Apple Watch Series 8 to launch with a flat display in major design change

Rumours about Apple redesigning the Watch Series have re-emerged, a year after analysts and leakers believed that would be the case with the Watch Series 7. Instead, Apple's most recent Watch Series gained a larger display, among other minor changes. According to @VNchocoTaco, Apple has returned to this redesign for the Watch Series 8, which LeaksApplePro has alleged will arrive in September alongside many other hardware refreshes.

Writing on Twitter, @VNchocoTaco claims to have heard from a source that a 'flat front glass display' exists for an Apple Watch. Apparently, there is a 'high chance' that Apple intends to use this front glass in the Watch Series 8. However, the leaker has not received any information about a redesigned housing yet. Hence, existing redesigns should be taken as illustrative at this point.

Supposedly, Apple cancelled the flat version of the Watch Series 7 late into its development. An iFixit teardown contradicts this though, with the website explaining that the altered display is, in fact, a complex change from the panels in the Watch Series 6 and Watch Series 7. Reputedly, the display alterations were so particular that it caused Apple to delay the Watch Series 7's release, rather than because of a development u-turn.

Ultimately, we would take @VNchocoTaco's leak with some scepticism at this point, especially owing to the lack of corroborating sources at this point. Still, we would expect a flatter Watch Series to remain compatible with existing accessories, such as Apple's various watch straps. Even if the Watch Series 8 launches without a major redesign, a body-temperature sensor upgrade is expected, as we discussed earlier this month.

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