Apple Watch Series 10 almost had a new health sensor

AppleInsider

An alleged prototype of the Apple Watch Series 10 has a brand new sensor that may have been intended for blood sugar monitoring.

An alleged Apple Watch Series 10 prototype's sensor - Image Credit: X/@StellaFudge

The Apple Watch Series 10 was a relatively light upgrade from the previous model, with a larger display and a thinner body than the Apple Watch Series 9. However, Apple's changes could've gone a lot further.

In images shared to X, "Stella-Fudge" also known as "Choco_bit" offers a quartet of pictures for a device that looks like an Apple Watch. The device is described as a "Prototype Apple Watch Series 10" by the X account, echoed by similar labeling on the casing itself.

The key image depicts the back of the prototype, with a large circular sensor at the back for monitoring a user's pulse. However, the arrangement of the sensor is a big departure from what is on the Apple Watch Series 10's version.

Prototype Apple Watch Series 10 with A very unique health sensor arrangement.

The health sensors got shrunk down a lot and there was an extra light ring around the perimeter. The watch is also running an unreleased build of watchOS 11, somewhere between 11.1b5 and 11.1rc. pic.twitter.com/8n06JkQT39

-- Stella - Fudge (@StellaFudge)

March 31, 2025

Usually more spaced out, the sensors on the prototype are shown to be much smaller, and also take up only a small amount of space in the middle of the sensor glass. The account adds that there's an extra ring light around the perimeter, though it is unclear what it is for.

A screenshot from the device shows it described as the "Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS), running on watchOS 11.1, build number 22R5575x. This is apparently an unreleased build that's somewhere between watchOS 11.1 beta 5 and the release candidate.

Stella-Fudge adds that there is no way to try out the sensors. Stock apps will not install as they can only be pulled from Apple's internal network servers, they add.

As for what the sensor changes could've done, it's speculated by the collector that it could have been a test platform for blood sugar analysis.

Stella-Fudge is a known collector of Apple prototypes, so it is probable that the one pictured is genuine.

Diabetes concerns

Apple has been keen to expand the utility of the Apple Watch into new areas for quite some time. One that has repeatedly surfaced as a potential direction is glucose monitoring, which would help users with, or at risk of, diabetes.

Current methods for blood glucose monitoring typically relies on sampling the blood directly. However, Apple has repeatedly been rumored to be working on ways to perform the test in a non-invasive manner.

However, despite the research efforts, Apple is still thought to be years away from actually introducing such a technology in its hardware. The closest it's gotten is reportedly an app for monitoring and managing blood sugar levels.

If Stella-Fudge is right and the sensor was used to try and monitor blood glucose levels, this could mean Apple was closer to a breakthrough than previously expected.



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maltz

"Current methods for blood glucose monitoring typically relies on sampling the blood directly."

Continuous glucose monitors work by measuring interstitial fluid.  Still kind of invasive, but it's not as painful as the finger pricks - just a raised nub on the back of your arm that sometimes catches on things.  lol

It's slightly less accurate, and readings lag slightly behind the finger-prick blood-measuring method, but it has the advantage of continuous monitoring.  Which is great for watching trends and how different foods and activities affect your glucose in real-time.  It can even be life-saving for people whose blood sugar tends to drop below safe levels, allowing them to be aware of it in time to take action, or even alert others if they fail to do so.

IMO, even an Apple Watch that paired with an OTC CGM device would be pretty great.  Other OTC solutions like Lingo have an app, but they don't work on the watch and don't export data to Apple's Health app, afaik.

xed

maltz said:

"Current methods for blood glucose monitoring typically relies on sampling the blood directly."

Continuous glucose monitors work by measuring interstitial fluid.  Still kind of invasive, but it's not as painful as the finger pricks - just a raised nub on the back of your arm that sometimes catches on things.  lol

It's slightly less accurate, and readings lag slightly behind the finger-prick blood-measuring method, but it has the advantage of continuous monitoring.  Which is great for watching trends and how different foods and activities affect your glucose in real-time.  It can even be life-saving for people whose blood sugar tends to drop below safe levels, allowing them to be aware of it in time to take action, or even alert others if they fail to do so.

IMO, even an Apple Watch that paired with an OTC CGM device would be pretty great.  Other OTC solutions like Lingo have an app, but they don't work on the watch and don't export data to Apple's Health app, afaik.

I always wondered how those sensors work.

maltz

Xed said:

maltz said:

"Current methods for blood glucose monitoring typically relies on sampling the blood directly."

Continuous glucose monitors work by measuring interstitial fluid.  Still kind of invasive, but it's not as painful as the finger pricks - just a raised nub on the back of your arm that sometimes catches on things.  lol

It's slightly less accurate, and readings lag slightly behind the finger-prick blood-measuring method, but it has the advantage of continuous monitoring.  Which is great for watching trends and how different foods and activities affect your glucose in real-time.  It can even be life-saving for people whose blood sugar tends to drop below safe levels, allowing them to be aware of it in time to take action, or even alert others if they fail to do so.

IMO, even an Apple Watch that paired with an OTC CGM device would be pretty great.  Other OTC solutions like Lingo have an app, but they don't work on the watch and don't export data to Apple's Health app, afaik.

I always wondered how those sensors work.

I did too until I tried the new OTC ones that came out last year.  I've been in the low pre-diabetic range for a while and while I don't wear one all the time, being able to see my glucose in real-time has been game-changing.  I've improved my A1C and glucose stability and lost 15lbs over the last ~6 months with VERY minor diet tweaks.  I've also begun noticing how much added sugar is in freaking everything...

The applicator mechanism has a hollow retractable needle that inserts a flexible probe (about 1/4" long) into your arm as it attaches the monitor.  It's not painful, though.  The finger pricks hurt more, and even they're not that bad, except you have to do it multiple times a day to really get a good feel for what things are doing over the course of a day.  The CGM takes an hour or so to start sending data via Bluetooth to the phone app, and lasts around 2 weeks - give or take, depending on the model.