Apple's smartwatches are expected to retain their current design for at least the next year or two.

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      Reports indicate that Apple’s Series 12 and Ultra 4 will not receive a redesign this year, focusing instead on chip enhancements and health tracking features for the entire generation.

      For several years, the appearance of each Apple Watch has remained largely unchanged. The Apple Watch Series 11 mirrored the dimensions and design of the Watch 10, which in turn resembled the Watch 9. It appears this trend will continue in 2026.

      So, what changes can we expect this year?

      As per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is currently in the late stages of testing three new Watch models set to launch this fall: a Wi-Fi-only and a cellular Series 12, internally designated as N237 and N238, along with an Ultra 4 with the codename N240.

      However, none of these models will feature a design update. If you were anticipating a brand-new look, you may need to wait another year. It is also possible there will not be a new Apple Watch SE this year, as the SE 3 only had a significant refresh last year, and Apple typically spaces out SE generations.

      Reports suggest that a substantial redesign is still one to two years away, and Apple’s long-rumored blood-sugar monitoring feature, rumored since Steve Jobs’ era, is also not anticipated until later this decade.

      Why does the Apple Watch seem stagnant, and what’s on the horizon?

      Instead, Apple is concentrating on internal improvements, enhancing health and fitness tracking, and introducing a chip upgrade that Gurman describes as genuinely “long-awaited.”

      This phrasing carries more weight than it may initially appear. Up until now, Apple Watch performance has essentially been stagnant since the S9 chip was released in 2023, even though Apple has introduced "new" processors in every subsequent generation.

      This year’s lineup, therefore, represents a refinement rather than a complete overhaul. Apple's caution contrasts sharply with its aggressive pursuits of smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods in other areas.

      Once regarded as its most experimental wearable, the Watch has settled into a notably conservative phase, favoring gradual health improvements over the redesign risks it is taking elsewhere in its product range.

      For over five years, Shikhar has reliably simplified advances in consumer technology and communicated them effectively…

      A new iPhone app can detect nearby Meta smart glasses

      Your iPhone can now monitor the glasses keeping tabs on you.

      Earlier this year, Android users received an unusual privacy tool to alert them of the presence of smart glasses nearby. Now, five months later, iPhone users have a comparable tool, whose name reflects its sentiments toward Meta clearly.

      The $2.99 iPhone app, AntiZuck, scans for Bluetooth signals linked to smart glasses and notifies you when it believes one is in proximity. It is compatible with devices such as Meta Ray-Bans, Snap Spectacles, Amazon Echo Frames, and RayNeo glasses, with additional support for other hardware in development, according to the developer.

      Apple's smart glasses are delayed due to privacy concerns

      Apple is dedicating additional time to ensure that its smart glasses do not adopt Meta’s unpleasant reputation.

      According to Bloomberg, Apple may reveal its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027, followed by a consumer launch later that year. Internally referred to as N50, this device was initially expected to be introduced in late 2026 and launched in early 2027.

      The delay is said to be due to Apple’s engineering and marketing teams spending more time refining the product and determining how to handle privacy issues associated with camera-equipped devices. Privacy is reportedly the primary concern for the teams developing the glasses.

      Shopping for back-to-school? Here are the smartwatches I’d actually wear to class

      From a $69 wrist companion to the latest Apple Watch, these are the smartwatches worth considering this semester.

      With commitments such as early classes, evening workouts, and late-night study sessions, a smartwatch can significantly assist with managing the many tasks students face. Whether it's monitoring sleep, reminding users to stay active, or silencing phone notifications during lectures, a quality smartwatch serves as both a discreet organizer and a health tracker for students.

      If you’re looking for a new smartwatch this back-to-school season, I have seven recommendations for you, each with its unique features. From an affordable $69 option to the latest Apple Watch, each smartwatch earns its place, leaving only the decision of which features are most important to you.