Apple Watch Series 8 leak describes surprising design change

There was just another report on what the next Apple Watch will look like. For the past 18 months, there have been rumors, endorsed by many reliable analysts, that an all-new Apple Watch design was coming, with flat edges, a larger screen, and a truly different look.

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The problem is that those rumors were for the Apple Watch Series 7 and while the current watch has a subtly changed design, it wasn’t nearly what we were expecting based on the leaks.

While some analysts had a lot of balls in their faces, one leaker, @VNchocoTacoalso known as ShrimpApplePro, had claimed that the rumored designs were flat out wrong.

This leaker revealed today what he thinks will come with the Apple Watch Series 8.

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Although they tweeted in May that a new flat front glass display was in the works, they’re now getting specific about the new design, saying, “Design: Unfortunately, it remains the same as the Series 7 with no design upgrade.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be changes to the much-anticipated Apple Watch Pro, which Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims will be a larger device with an evolution of the current design.

But for Series 8, apparently, the design will not change. I like the design of the Series 7 so I’m not disappointed.

But ShrimpApplePro also has more information, such as the colors.

Colours

In aluminum, the Series 8 will be available in four colors: Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT (RED) and Silver. This is a big change from the Series 7, which comes in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT (RED), Blue, and a pretty appealing Green. But many customers have complained that there is no such thing as a neutral color like silver, although I think Starlight is the best of the new shades anyway. Still, I’m a bit surprised that Apple will switch from five to four colors.

For the stainless steel watch, with silver, graphite and gold, we can’t expect any color change at all. That’s also the same as the Series 6 colors, so again I’m cautious about what ShrimpApplePro says as it feels like there might be a smooth change this time.

Note that even when Apple sticks to the same colors, they almost always change slightly with each successive year, so the gold stainless steel can be quite pale one year and quite yellow the next.

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size

Just like this year, there will be two sizes at 41mm and 45mm – although the much-rumoured Apple Watch Pro could be larger, ShrimpApplePro doesn’t comment on that. The Series 8 Watch will be compatible with previous watch straps, which Apple has prioritized over the years.

Titanium?

There are claims that there will be no Apple Watch Edition in titanium, but as Mark Gurman has claimed that the Pro model could be in titanium, that could be the reason.

sensors

The hoped-for temperature sensor may not be on board, it said, as the source couldn’t see any visual indication of new sensors. That doesn’t mean it’s not there, just that it’s not visible.

One more thing?

Actually two small nuggets. First, the box seal has a stronger adhesive so once opened it’s harder to reseal, which sounds like a smart security feature to me.

And secondly, it looks like the watch will be released in September without any delays. Hooray.

With the next Apple Special Event expected to take place in the first half of September, you won’t have to wait long.

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