Apple Watch in 2022 with body thermometer
The rumors come from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who also sees a faster Apple Watch Series 7 in the pipeline. Next year there will be a successor to the entry-level Apple Watch SE and a new variant aimed at extreme sports. Apple had already wanted to build in a sensor for your body temperature this year, claims Gurman. But that has probably been postponed to 2022. The measurement of blood glucose may take even longer. Its release could only take place in a few years. Testing blood glucose in 2022 was previously discussed, but according to Gurman it will take longer.
Measuring body temperature had actually been useful much earlier, namely to detect COVID-19 symptoms. There was initially a run on body thermometers, which may or may not be ‘smart’ to be. By adding it to the Apple Watch, you can be automatically notified if your temperature is higher than usual. Other smartwatches and fitness trackers may already have it built in, such as some Fitbit models.
Blood sugar is more complicated. Apple has been working on it for a long time and it hasn't been solved in a good way by competitors. There are now apps that allow you to enter your glucose levels manually, or sensors that you have to stick on your body and which take measurements through a thin needle. Such solutions are aimed at diabetics and not intended for healthy users who are curious about their blood sugar levels (for example because they want to eat healthier).
Apple Watch for extreme sports
The special Apple Watch for extreme sports is described within Apple as an ‘explorer’ or ‘adventure’ performance. Development has already started this year, but it is not likely to hit the market until 2022. It could compete with the Garmin and Polar sports watches, which are aimed more at the avid athletes. This rumor is not entirely new: in March 2021 there was already talk about an extra robust Apple Watch for athletes, so that you do not need a special case to protect the watch. We also wrote an opinion piece on why an extra rugged Apple Watch makes sense. Apple already released a sports version with the very first generation of Apple Watch, but it was just as vulnerable as the other models. With other materials, Apple can ensure that your watch is not immediately broken if you fall off the bike or hit it with a kettlebell.
The Apple Watch is an important new product category next to the iPhone. Sales are increasing spectacularly and so is Apple's sales in the wearables category. Together with accessories and products for the home, this generates annual sales of more than $30 billion. Still, watchOS 8 contains relatively few new features. We are therefore especially looking forward to the hardware improvements. For example, the Apple Watch would get a new screen and faster processor in 2021. Moreover, a new design is planned.