2022 may be the biggest year so far for the Apple Watch since the original was shown in 2014, and released in 2015, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman stated in his Power On newsletter on 27 February 2022.
This year Gurman thinks Apple has no less than three models in store for us, coming in autumn 2022:
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch SE, updated model
- A new Apple Watch “aimed at extreme sports”
As for the Apple Watch Series 3, which was first introduced in 2017 and thus turns five this year, it “May finally be retired”, according to Gurman.
This isn’t the first time Gurman has predicted three new watches – he also suggested that there would be three new Apple Watch models including one for extreme athletes in a PowerOn newsletter in December 2021. And Gurman has been discussing the robust, shock-resistant Apple Watch Sport in development at Apple since March 2021.
Nor is Gurman the only industry expert expecting an assortment of new Apple Watches. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also indicated in a note to investors in December 2021 that we will not only see the Apple Watch Series 8, but also a completely new Apple Watch model for extreme sports.
“The new Apple Watch in 2H22 includes Apple Watch 8, the new Apple Watch SE, and the extreme sports version,” wrote Kuo in that investor note on 8 December 2021.
Plans for Apple Watch 8
Gurman’s 27 February 2022 newsletter adds more details about what to expect from the Apple Watch 8 though. He says that this will be the “biggest update since the launch of the first Apple Watch.” Gurman does not expect any major changes in terms of which health sensors will come in the Series 8, but he notes that there may be a body temperature sensor. Major updates are expected in terms of how the watch tracks activities, as well as faster chips across the board.
According to Gurman, new, more powerful chips will also be installed. Thanks to this a large leap in performance is likely.
There are also rumours of sensors to measure blood sugar levels and a new design similar to the current iPhone models. We may also see a slightly larger watch in addition to the 41mm and 45mm models.
Read all the information about the 2022 Apple Watch.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.