Apple is planning to deliver notable changes to the user interface of the Apple Watch through the next watchOS update.
That's according to everpresent Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who suggests in their latest Power On newsletter that Apple's watchOS 10 will be an extensive upgrade in lieu of any serious hardware changes.
An official announcement relating to the next big Apple Watch update is expected at WWDC 2023 - now confirmed to be taking place on 5-9 June.
It's also the time and place the rest of the company's major platforms are expected to be unveiled, with the event also set to be headlined by the long-rumored debut of the Apple mixed-reality headset.
As far as the smartwatch platform is concerned, though, Gurman has declined to offer any specifics thus far.
"I believe the new watchOS should be a fairly extensive upgrade - with notable changes to the user interface - unlike iOS 17. It’s important for watchOS to have a big year given that the Apple Watch hardware updates will be anything but major," they said.
Given that a lot of the core UI of watchOS has remained unchanged for several years, this doesn't come as a huge surprise - especially given the lack of exciting rumors relating to the Apple Watch Series 9, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 not expected until 2024.
As we saw with the Apple Watch Series 8, the 2023 update will likely be a stop-gap ahead of the much-anticipated Mini LED Apple Watch next year.
Until then, it appears watchOS will shoulder the burden.
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Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.