Apple's latest smartwatch won't shake things up

Apple's next-generation smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 12, is expected to feature a design largely unchanged from its predecessor, the Series 11. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has no major overhaul planned for its smartwatch's aesthetic.

Incremental updates continue

This marks the third consecutive generation of Apple Watches to retain the same design, following the Series 10 that introduced new 42 and 46 mm case sizes and a slimmer profile. The lack of significant design changes is a pattern Apple has consistently followed with its smartwatches.

Rumors of a radical redesign have been circulating for years, with some speculating about an Apple Watch X for the device's tenth anniversary in 2025. However, these claims have never materialized, leaving Apple with few options for a dramatic revamp.

While some may find the continued lack of innovation underwhelming, the reality is that smartwatches don't need a radical rethinking. Apple's square design has become synonymous with the brand, and a move to a circular design could be seen as a misstep. Cosmetic upgrades, like the Apple Watch Ultra, are a more feasible direction for future iterations.

Looking ahead, there are still whispers of an Apple Watch redesign in the works, but it's unlikely to happen before 2028, and even then, it may be more of an evolutionary update rather than a revolutionary overhaul.