The Apple Watch Series 10 will feature a larger display and a new chip, but new health monitoring features for the device are now in question. BloombergMark Gurman reports.

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In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the Apple Watch Series 10’s design “probably won’t look much different” than its predecessor, but it will be thinner. The Apple Watch Ultra, meanwhile, won’t get a new design this year.

The new Apple Watch “Series” models will continue to be available in two case sizes, codenamed “N217” and “N218,” and will feature larger displays. One of the models will have a screen about the same size as the Apple Watch Ultra.

Both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will apparently come with a new processor, replacing last year’s S9 chip. While this could “lay the groundwork for some AI improvements in the future,” it won’t run Apple Intelligence and there are reportedly no plans to bring “the full initiative” to the Apple Watch at this time.

Apple has been developing hypertension and sleep apnea detection features for the Apple Watch, originally slated for release in 2024, but Gurman now says the “efforts have not gone smoothly” and “Apple has encountered some serious issues.” The hypertension detection feature was not reliable enough during testing and there are concerns about its integration into the redesigned design, which could force Apple to delay the feature until next year.

Likewise, the sleep apnea detection feature is currently in trouble because it relies on blood oxygen saturation, which Apple Watches in the US currently cannot measure due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo. Gurman postulates that the dispute with Masimo could be resolved by September, or Apple could find a way around it by arguing that the blood oxygen sensor could be used for purposes not directly related to blood oxygen levels. The company could also announce the sleep apnea detection feature and delay its release to a later date.

Apple is also reportedly continuing to test and discuss the possibility of 3D printing cases for some Apple Watch models. This could speed up production and reduce material consumption.

According to Gurman, it is still unclear whether Apple will release the new Apple Watches as special anniversary models or wait until next year, since the original Apple Watch was announced in 2014 and launched in 2015.

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