The Apple Watch Series 10 could be bigger and thinner, but could miss these health features

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to receive significant improvements, including larger displays and a slimmer profile, but some expected health features may be delayed.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reveals in his Power On newsletter that both versions of the Series 10 will feature larger screens. “Series 10 buyers will be able to choose a screen that’s about the same size as the Apple Watch Ultra,” Gurman notes. This is consistent with leaked plans that suggest a 2-inch display for the larger model, easily surpassing the 1.93-inch screen on the current Ultra.

Despite the larger screen size, the new watches are expected to be thinner, but Gurman suggests that the overall design “probably won’t be much different from previous models.”

Apple is also exploring changes in manufacturing, including the possible use of 3D-printed cases for some watch models, to streamline production and reduce material waste.
Chip upgrade for Apple Watch Series 10 and Watch Ultra 3
A new chip will power both the Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, potentially laying the groundwork for future AI features. However, Gurman reports that there are currently “no plans to bring the full initiative to the watch” when it comes to Apple’s upcoming AI features.

New health features such as blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea could take a back seat
While hardware improvements are on track, some health features may not be ready for this year’s release. Blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection, originally announced for 2024, have encountered development difficulties.

“The technology that measures high blood pressure, or hypertension, was not as reliable as hoped during testing,” Gurman reports. This could force Apple to delay the release of the feature. Sleep apnea detection faces additional hurdles because it relies on blood oxygen measurements and is currently unavailable on US Apple Watches due to a legal dispute.

To celebrate the anniversary or not, that is the question. The Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 16 in September. But the timing of the anniversary makes the release even more exciting. “It’s not yet clear whether Apple will brand the upcoming watches as anniversary models or wait until next year,” Gurman writes, noting that Apple could celebrate either the 2014 announcement or the release of the original Apple Watch in 2015.