Apple Watch may finally go round: major 2026 redesign rumored

Apple appears to be lining up a much bigger Apple Watch overhaul for 2026. The reports point to three headline changes: a round display, ceramic making a comeback, and even screenless fitness devices.

If you wear an Apple Watch every day, this could matter a lot. A circular model would end Apple’s long run with the rounded-rectangle shape, and that wouldn’t be a small cosmetic tweak. watchOS, complications, apps, and navigation would all have to adapt. It would also give the watch a more classic look, one that lines up more closely with the round-faced rivals already out there.

Apple also seems to be considering a ceramic case again, something it hasn’t offered since 2020. That would add another high-end option next to aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, and it would make the lineup feel genuinely updated instead of dressed up as another routine spec bump.

And Apple may not stop at the watch. The company could also introduce a stripped-down tracker aimed at sleep, recovery, and wellness users who want Apple health data without having to wear another screen. That would put Apple in more direct competition with Oura and Whoop, right as wearables are projected to hit 693.2 million unit shipments by 2030 and smartwatches are forecast to become a $200 billion market.

Still, don’t expect that bigger reset to show up in the Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both are still said to be on track for September 2026, with most of the changes happening inside rather than on the surface, even as Apple Watch sales reportedly climbed 21% year over year in Q1 2026 and Apple’s wearables business keeps looking for its next growth push.