Apple unveiled the Apple Watch a decade ago last September, prompting speculation about an anniversary watch, just like the iPhone X once was. The Apple Watch X was supposed to feature a new magnetic strap system that could free up more space in the case for the battery and other modules.
Several months ago, there was speculation about blood pressure estimation, which Apple might have finally managed to do. Just a few years ago, the blogosphere was buzzing about blood sugar monitoring, but hopes for the feature arriving have shifted to the late 2020s, if that.
What Apple introduced in September was undoubtedly a solid update: the Apple Watch Series 10 retained the best of the Apple Watch Ultra, with a bigger battery sacrificed for even less weight and even smaller dimensions. finer. But even for me, as an Apple Watch enthusiast, there was a strange aftertaste: like when you look forward to cold sparkling water on a hot day and are served soda instead lukewarm and stale. In short, it was a bit disappointing.
And it's not just me. The latest sales figures from Apple's wearables division show this. The Apple Watch represents a large part of Apple's balance sheet, as shown by the reliable spikes each first quarter when the Apple Watch financials presented in September arrive. The Apple Watch reached its peak with the Series 7, presented at the end of 2021. Since then, even the new Apple Watch Ultra has failed to generate notable growth.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic played into the hands of the Apple Watch. Importantly, Apple introduced the handwashing reminder just one version early. Blood oxygen saturation can also be monitored with the Apple Watch since Series 6. Since then, however, Apple's smartwatch has offered few arguments for switching to it, apart from the new Ultra.
The main line around Series 8, 9 and 10 brought only evolutionary improvements: Series 8 brought for the first time a temperature sensor and an improved accelerometer capable of detecting car accidents, Series 9 was eclipsed by the new Ultra despite the new In operation, the Series 10 had inherited the water temperature sensor from the Ultra.
The Apple Watch is no longer unique – is it?
If you look at the market, the Apple Watch doesn't offer any unique features. Withings & Co. also has comprehensive health monitoring and provides comparable vital signs. Garmin also offers outdoor maps and tracks your own hikes, like the Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Watch has built-in blood pressure estimation, but with huge compromises, more on that later.
A bit absurd, but one of the unique selling points of the Apple Watch is the wide range of bands from third-party manufacturers. With my test samples alone, I could wear a “new” Apple Watch every day, with a matching color or material for each top or dress. The connection to the iPhone and the feature set can also convince customers. But these are arguments that only appear after the purchase, not before.
This feeling of stagnation is probably due to Apple's philosophy regarding health. On the one hand, the company has the ambition to positively influence the lives of humanity, or at least that part of it that can afford an Apple Watch. On the other hand, this means that new health functions will only be released if they are also beneficial from a medical point of view.
Apple does not want to offer features such as the blood pressure function on Samsung's Galaxy Watch, where the user must calibrate the watch's blood pressure data at regular intervals using a conventional cuff. The Galaxy Watch was also not included in the European Society of Hypertension's database of validated devices.
Research takes time and Apple's ambitions are high. This is precisely why the new blood pressure estimation feature has been delayed for at least a year. But Apple must finally introduce something fundamentally new to the healthcare industry. The Apple Watch and its users can cope with this new beginning.
This article was originally published on our sister publication Macwelt and has been translated and localized from German.
This article was originally published on our sister publication Macwelt and has been translated and localized from German.
