Rumours suggest that the Apple Watch Series 7 could look dramatically different from the Series 6 at launch.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is a great smartwatch, but let’s be honest, the introduction of an SpO2 monitor and an always-on altimeter aren’t the most exciting upgrades ever – especially when wearables a fraction of the price sport similar blood oxygen monitoring tech. That could all change with the Apple Watch Series 7, however, with rumours suggesting that we could see a redesign of the popular smartwatch when it’s released in the coming weeks. There are also whispers about MicroLED tech – a display technology that first made an appearance on the iPad Pro 2021 range – that could possibly offer blood glucose monitoring too. Here’s all there is to know about the Apple Watch Series 7 right now; from a possible release date to the latest design and feature rumours. Traditionally, Apple tends to release its yearly Apple Watch update alongside new iPhones in September, but that all changed in 2020. Aside from hosting a virtual showcase in place of the grand in-person events the company usually hosts – not a big surprise during a pandemic – Apple announced the new Apple Watch alongside the new iPad range, not the iPhone. In fact, with three Apple events in as many months in late 2020, it seems Apple is leaning into the nature of virtual launches. Regardless of whether it’s online or in-person, Apple has launched Apple Watch updates in September for the past four years, so we’re confident that it’ll stick to the same schedule with the Apple Watch Series 7. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman seems to think so too, suggesting in an early September 2021 edition of his Power On newsletter that the Apple Watch Series 7 will be revealed alongside the iPhone 13 at the Apple event, which is now confirmed to air on Tuesday 14 September 2021 at 6pm BST/1pm EDT/10am PDT. Apple has registered new smartwatch models with the Eurasian Economic Commission under A2473, A2474, A2475, A2476, A2477 and A2478, suggesting that release is indeed close, likely alongside the iPhone 13 in a matter of days. Whenever it does appear, it could be in short supply – according to separate reports from Nikkei and Bloomberg. Both publications report that critical challenges in small scale production tests have halted production while Apple and its suppliers work towards rectifying the issue, which could both potentially delay the eventual release of the watch and only make it available in smaller quantities at first. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that « Apple has resolved the panel module quality issues » with mass production now scheduled for mid-September – only two weeks later than planned. If you don’t want to wait for the Apple Watch Series 7, take a look at our selection of the best smartwatches. Although it’s not always possible with currency value fluctuations, Apple likes consistency when it comes to the pricing of its products. That’s largely true of the Apple Watch, although the price has admittedly fluctuated a bit in the UK over the past few years, due to the value of GBP (£). Even so, we expect the Apple Watch Series 7 to cost a similar amount to the Apple Watch Series 6, starting at £379/US$399 for the 40mm version and £409/US$429 for the 44mm version, with an aluminium body and sports band. As with previous generations of Apple Watch, the company is expected to sell higher-end variants made from polished stainless steel and other premium materials too.
