Scrapped ‘flat’ Apple Watch redesign may finally come to Series 8
After the disappointment when the Apple Watch Series 7 was introduced in 2021 with virtually the same design and features as the Series 6, rumors are once again hoping that this year’s update will feature a major redesign. The latest report now says that the gently curved edges that have graced every model since 2015 will be replaced on the Series 8 with something sharper and flatter and more in keeping with the design language of current iPhones and iPads.
Earlier this week, the leaker ‘ShrimpApplePro’ tweeted: “I heard from the source today that there is a flat front glass screen for the Apple Watch screen. This is most likely the front glass of the Apple Watch Series 8.”
This, in turn, was picked up by Jon Prosser, who discussed the rumor approvingly on Tuesday’s episode of Front Page Tech. That’s not surprising because this new report represents an opportunity for vindication for Prosser, who was the main cheerleader for the rumor of the redesign in May of last year. “Until the last second,” he says, “99% of everyone expected a flat Apple Watch. But then…”
When the Series 7 came out, it was basically a Series 6 with a slightly larger screen. No flat edges. No big redesign. No new processor. It wasn’t just Prosser who was wrong: other big-name analysts and leakers agreed with his claims, including Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo. And, as Prosser now points out, he said At the time that the leaks I was getting could actually apply to the Series 8.
If ShrimpApplePro has got this right, then redemption could be close and the theories could prove true. It should be noted that ShrimpApplePro, while a relatively untested leaker that has yet to be accurately tracked on AppleTrack, accurately reported the iPhone 14 Pro’s pill + hole cutout display last September, well before other outlets. will confirm the change.
The new Apple Watch is expected to launch in September with a new “rugged” option and possibly a skin temperature sensor. You can keep up with the latest rumors with our Apple Watch Series 8 guide.