Baffling Apple Watch rumor expects expensive new lineup in 2024

AppleInsider

A highly suspect report suggests that a 2.13-inch micro LED Apple Watch Ultra, bigger so-called Apple Watch Series X, and Apple Watch SE 3 with Series 8 design will launch in 2024.

Rumor suggests major overhaul to Apple Watch lineup in 2024

There has been a lot of back and forth about the future of Apple Watch and Apple's implementation of micro LED. Some less reliable reports suggested 2024 while a stronger rumor aimed at 2025.

According to David Hsieh of Omdia research, Apple is planning a 2.13-inch micro LED Apple Watch Ultra 2, an Apple Watch Series X, and Apple Watch SE 3 for 2024. The report speaks with incredible confidence around Omdia's estimates, though it isn't clear how the research firm arrived at these numbers or conclusions.

First, Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a micro-LED display and a larger 2.13-inch display isn't a new rumor. Apple rarely performs such a large design shift from the first to second generation model, and other accurate sources doubt the claim.

Omdia's research suggests the new Apple Watch Ultra display would have a 325PPI pixel density, which would imply about 800,000 micro LED chips aligning with the sub-pixels. The cost of such a display would be at least 3x, says Omdia, placing the larger Apple Watch Ultra at $1,200 or more.

As for Apple Watch Series X, a direct descendent of the current Apple Watch Series 8, it will have a bigger display for both size classes. The smaller model will measure 1.89 inches, up from 1.71 inches, and the larger model will measure 2.04 inches, up from 1.92 inches.

That would mean the larger Apple Watch Series X, a standard model, would measure larger than the existing Apple Watch Ultra, which is 1.99 inches.

Apple Watch Ultra is already large at 1.99 inches diagonal

The report also states the Apple Watch SE 3 would take on the Apple Watch Series 7/8 design. This would be a big jump up from the current Apple Watch Series 4 design in use.

The most damning part of the report is the suggestion that all of these products could be announced in 2023 to commercialize in 2024. This is highly unlikely as this would assume Apple could announce Apple Watch Series 9 in September and then follow with three additional Apple Watch announcements before the end of the year, with little or nothing shipping until 2024.

David Hsieh has been in the Apple supply chain game for over a decade, having reported on initial Apple Watch suppliers and even OLED display tech for iPhone X. Hsieh has been accurate in broad strokes about six years ago, but it is a question of recency and how much the analyst has latched onto other reports.

The most recent rumor AppleInsider covered by Hsieh was about the iPhone X OLED displays in 2017. He was at a different firm at the time, IHS Markit.

The accuracy and sources of Omdia are unknown, and much of the report goes against Apple's usual playbook and other predictions made by known accurate supply chain analysts like Ross Young. Only time will tell if David Hsieh has made a strong return to the rumor game, but for now, skepticism is warranted.

Read on AppleInsider

JP234

From what this article implies, a highly unreliable source has suggested a highly unlikely scenario. (a Micro LED Apple Watch would cost thousands at this juncture. As production ramps up, 2025 looks plausible, if suspect.

But what do we think?

Skeptical

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

iOS_Guy80

Great Rumor Score.

danox

Skeptical said:

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

You do realize over time those three watches/companies will be left in the dust, whatever digital watches are today 50 years from now they will be mind blowing. The old guard is going for a time out. No disrespect to them but we are at the beginning of what digital watches can become.

laytech

Rumours frustrate me. However, larger watches different form factors makes sense. Larger watches, tick in my book. Longer battery life definitely. I am loving my ultra - can’t wait until the day we get all week battery life without low power mode.

Japhey

Skeptical said:

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

Sure, but it really depends on the reason that the wearer is investing and the type of return they expect to get. I’d argue that many Apple Watch owners invest in their pieces for the health tracking benefits and are under no illusion that they are receiving anything of heirloom quality. 

takeo

Skeptical said:

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

Yes but I’m not sure what the point is of comparing a miniature computer with a mechanical swiss timepiece. Two completely different things except for the fact that you wear both of them on your wrist. No one buys an Apple Watch as an investment.

JP234

Skeptical said:

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

Compared to the watchmakers you mentioned, the Apple Watch is most definitely NOT expensive. Most models cost less than a tenth of what those vanity watches sell for. And it keeps better time.

I don't understand the concept of buying a watch as an investment. I know some people who collect them, but as an investment? By the time a watch appreciates enough to sell at a profit, the owner would had a far better return investing in an S&P index fund instead. Terrible idea.

fred1

Thank you for stating clearly that it’s only a rumor and even giving a rating as to its reliability. Other sources don’t have that decency with stories like these: https://petapixel.com/2023/02/08/apple-has-designed-a-detachable-watch-with-a-build-in-camera/

entropys

I’ll buy when they are this big:

JP234

Japhey said:

Skeptical said:

Panerai, Omega, Rolex just name a few are a better investment than an expensive watch that needs its battery replaced. 

Sure, but it really depends on the reason that the wearer is investing and the type of return they expect to get. I’d argue that many Apple Watch owners invest in their pieces for the health tracking benefits and are under no illusion that they are receiving anything of heirloom quality. 

Bingo. Although I don't really consider buying consumer goods for end use "investing." It's just spending. As for heirloom quality, I just gave my nephew my grandfather's Omega pocket watch (& knife). Perfect condition, running, 18 carat gold case, made in 1930. Appraised at about $300. Investing in any collectible is more of a gamble than investing in companies like Apple. I could buy a new Rolex every two years just from the dividends Apple pays me.

FileMakerFeller

entropys said:

I’ll buy when they are this big:

Raise you.

FileMakerFeller

Perhaps the components mentioned in the claim do actually exist in the supply chain. Let me think... what else could make use of high PPI displays where cost is not the overriding factor when given size, weight and power efficiency constraints... might be as plain as what's sitting on the nose on my face...