Rumors around a major Apple Watch redesign have been circulating for years, but a new round of reports suggests the wait could stretch much longer than expected. According to multiple posts from the leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, the Apple Watch redesign might not arrive until 2028. The next two years are now expected to bring only routine updates across both the main Apple Watch lineup and the Ultra model.
Instant Digital claims that the 2026 Apple Watch lineup will follow Apple’s usual cycle with only conventional upgrades. They also suggest that 2027 is murky, which could mean either an unclear development timeline or the possibility that Apple skips a full refresh that year. The leaker says a redesigned Apple Watch may instead debut the year after the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, which places the timeline squarely in 2028. As of today, no other major leak has offered a specific year for the next Apple Watch redesign, but the idea aligns with Apple’s pattern of keeping hardware designs for several generations at a time.
The last major Apple Watch redesign happened in 2024 when Apple slimmed down the case and introduced a new display layout. Even then, the company kept the overall silhouette similar, and subsequent models like the Series 11 stayed close to that template. Reports from the past two years have suggested Apple has explored more dramatic ideas, including a slimmer chassis with a magnetic band system and exterior changes tied to potential new sensors. Some of that speculation was fueled by DigiTimes, which said a 2026 model would feature significant design changes related to sensor upgrades. Much of that hype centered on Apple’s long-running work on noninvasive blood glucose technology, which remains several years away.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman previously mentioned a thinner design and new band system in development, but nothing from that project has surfaced publicly. Meanwhile, code references point to biometric authentication coming to the watch as early as 2026. This could involve an under-screen Touch ID system, which would not alter the external appearance of the device. That makes it plausible that Apple is saving a full visual overhaul for a bigger milestone year.
Instant Digital’s track record is mixed but includes some accurate calls, such as color finishes and specific Apple Watch accessories. Their posts on the Apple Watch redesign this time are short on detail and read more like early guidance than confirmed leaks. Still, a 2028 target feels realistic given the lack of concrete evidence pointing to a design shift sooner. Apple has repeatedly stuck with familiar watch designs while focusing on internal upgrades like health sensors, battery efficiency and wireless capabilities.
