The Apple Watch Series 12 is not expected to receive a major exterior redesign, with the operation of the heart-rate sensor and updates to health-related apps reportedly serving as the main areas of focus. The launch event is expected to take place in September local time, beginning in the early hours of the morning in Japan.
This year's Apple Watch update is expected to focus on functional improvements rather than its appearance, with reports indicating that a major design change is still more than a year away. Readers are likely to focus on expanded measurement capabilities and improved integration with the operating system, as new features may also be extended to older models.
As for the heart-rate sensor, reports say Apple is testing a system that would keep it running throughout the day. Unlike current monitoring, which is limited to periods of exercise and device interaction, continuous monitoring during everyday activities is reportedly under consideration. If continuous monitoring is implemented, it may make it possible to capture fluctuations in everyday heart rate more continuously.
The Health app redesign is reportedly being driven in part by support for trackers without screens, and differences in design philosophy are expected to influence whether the range of displayed metrics expands or contracts. The addition of a new set of metrics could change how daily health data is interpreted.
Factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade include the delayed design refresh and the possibility of price fluctuations due to exchange-rate movements. Another consideration is that software updates may extend the functionality to current models as well.