Apple Watch X renders reveal new strap mechanism

Renders of the Apple Watch X (Series 10) confirm rumors that have been floating around for some time. Last summer, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the Apple Watch X could get a thinner case and a new method of attaching straps to the watch using magnets. The current method of attaching straps involves threading the end of the strap through a slot on the top and bottom of the watch. That slot takes up enough space inside the device that Apple can’t increase the Apple Watch’s battery life by installing a higher-capacity battery.

And that’s why the Apple Watch’s battery life is not improved.

The Apple Watch X renders posted by @concept_central at «X» show how the strap will wrap around the «handle» located at the top and bottom of the watch. Since there is no groove cut out of the top and bottom as there is now, using the «handle» should leave more room inside the watch module for a higher-capacity battery.

The strap will not be cut out of the top and bottom as it is now.

Another change allegedly planned for the Apple Watch X —using a microLED display instead of an OLED panel — won’t happen, though the bezels will be thinner and the OLED panel in the Apple Watch X is expected to be brighter and more energy efficient. This could give the Apple Watch X the best battery life in Apple Watch history.

The Apple Watch X will have the best battery life in Apple Watch history.

There is also speculation that the Apple Watch X will feature a blood pressure monitor that will alert the user if the reading is too high or too low. Perhaps a future Apple Watch model will show the user’s actual blood pressure readings with separate systolic and diastolic numbers. But for now, Apple will reportedly limit itself to a warning about blood pressure that’s too high or too low.

At this point, the Apple Watch will reportedly be limited to warning users about blood pressure that’s too high or too low.

It will also be interesting to see if Apple manages to negotiate a deal with Masimo to bring a pulse oximeter back into the device. As you probably know, Masimo sued Apple for patent infringement, and an International Trade Commission judge ruled against Apple. As a result, the ITC issued an import ban that prevents Apple from selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. with a pulse oximeter. Masimo’s patent expires in 2028, and if Apple doesn’t want to wait until then to bring back the feature, it will have to create a new sensor that doesn’t infringe the patent or pay money to license it.