watchOS 9 expected to introduce notable improvements

Apr 10, 2022 21:16 GMT  ·  By

2022 is expected to be a pretty big year for the Apple Watch for several reasons, and one of them concerns the software update the device is about to receive.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says in the latest Power On newsletter that the Apple Watch is projected to get a massive software update that will include improvements for activity and health tracking.

And while no specifics have been provided, it looks like the smartwatch is on the table for lots of good news on several fronts.

New Apple Watch models

While it makes sense for watchOS 9 to come with new activity improvements, Apple also wants to come up with new Apple Watch models, including a more rugged model that could feature a bigger battery.

At the same time, it’s believed the company is also working on a redesign that was originally scheduled to go live in September 2021.

People familiar with the matter said on several occasions last year that the Apple Watch was projected to receive a visual update based on the iPhone 12 design. Apple wanted the smartwatch to feature straight edges just like the smartphone, so the Apple Watch was supposed to give up on the curved edges already available on all models out there.

In many ways, this made perfect sense, especially as Apple wants to provide some design consistency on its products. But on the other hand, this idea was eventually abandoned, seemingly as Apple ended up hitting various design issues that made it more challenging for its suppliers to build the necessary parts.

It’s not clear if the new design could still make its way to users this year, but if it does, expect the Apple Watch to feel like a completely new smartwatch given the mix of a new look, a major software update, and massive hardware upgrades.