What We Can Expect From Apple Watch 2

With Apple likely to announce the second generation Apple Watch next week, my thoughts on what may be coming.

When Apple announced the Apple Watch in September, 2014 it was a big step for the company. It was the first major new product category that Apple had undertaken under Tim Cook, and it was a massive step into the fashion world for the Cupertino-based tech company. But how would Apple guide a product like this? While traditional watch lines may undergo only subtle changes over the course of decades, Apple is known for deploying a major redesign of its iPhone every two years. So what course will Apple Watch take? We’re about to find out.

The Design.

The rumor mill is suggesting that Apple will keep the first generation Apple Watch in the lineup, likely pushing the price down and making Apple Watch accessible to even more potential buyers. For Apple Watch 2, it sounds like it will look very much like a subtle update to the existing form. Compared to many traditional watches, Apple Watch is not a tremendously thick device, but we’re talking about Apple here. Apple highly values thinness, so I expect Apple Watch 2 to be noticeably (but probably not radically) thinner.

Assuming Apple does keep the overall form very similar to that of the original Apple Watch, expect some grumbling from the fickle segment of iPhone buyers who will also be apalled at how similar the iPhone 7 is to the current models in terms of looks. But I think the current Apple Watch design is quite good, and Apple may feel it’s got something iconic on its hands. I almost wonder if Apple Watch will ever see a major redesign. Perhaps it’ll evolve in subtle ways for the next several generations.

I wonder if Apple will introduce a new size. I’m betting it won’t happen next week, but perhaps will at some point in the future. I actually think that Apple has chosen sizes that are quite elegant and in good taste. But it’s true that watch sizes have trended larger and larger, and you can certainly make a case for a larger wrist-based computer from a user experience standpoint. I see 42mm as the perfect size for my wrist and tastes.

Speeds and feeds.

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on about Apple Watch 1 it’s that it’s too slow. The watch face and notifications are fluid, but wander off into an app and prepare to wait. If Apple Watch is ever going to take off as an app platform, it needs more speed. Fortunately, Apple has found some ways to address this problem even before making hardware changes. watchOS 3, due this Fall, will keep your most frequently used apps running in memory, reducing the wait time when opening them significantly. But as impressive as this software tweak is, I don’t think Apple’s going to rest there. I expect to see a new, faster processor in the new Apple Watch. In fact (and quite curiously), there have also been rumors that Apple will release an updated version of the Apple Watch 1 with faster internals.

Battery life can also improve. My 42mm Apple Watch does a great job at lasting all day, even very long days with aplomb. I have only very rarely had the watch go into low power mode. This is crucial. It an adjustment enough to have a watch that actually requires regular charging, but it would have been a deal breaker if I would have had to charge it in the middle of the day. Charging it every night is livable, but still not ideal. Battery technology may in fact be the single biggest challenge facing the tech industry, so I don’t expect game-changing battery improvements. Still, I would expect to see modest improvements in battery life. If they’re able to get two days out of a charge that would be astounding to me at this point.

Fashion.

Fashion is a key component to the Apple Watch brand. Even from the first Jony Ive-led introduction video in 2014, it was clear that Apple has a lot of love for the traditional trappings of the watch aesthetic. My first question is, does Apple Watch Edition make it to generation two? I’d bet that most Apple fans weren’t even aware that high-end watches cost tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of dollars until Apple announced its own $17,000 watch. And even when you can get your head around that aspect of the watch industry, you still had to wonder whether or not Apple Watch, with its awkward blend of high tech and high fashion could play in that price range. And I’m not sure we have a clear answer on that front. It’ll be telling if the Apple Watch 2 doesn’t have Edition models in its line.

Case color clearly also plays a part in the Apple Watch story, as it certainly does with the iPhone. Apple even introduced additional colors well after the initial launch of the first generation Apple Watch. I expect to see one or more new colors come to the Apple Watch 2.

But perhaps the biggest fashion angle to Apple Watch is with bands. Apple’s initial run of Apple Watch devices came with a wide variety of different band options. This is clearly a passion for Apple, and we’ve seen additional varieties in the months since that original release, including special limited edition bands. And of course, third parties have joined the fun in a big way. We can surely expect to see even more band options with Watch 2, but I suspect they’ll remain connector-compatible with the first generation watch. It’ll be interesting to see if they offer bands with additional sensors built in for even more detailed biometric implications. I think there’s a good chance that happens.

What else?

Based on what they’ve already announced about watchOS 3, it sounds like health and fitness tracking are a key aspect of the Apple Watch that Apple is zeroing in on. I expect the new model to have additional sensors to provide additional data. A barometer for tracking flights of stairs climbed seems like a definite. GPS would be fantastic, but it’ll depend on what they can get out of battery performance.

Perhaps what I’d most like to see is better water resistance. While Tim Cook has talked about wearing his Apple Watch in the shower, I’m not nearly so trusting. (Nor can I replace one as easily as Tim Cook can should mine suffer water damage.) I can say I have no fears about wearing my Apple Watch in the rain, but I’d love it if they can improve the water resistance to the point where I could wear it in the pool with no fear. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is coming in Apple Watch 2. We’ll all likely find out next Wednesday!