A round Apple Watch is possible, but an Apple Ring more likely

A Bloomberg report yesterday suggested that we could see a pretty dramatic shake-up in a future Apple Watch lineup.

In particular, it suggested that the company was exploring the possibility of one or more models with a round rather than square form factor …

Most smartwatches are round

While square-faced watches have existed for well over a century, the majority of conventional watches are round, and the same is true of Android smartwatches. For example:

Apple is unusual in opting for a rectangular format, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the company would be considering also offering a circular Apple Watch in future.

There’s an argument for a round Apple Watch

The reason Apple opted for the rectangular form factor is that it allows greater information density. It’s no accident that all of the other screens we use – phones, tablets, laptops, monitors, and so on – are rectangular.

Essentially, the choice comes down to aesthetics versus utility. Some will always prioritise utility, so a rectangular Apple Watch form factor certainly isn’t going away. But others place a very high value on aesthetics, and many people do have a strong preference for round watches, be they conventional or smart.

Additionally, not everyone who wears an Apple Watch needs a lot of information displayed on the screen. There are plenty of arguments for wearing an Apple Watch, even if you don’t often look at the display. For example:

• Health and fitness monitoring
• Sleep tracking
• Emergency features, like fall detection
• Contactless payment

The first of these is by far the greatest draw for many, and if you’re not primarily using an Apple Watch as a content consumption device, then a round screen could be perfectly viable for you.

But Apple Ring arguments are stronger

However, if you fall into this category – primarily using an Apple Watch for health and fitness monitoring, and not really using it to view information – I would argue that a smart ring is a far … smarter bet.

I made the switch myself from an Apple Watch to the Oura smart ring back in 2024, recently upgrading to the 5th-generation model. I appreciate the fact that it’s extremely unobtrusive, allows me to wear my own choice of conventional watch, and that it only has to be charged once a week.

It’s almost two years ago to the day that I said I was sold on a smart ring as an alternative to the Apple Watch, and argued that Apple should make one. I remain every bit as convinced of this today, and Gurman says that Eddy Cue is also a big fan of smart rings, suggesting it’s more likely than not.

I do think it’s possible that Apple will offer a round Apple Watch model, but I think it’s even more likely that we will see an Apple Ring. What’s your take? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Photo: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7/Unsplash