Apple Watch rumors are a dime a dozen, so getting bent out of shape about one in particular isn’t advisable. Then again, the vast majority of Apple Watch leaks suggest positive improvements to Cupertino’s range of wearables, not potentially negative changes.
This is why one particular Apple Watch 12 rumor has me a bit, shall we say, perturbed, particularly as someone who’s invested heavily over the years in accessories for the best Apple Watch models, namely, a large collection of Apple Watch straps.
A new case design could mark the end of an era
Ever since the first Apple Watch launched over a decade ago, Apple has consistently used the same strap attachment system. Sure, it's proprietary, and an old-fashioned spring bar works just as well, but now, nearly eleven years later, many of us have acquired a sizable array of compatible bands.
I know I have my favorite Apple Watch straps, which I frequently shift between the Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3 and Ultra 3, depending on what I’m testing/writing about (I’m quite partial to the Nike Sport Loop).
Well, if a recent report from the known leaker Instant Digital proves to be true, Apple could be moving away from the strap attachment system we’ve all come to know and, well, tolerate. Such a move would surely irritate Apple Watch owners everywhere, myself included.
Apple is already in hot water with some smartwatch owners
With the recent debut of watchOS 27 beta, Cupertino has already thoroughly irked a wide swath of the Apple Watch faithful. Why? The next-gen operating system for the watch — which fully launches this fall — will only support the very latest Apple Watch models.
That list includes the Series 11, Series 10, Series 9, Ultra 3, Ultra 2, and SE 3. Basically, unless you purchased your Apple Watch in the past two to three years, you’re out of luck, software-wise.
Now owners of the Series 8, SE 2, Ultra, etc., have to decide whether to upgrade to a newer Apple Watch model or bail on the form-factor/move to a competitor like Garmin. What better way to convince them to stay than by making their existing collection of straps obsolete? Heck, Apple might as well introduce a newer charger while it's at it (Dear Apple: Please, don't).
What are your thoughts on Apple potentially switching to a new band attachment system for the Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4? Let me know in the comments below.
