While the Apple Watch Series 12 is still a few months away, a new rumor suggests that next year’s Apple Watch Series 13 will mark the end of an era.
According to a recent post from a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Apple Watch will be receiving a major redesign next year, and this will apparently include a new way of attaching bands to the watch. As a result, the leaker implied that existing bands will not be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 13.
Apple has maintained the same band connector across 11 years of Apple Watch generations, meaning that you can use bands released since 2015 with any Apple Watch, so long as it is part of the corresponding size family. If the Apple Watch Series 13 breaks this streak in 2027, that would mark the end of a 12-year era by that point.
Keep in mind that a redesigned Apple Watch with a new band attachment system has been rumored since at least 2023, so it is one of those rumors that has been circulating for years without materializing. But, it may happen eventually.
Look for the Apple Watch Series 13 to be announced in September 2027.
Popular StorieswatchOS 27 Improves Apple Watch Performance in Seven Ways
Apple’s software updates previewed during WWDC 2026 this week have followed a distinct pattern: introduce a handful of key new features, while maintaining a focus on refining the underlying platform architecture. watchOS 27 is no different in this respect, with the majority of changes being performance improvements under the hood. That said, one of the most obvious user-facing changes is a…
Apple’s Limited-Edition 2026 ‘Close Your Rings’ Watch Band Revealed
Apple’s employees who participated in the company’s annual Close Your Rings Challenge have begun to receive a limited-edition Apple Watch band and a special enamel pin marking the 10th anniversary of the internal challenge. This year’s band is a black Sport Loop with special lugs and an end piece that are colored similarly to the Apple Watch’s Move, Exercise, and Stand rings. Given that …
Schlage Launching Sense Pro Door Lock With Hands-Free Unlocking via iPhone or Apple Watch
Schlage today announced that the Sense Pro smart deadbolt it unveiled at CES 2025 will finally be available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada beginning June 29, with U.S. pricing set at $399 and Canadian pricing set at $549. The smart deadbolt will be available at Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and select other retailers. Sense Pro utilizes Ultra Wideband technology to allow for…