GoKawiilAamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR Apple is considering new wearable device form factors, a new report says.
Device types in consideration include round smartwatches, as well as screenless fitness trackers similar to the Fitbit Air.
Apple is not expected to announce any new wearable form factors at its event in September.
Apple is apparently looking to shake up its wearable offerings. A new report this week suggests that Apple is thinking about new shapes, price points, and form factors for its wearable tech, including screenless versions to compete more directly with devices like the WHOOP Band 5.0 and Google’s Fitbit Air.
As reported by Mark Gurman for Bloomberg, after more than a decade of iterative updates to its Apple Watch offerings, the company is now seriously considering making wearable devices that diverge from its hallmark rounded rectangle design language. The plans aren’t concrete, but in addition to the screenless concept, Apple’s also discussed round smartwatches, as well as additional premium offerings beyond the Apple Watch Ultra.
Screenless fitness trackers are having a bit of a moment. In addition to WHOOP and Fitbit, there are also screenless wrist-worn trackers from the likes of Amazfit and Garmin, not to mention smart rings from Oura and newer entrants to the segment like Samsung. Gurman notes that Apple SVP of Services and Health Eddy Cue is a fan of devices like these.
Don’t expect any new wearable categories to make an appearance at Apple’s next hardware launch event in September, however. It seems like Apple’s still in the early stages of planning any potential changes to its wearable offerings. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 we’re expecting Apple to announce next month are likely to be standard annual updates to the established formula.
Last week, Google released an update for Google Health on iOS that allows users to sync data collected by Fitbit trackers to the Apple Health platform.
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