Apple Watch SE with ‘new look’ reportedly launching later this year; new health features in the works

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple will be launching a new Apple Watch SE later this year, as well as introducing refreshes for Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3. Based on today’s rumors, it’s sounding like it’ll be a big year for Apple Watch.

New Apple Watch SE

Gurman doesn’t provide many specifics for the new Apple Watch SE, other than the fact that it’ll ‘sport a new look’.

Apple introduced Apple Watch SE in 2020, based on the design of 2018’s Apple Watch Series 4. It’s possible that we’ll be getting a design that more closely resembles 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7 – or maybe it’ll be something new entirely.

In the past, Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is considering a plastic body for Apple Watch SE, so it’s possible he’s referring to that. In any case, if you’re in the market for an Apple Watch SE, I’d hold out for this new model, which should finally launch this year. If Apple ends up going with a plastic Apple Watch SE, I’d also expect a bunch of fun colors to come alongside it.

Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3

The higher-end Apple Watches, on the other hand, shouldn’t introduce any sort of new design. Gurman says they’ll ‘probably stay roughly the same.’ However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything to look forward to.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 should be gaining support for satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap, vastly expanding users connectivity options. Apple will also likely introduce high blood pressure detection on both Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 later this year. Apple’s blood pressure readings won’t give users exact numbers, but instead warn users of anything they should be aware of:

The blood-pressure feature…is designed to work in a similar way to Apple’s sleep apnea detector. It won’t give users specific readings — such as diastolic or systolic levels — but it will inform them that they may be in a state of hypertension.

Blood pressure monitoring was initially expected to debut in Apple Watch Series 10, but got delayed due to the new, thinner design of the watch. Apple should be ready to launch it this year, however.

Gurman also mentions that Apple is working on a new AI coaching service and an all new health app, though timing is unclear. These additions should coincide with the launch of AirPods with heart rate monitoring.

Wrap up

If all of these rumors come to fruition, it sounds like Apple will be refreshing every single Apple Watch model at once, something the company hasn’t done since 2022, where they introduced Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 8, and the original Apple Watch Ultra.

We were expecting this in 2024, but instead of Apple Watch Ultra 3, we just got a new black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 instead, and the new Apple Watch SE mysteriously never shipped. Nonetheless, hopefully everything works out this year.

Are you looking forward to Apple’s 2025 Apple Watch lineup? Let us know in the comments.

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