Rumors about redesign for watchOS together with iOS 19
Apple reportedly not only wants to give iOS 19, iPadOS 19 and macOS 16 a redesign, but also the Apple Watch operating system. Will it be brought closer to iOS?
Apple Watch on the wrist: the icons are already round, but will they also be more transparent?
(Image: Apple)
WWDC 2025 in June is less than 60 days away – and the rumor mill continues to churn over what Apple will serve up to users with its new operating systems iOS 19, iPadOS 19 and macOS 16. So far, little has been heard about what might happen with watchOS. The Israeli magazine The Verifier has now made some initial announcements: the Apple Watch operating system will reportedly also change visually in version 12 and be based on the glassy look of visionOS, just like the other interfaces.
New UI, but not too new?
According to the report, "elements" from visionOS are planned for watchOS, such as buttons, icons, menus and other UI elements. The effect should look "bolder" and more transparent than before, with a "flowing aesthetic". The icons on the Apple Watch are already round; Apple has only gradually changed the basic look since the devices were launched in 2015. The 10th anniversary this year would therefore be a good time without overwhelming users.
The Apple Watch home screen could also be revised. The icon grid that you scroll through is not always clear, while the alternative list view requires a lot of scrolling. However, Apple is said to have not yet agreed on a style internally –, although it would be time to do so in order not to miss the WWDC deadline. The Verifier refers to informed circles in its report. This year, Apple's designers are apparently keen to bring the operating systems closer together.
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Rumors about the Apple Watch Ultra 3
In the same report, The Verifier also writes that Apple is considering bringing its Apple Intelligence AI system to both the Apple TV and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is expected in the fall. While it would be sufficient to find a suitable off-the-shelf SoC for the Apple TV – such as the A18 from the iPhone 16e –, the Apple Watch would require an entirely new system-in-package (SiP). For Apple Intelligence, an extreme leap would be necessary here: From the current 1 GByte of on-board RAM to 8 GBytes, unless Apple develops new, more economical models specifically for the watch.
A "special chip" is reportedly being considered for the Ultra 3, while normal Apple Watch models will not receive Apple Intelligence until 2026. There are said to be special functions for watchOS, such as Genmoji creation or notification summaries on device. There really is some catching up to do with the Ultra, as Apple only gave the Ultra 2 a new coat of paint last year. How much truth there is to the report remains to be seen.
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