Apple may be planning a major design upgrade for its smartwatch. According to recent reports, the company is exploring the possibility of replacing the Apple Watch’s traditional chassis and physical buttons with a touch-sensitive glass frame.
This new design concept was first mentioned by a leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, who speculated that an all-glass Apple Watch could debut before a rumored all-glass iPhone. While the timing of the leak raised eyebrows, the idea closely matches a patent filed by Apple, which was published on March 27 and spotted by Patently Apple.
The patent, titled “Wearable Electronic Device with Glass Shell,” suggests that Apple is working on a future where the Apple Watch could feature a glass shell that covers both the display and side walls, replacing the current metal or titanium casing. The glass would not only serve as a protective cover but also as a touch-sensitive interface, allowing users to interact with the watch in new ways.
The patent outlines a wearable device with a glass shell that includes both the front display and a side wall extending from the front. This design would give the Apple Watch a sleek, seamless look and enable touch sensitivity across the entire frame.
The main benefit of this approach is that the side walls could become interactive. For example, if you were using the stopwatch function, the side of the watch could display touch buttons for starting and stopping the timer. Switch to music mode, and the buttons could change to controls for pausing or skipping tracks.
This kind of dynamic, context-sensitive interface could add an entirely new dimension to the Apple Watch experience. The touch-sensitive glass could provide quick access to functions without needing physical buttons, making the device even more intuitive.
While this idea sounds exciting, it’s important to note that it’s likely years away from becoming a reality. Don’t expect to see an all-glass Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Series 11 this September. Apple’s current focus seems to be on improving the existing models, with rumors suggesting that the company may add blood-pressure monitoring to its more premium 2025 models.
Moreover, Apple has also been working on other ambitious concepts, including a folding, dual-display Apple Watch and the possibility of adding cameras for AI-powered features. While these innovations could eventually appear, it seems that the touch-sensitive glass design might be a more refined update compared to adding a camera to the watch.
Of course, as with all patents, there’s no guarantee that this design will ever make it to market. It’s possible that the touch-sensitive glass concept remains just that – an idea on paper. However, it shows Apple’s ongoing interest in pushing the boundaries of wearable technology.
In the meantime, Apple is working on more immediate upgrades. Reports suggest that the Apple Watch SE 3 will feature a significant redesign, potentially made of plastic, though this has been causing some design challenges. Whatever the future holds, Apple’s efforts to innovate in the smartwatch space continue to evolve.
Related Topics: