Apple Watch Could Be Heading for Its Biggest Redesign Yet

Apple may be preparing to rethink what the Apple Watch actually is.

The Apple Watch has kept a familiar rectangular design since its launch in 2015. But according to reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's design team has been exploring a much broader redesign that could eventually change the company's entire wearable strategy. And interestingly, Apple isn't only looking at another smartwatch.

The company is reportedly considering screenless fitness devices, different screen shapes and sizes, new price points and even more premium models. That could make the next generation of Apple wearables very different from what we're used to.

Apple could move beyond the traditional smartwatch

One of the most interesting ideas reportedly being explored is an Apple wearable without a screen.

Think about products such as Whoop or other minimalist fitness trackers.

Instead of constantly looking at a display, the device would focus primarily on collecting health and fitness information and delivering insights through an iPhone or another Apple device. This approach could also help Apple compete more directly with products such as Whoop and Oura, which have helped popularize wearables that prioritize health tracking over traditional smartwatch features.

For users who mainly want:

• Heart and fitness tracking

• Sleep monitoring

• Workout data

• Recovery information

• Health trends

• Longer battery life

a screenless Apple device could actually make a lot of sense.

Could Apple finally make a round watch?

Another interesting possibility is that Apple has reportedly experimented with different screen shapes and sizes, including round displays. Apple has stayed with its recognizable rectangular design for more than a decade. A circular Apple Watch would therefore be a major visual change. However, this doesn't mean a round Apple Watch is coming.

These are reportedly design concepts being explored, and Apple could ultimately decide not to release any of them.

Apple could introduce more premium models

Apple may also be thinking about expanding the top end of the Apple Watch range. The current lineup already includes the premium Ultra models and luxury-focused Hermès variants. But reports suggest Apple is considering additional premium products above or alongside those models.

That could eventually create a much wider Apple wearable lineup:

Budget → SE

Mainstream → Apple Watch Series

Premium → Ultra

Luxury → Higher-end special editions

This would allow Apple to target considerably more customers without relying on one basic smartwatch design.

And there could be cheaper Apple wearables too

Apple isn't apparently looking only at expensive products. The company is also considering more affordable concepts beyond the existing SE line. That could be particularly interesting for markets where Apple Watch prices are already difficult for many consumers to justify.

In countries such as Nigeria, an affordable Apple fitness band could potentially attract people who want Apple's health ecosystem without paying flagship Apple Watch prices.

Why is Apple doing this now?

The wearable market has changed significantly. Consumers are increasingly interested in health, sleep, recovery and fitness data, rather than simply receiving notifications on their wrist. Products such as Oura and Whoop have demonstrated that a wearable doesn't necessarily need a large screen to be useful.

Apple also appears to be pushing further into AI-powered health experiences. The company's broader health strategy could eventually combine wearable sensors with AI to provide more personalized recommendations around exercise, sleep and wellness.

That could transform the Apple Watch from:

A small iPhone on your wrist

into something closer to:

A personal health companion.

Don't expect the biggest redesign this year

There's an important catch. The rumoured redesign does not necessarily mean Apple is about to completely change the Apple Watch this September. Reports indicate that the upcoming generation is expected to be more evolutionary, while the larger redesign could take considerably longer to reach consumers.

So if you're waiting for a completely different Apple Watch, you may have to wait.

The upcoming Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected to focus more on performance and other improvements rather than introducing an entirely new form factor.

What this could mean for African users

This could actually become an important development for African consumers. Apple Watches are expensive in markets such as Nigeria, especially once import costs and retailer margins are added. A smaller, cheaper Apple fitness tracker could make Apple's health ecosystem accessible to people who don't want to spend flagship smartwatch money.

At the other end, wealthier consumers could eventually have even more premium options. The biggest opportunity, however, could be battery life. Removing a display could allow Apple to focus much more heavily on health tracking while potentially reducing the power demands associated with continuously running a screen.

That is an area where Apple could face strong competition from dedicated fitness trackers.

Apple Watch could become a family of wearables

The most interesting part of this story isn't necessarily the possibility of a round Apple Watch. It's that Apple appears to be thinking beyond one watch design.

Imagine an Apple wearable ecosystem consisting of:

Apple Watch SE — affordable smartwatch

Apple Watch Series — mainstream users

Apple Watch Ultra — athletes and outdoor users

Apple Fitness Band — lightweight health tracking

Apple Smart Ring — discreet health monitoring

Premium Apple Watch — luxury users

That would put Apple directly into several categories currently dominated by companies such as Oura and Whoop.

Our Take

Apple doesn't need another Apple Watch that simply looks slightly different. The more interesting opportunity is to rethink the wearable completely.

A screenless Apple health tracker, combined with Apple's sensors, software and AI capabilities, could potentially be more useful to some people than another smartwatch with a slightly brighter display.

But Apple needs to get one thing right:

battery life.

If Apple can combine accurate health tracking, AI-powered insights and significantly longer battery life, its next generation of wearables could be much more interesting than another annual Apple Watch upgrade.

For now, though, these remain design explorations rather than confirmed products. The big question is whether Apple eventually turns any of these experiments into something consumers can actually buy.

Would you buy a screenless Apple health band if it had significantly better battery life than an Apple Watch?