Although the Apple Watch Series 10 was released with a refreshed design, its health features were largely the same as those of its predecessor. Interestingly, a newly leaked prototype of the same model suggests that Apple had ambitious plans for last year’s smartwatch, including potential new health sensors.
A closer look at the Apple Watch Series 10 Prototype
According to the images shared by Apple leaker and collector “StellaFudge,” the sensor arrangement on the back of the Apple Watch Series 10 prototype differs significantly from the retail version available today.
A closer look at the prototype reveals a unique health sensor design at the back that is different from the production model. The device includes an additional “light ring” positioned between the regular ECG and heart rate sensors, which has never been seen on any Apple Watch before.
According to rumors in the market, Apple is working to include more advanced health features, such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, on the Apple Watch. These leaked prototype images might prove that Apple tested these new capabilities on the Series 10 but ultimately postponed them in favor of a refreshed design.
Internal testing and unreleased software
While the prototype is said to be fully functional, it is running on an unreleased version of the watchOS 11.1 and missed out even on the stock apps, as they can only be installed via Apple’s internal network. This unavailability of apps prevents further exploration into the watch to determine whether any unreleased features exist. However, the internal build’s date of October 2024 indicates that Apple was still experimenting with these new health sensors even after the official launch of the Apple Watch Series.
What this means for future Apple Watch models
While Apple chose to skip these rumored health upgrades on the Series 10, the internal build’s date of October 2024 suggests that Apple is actively working on integrating more advanced health sensors into its wearable lineup. We might eventually see the said blood pressure and glucose sensors on the Apple Watch Series 11 or a future Apple Watch Ultra model.
Stay tuned as we continue to track developments on Apple’s next-generation wearables.
