Apple’s next smartwatch is expected to appear in the next few weeks, likely alongside the iPhone 14 range, and it’s thought it will be one of three Apple Watch models this year.
We’ve covered off the next generation Apple Watch SE in a separate feature, and we have a feature for the rugged Apple Watch Pro model too.
Here’s everything we’ve heard so far about the Apple Watch Series 8 though.
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What will the next Apple Watch be called?
Likely Apple Watch Series 8
Unlike the iPhone, Apple didn’t mess around with the Watch naming structure. Since the original was followed by the Apple Watch Series 1, the company has used sequential numbers every year.
It is therefore highly likely we can expect 2022’s watch to be called the Apple Watch Series 8, succeeding 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7. As mentioned though, there is rumoured to be an Apple Watch SE too, along with a rugged Apple Watch Pro model. It’s not currently clear what they will be called – or of course if they will launch at all.
The new watch, or watches, will no doubt be running Apple’s watchOS 9, which was previewed during Apple’s developer conference.
Apple Watch Series 7 vs SE vs Series 3: What’s the difference?
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Apple Watch Series 8 release date
7 September 2022Likely from $399/£379
Apple typically holds its iPhone launch event in September of every year and the next iteration of the Watch is normally announced at the same time.
For 2021, the iPhone 13 range and the Apple Watch Series 7 were announced at an event on 14 September. While 2020 didn’t quite follow the ‘normal’ path, the Apple Watch Series 6 and Watch SE were revealed ahead of the iPhone 12 series on 15 September 2020 so September is typically the month for the diary.
Based on previous years, we’d have pencilled in 13 September 2022, but rumours suggest we will see the devices slightly earlier on 7 September. Nothing is official as yet though.
In terms of price, the Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $399/£379. We’d expect the same ballpark for the Series 8.
Apple Watch Series 8 design
Flat-edge design?Three models
The Apple Watch Series 4 made some big design changes in terms of display and the Series 5, Series 6 and Watch SE adopt the same design. The general style and shape remain the same as the original Watch, but they offer a lot more screen in similar footprints.
The Series 7 increased the screen size again, and the casing options changed from 40mm and 44mm to 41mm and 45mm, though the general design didn’t change.
It could be therefore, that the Series 8 offers some bigger design changes – like the flat edges rumoured for the Series 7 that never appeared, though most rumours suggest that won’t be the case.
Flat edges would put the Apple Watch in line with other Apple devices, like the iPhone 13 series, new iMac and the more expensive iPads. The Apple Watch has had the same form factor since it was first introduced, but the flat edges would allow it to retain this, whilst also offering a refresh.
There have also been rumours surrounding a pressure-senstive side button.
Apple Watch Series 8 specs
Rumours suggest the Apple Watch Series 8 will run on the same processor as the Apple Watch Series 7, which is the same processor as the Series 6. It’s said there won’t be a performance boost until the Series 9.
It’s also said the Watch Series 8 will come with a body temperature sensor which will help identify sleep stages and aid women in detecting ovulation. We’d expect all the same sensors as Watch Series 7 too, including an optical heart rate sensor and electrical heart rate sensor.
Some rumours suggested a blood pressure sensor, though more recent reports claim we will be waiting a little longer for this.
Apple Watch Series 8 features
Focus on fitness – more advanced featuresBetter sleep tracking
More health and fitness features are expected to come to the Apple Watch Series 8, with watchOS 9 bringing several. There are updates coming to the Workout app and changes coming to the Health app.
The new software will also bring more advanced sleep tracking with stages. It’s not yet clear what specific features will come to the Watch Series 8, given the watchOS 9 software will come to other Watch models too, but there will no doubt be some extra if a body temperature sensor does appear.
We’d like to see more functions to take on the likes of Garmin with more running features, for example and something like Garmin’s Body Battery, but we don’t think it will happen for the Series 8, even though rumours suggest big improvements to the activity side of things.
Apple Watch Series 8 rumours: What’s happened so far?
Here are all the rumours and news so far, surrounding future Apple Watches.
18 August 2022: Mark your calendars, Apple iPhone 14 likely to launch 7 September
Mark Gurman claims the iPhone 14 launch will likely take place on 7 September.
17 August 2022: Apple Watch Series 8 body temperature sensor might be limited at launch
Report claims the body temperature sensor on the Apple Watch Series 8 may not be as capable as initially thought.
4 July 2022: Apple Watch Series 8 will alert you when you have a fever
Mark Gurman claimed the Watch Series 8 body temperature sensor wouldn’t give you an exact reading, but would be able to detect a fever.
28 June 2022: Apple Watch Series 8 to be joined by new rugged and SE models
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed Watch Series 8 would have same chip as Series 7, and be joined by SE and rugged model this year.
3 May 2022: Analyst believes body temperature will come to Apple Watch Series 8
Ming Chi-Kuo has predicted the Apple Watch Series 8 could have a body temperature sensor, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 might not.
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Apple canceled body temperature measurement for Apple Watch 7 because the algorithm failed to qualify before entering EVT stage last year. I believe Apple Watch 8 in 2H22 could take body temperature if the algorithm can meet Apple’s high requirements before mass production.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 1, 2022
13 April 2022: Apple working on updated Health app and body temp sensor for Apple Watch
Bloomberg said Apple is still working on a blood pressure monitor for the Apple Watch as well as a body temperature sensor.
29 March 2022: Apple Watch Series 8 could have pressure-sensitive side button, patent suggests
Apple filed a number of patents that suggest the company is looking at next-generation Force Touch technology which might appear in future models of the Apple Watch, AirPods or iPhone.
7 March 2022: Apple Watch Series 8 could have body temperature sensor and new chip
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has claimed there could be three Apple Watch models launch in 2022, with new chips across the board and a body temperature sensor on the Series 8.
11 January 2022: Uh-oh, the next Apple Watch might not offer glucose monitoring after all
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested a glucose sensor might not appear on the Apple Watch for years to come, depsite rumours suggesting it could appear on the Series 8.
1 November 2021: Apple is working on a car crash detection feature for iPhone and Apple Watch
The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is thought to be developing a new feature for the iPhone and Apple Watch that can tell if you’ve been in a car accident and automatically dial emergency services for you.
12 October 2021: Apple is developing an even larger third size option for the Apple Watch Series 8
According to reputable display analyst Ross Young, Apple is planning on developing a third Apple Watch model even larger than its current 45mm offering for the Watch Series 8.
Don’t be surprised if there are 3 sizes next year…
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) October 12, 2021
27 August 2021: New Apple Watch Series 7 design revealed in biggest leak yet
Twitter user @MajinBuOfficial tweeted some images of what was said to be a clone of the new Apple Watch Series 7 in the real world, showing a flatter-edge design, supporting previous rumours of a design change. Could this happen for the Series 8 instead?
Apple Watch S7 clone #Apple #AppleWatch pic.twitter.com/K2hjtleoAN
— Majin Bu @MajinBuOfficial) August 27, 2021
18 August 2021: Leaked Apple Watch Series 7 renders suggest new look
91Mobiles published some renders of the Apple Watch Series 7 that supported the idea of a squared-edge design for the next smartwatch. Of course, that didn’t happen for the Series 7, but it’s still a possibility for the Series 8.
19 May 2021: Apple Watch Series 7 could have squared design like iPhone 12
Leaker Jon Prosser claimed the Apple Warch Series 7 would come with a redesign and a new green colour option. The Series 7 did come in a new green colour, but not a redesign. Perhaps the Series 8 will adopt this look?
3 May 2021: Will the next Apple Watch read blood sugar and alcohol levels? Possibly
A major feature coming to the Apple Watch could have been revealed in an SEC filing for UK-based startup Rockley Photonics.
Rockley Photonics designs sensors for monitoring a person’s blood using infrared light. The sensors could be used for monitoring blood glucose and alcohol levels.
26 March 2021: Apple considering launch for ‘Explorer Edition’ Watch designed for extreme conditions and athletes
A report from Bloomberg suggested Apple is considering the launch of an all-new Apple Watch model designed for athletes, hikers and those who would use the smartwatchin extreme environments. It was said to launch in 2021 or 2022 and possibly offer a rubberised case. With no sign in 2021, all eyes are on 2022.
23 March 2021: Patent suggests redesign of Apple Watch
MacRumours reported Apple could be looking into a potential “redesign for the Apple Watch, including a rounded watch face, wrap-around flexible display, and digitally-customizable watch bands”. The report came after the discovery of a newly-granted patent filing.
15 Febraury 2021: No glucose monitoring for Series 7, but what about Series 8?
Leaker Max Weinbach dispelled rumours that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature glucose monitoring. It was a feature previously reported, but Weinbach has claimed it isn’t coming yet, so maybe it is destined for the Series 8?
2 January 2021: Future Apple Watch could have Wrist ID, patent suggests
A patent was filed by Apple for a light sensor on the back of its Watch that would shine light onto the user’s wrist and generate a field image of the area.
The image would feature veins from your arm and should be as unique as a fingerprint, allowing the Apple Watch to recognise who has put the Apple Watch on and unlocking it accordingly.
14 November 2020: New Apple Watch design could arrive 2021
9to5 reported that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed a new Apple Watch design would arrive in 2021 at the earliest. The report said Kuo speculates that a “significant form factor design change would come with new Apple Watch models in 2H21 at the earliest.”
22 July 2020: Apple Watch With MicroLED Display Could Launch in 2020
MacRumours reported that Apple was in talks with Taiwanese display manufacturers to use microLED displays in its products in 2020. We didn’t see that in the Watch Series 7, but maybe this is something we will see on the Watch Series 8.
6 February 2020: Digital Crown could get new features
One of the most distinctive things about the Apple Watch is the Digital Crown. A rumour in Febraury 2020 suggested it could get some new features to make it touch or light-sensitive. Certainly Apple would intend for the crown to become more sensitive through these methods, not less. These were spotted thanks to a patent release.
“The crown may include a light-directing feature configured to direct, onto the image-sensing element, an image of an object in contact with the imaging surface” says the filing. The crown could potentially detect the motion of your finger as you rotate or touch the crown.
Apple Insider suggests this could mean that the Digital Crown has less physical bulk, therefore, making room within the watch for other components.
30 January 2020: Digital Crown set to be replaced with an optical reader?
A patent spotted by Patently Apple shows the Apple Watch Digital Crown being replaced by an optical fingerprint reader instead which could then recognise gestures, such as if you were to rotate the virtual crown.
At present we think it’s unlikely that Apple would remove the Digital Crown because it’s one of the most distinctive features of the timepiece. But this could happen in a future version of the Apple Watch rather than being for the Series 8, of course.
11 November 2019: Could Touch ID make its way to the Apple Watch?
Apple filed a patent that turns the Apple Watch screen into a Touch ID sensor. The patent notes that “the display may provide an image or video output for the watch body 100. The display may also provide an input surface for one or more input devices such as a touch sensing device, force-sensing device, temperature sensing device, and/or a fingerprint sensor.”
While we’re seeing a lot of phones with under-display fingerprint readers now, this move would require quite a step-up in technology because of the diminutive size of the watch.
5 August 2019: Apple Watch could use in-display fingerprint sensor
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple will introduce an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor into the 2021 iPhone – which didn’t happen, but he also said the technology could be used in a new Apple Watch too.
Currently, the Apple Watch has no biometric security but an in-display fingerprint sensor would allow it to offer some, without changing the design.
16 January 2019: Three big health features rumoured
The Fast Company reported that Apple has hired numerous clinicians and engineers to work on health features for the Apple Watch, which are said to include blood pressure, blood glucose or diabetes management and sleep tracking or science. Given these didn’t appear on the Series 7, perhaps they are destined for the Series 8?
8 May 2018: Patent for round Apple Watch approved
A patent for circular screen technology was approved, after being originally filed in January 2016. The filing mentioned wrist wear, leading some to assume a circular Apple Watch was coming.