Apple plans to fundamentally redesign the Apple Watch in the coming years. According to a report by Mark Gurman (Bloomberg), the company is developing new versions of the Apple Watch that will be equipped with cameras. The goal is to position the smartwatch more strongly as an AI-powered device that can do more than just fitness and notifications.
The Apple Watch has been an integral part of the Apple ecosystem for years. It has established itself with features related to health, sports, and communication. Now Apple wants to take the next step: The watch should be able to see. This is part of a larger strategy in which artificial intelligence and so-called visual intelligence play a central role. This development affects not only the Apple Watch, but also other devices such as the AirPods. Another crucial aspect is that Apple wants to become less dependent on third-party providers such as OpenAI and Google in the long term.
Apple Watch with camera: This is what Apple is planning
Apple is working on several camera versions
Gurman reports that Apple is working on various versions of the Apple Watch with integrated cameras. A camera version is planned for both the standard model and the Apple Watch Ultra. Both models are pursuing different approaches:
- The standard Apple Watch will have its camera integrated directly into the display. Whether this will involve under-display technology or a visible camera cutout is currently unclear.
- For the Apple Watch Ultra, however, Apple plans to install the camera on the side of the case, specifically near the digital crown and side button. According to Gurman, this solution makes sense because the Ultra offers more space, making it easier for users to point their wrist at objects they want to scan or recognize.
Visual Intelligence should run directly on the Watch
The planned cameras aren't just intended for photos or video calls, but primarily for the use of artificial intelligence. Apple wants to transform the Apple Watch into a device that recognizes and processes visual information. This so-called visual intelligence currently relies heavily on solutions like ChatGPT or Google Lens. However, Apple plans to power these functions with its own AI models in the future. The company wants to bring the technology in-house to become more independent and integrate it more deeply into the hardware.
AirPods with camera also in the works
In parallel with the Apple Watch, Apple is also developing AirPods with cameras. According to Gurman, this is part of a larger plan: Apple wants to expand visual intelligence across multiple devices. Both the Apple Watch and the AirPods will serve as sensors and input devices for AI applications in the future. This involves more than just voice control – Apple wants to recognize environments, analyze visual data, and thus enable new usage scenarios.
Market launch not before 2027
According to Gurman, the launch of the Apple Watch with a camera is planned for 2027 at the earliest. It could be released then, alongside the AirPods with a camera, which are also in development. This is dependent on Apple's internal AI team making sufficient progress by then. Gurman reports that the team was recently restructured to accelerate the development and have better internal control over development (via Bloomberg).
Apple Watch becomes a real AI device
Apple is pursuing a clear strategy: The Apple Watch is intended to become an AI device with a camera. The focus is not only on new hardware features, but also on a fundamental restructuring of the AI infrastructure – away from third-party providers and toward proprietary solutions. If all goes according to plan, the Apple Watch will be able to visually capture its surroundings and analyze them using artificial intelligence starting in 2027. This would be a major step for Apple and a completely new approach to smartwatches. If you're interested in the development of the Apple Watch, it's worth keeping an eye on it. The coming years could be crucial. (Photo by Unsplash / Samuel Angor)
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