. I remember when Watch was still just a rumor.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brien Avatar
13 months ago

Series 0 design lasted until series 3 (as an old low budget model) was discontinued and stopped being sold in 2023 ('https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/apple-stops-selling-watch-series-3-eight-months-after-its-last-security-update/')! I disagree with the idea that it was clunky. Perhaps initial software was, but updates optimized it and it turned out to be a good device. It is hard to believe that the series would be thriving as it is today if it was a bad product.

I still have mine, it actually works quite well despite the limitations. Apple never released a software update that disabled Force-Touch / 3D Touch like they did with my Series 3 (also still have and use that). Still one of the features I miss in my AWU, no, long-press is not the same.
Force / 3D touch is sorely missed, I hope Apple revisits it someday.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)