The Apple Watch has long been our favorite health companion, but it seems Apple wants to transform the bands we wear from simple stylish accessories into miniature medical devices. According to the latest leaks, the upcoming changes in the Apple Watch Series 12 may not be limited to the watch itself, but could extend to sports bands by integrating smart sensors inside them to provide more accurate and in-depth health measurements than what the watch currently does on its own.
The dream of smart bands: A new leak sparks excitement
Famous leaker and collector of Apple product prototypes, Kosutami, posted an interesting tweet suggesting that the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 might support bands with built-in advanced health sensors. According to the leak, Apple has succeeded in integrating these sensors using direct injection technology inside the popular silicone sports bands, while it still faces difficulties in integrating them with other materials such as leather or fabric textiles.
This leak brings back the idea of the “smart band” we have long dreamed of. Instead of cramming all the sensors and batteries into the small watch case, Apple could utilize the space of the band to offer groundbreaking health features without increasing the thickness of the watch or sacrificing battery life.
Apple’s history with smart bands and blood pressure monitoring
The idea of integrating technology into bands is not new for the Cupertino giant. Apple has filed numerous patents since 2015 and 2018 showcasing smart bands capable of measuring vital signs. Even more exciting is what was revealed in 2021 when tech artifact collector Giulio Zompetti found a prototype of the Apple Watch Series 3 that contained a smart connector dedicated to smart bands.
The primary goal of these sensors in the band was to solve the major dilemma that has been troubling Apple for years: measuring blood pressure accurately. Traditional devices need to apply pressure to the arteries to get an accurate reading, which is difficult to achieve via simple rear sensors that only touch the wrist. This is where the smart band comes in, wrapping around the entire wrist to provide the required accurate reading.
Why silicone specifically, and the obstacle of other materials?
According to leaked information, it seems that Apple is currently limiting this to silicone (or fluoroelastomer) bands to integrate these sensors. Silicone is a flexible and injection-moldable material, which allows for protecting the sensors and delicate wiring inside from sweat, water, and constant movement, unlike other luxury materials that require highly complex processing that Apple has not yet mastered.
Changing the attachment system and the future of Apple Watch 12
This leak is closely related to recent rumors about Apple’s intention to completely change the band attachment system in its upcoming watches. If Apple wants to transfer data from the band sensors to the watch’s main processor, it needs more stable and robust magnetic or electronic connectors than the current system that has been in place since the first generation.
However, reports indicate that the external design of the Apple Watch Series 12 has already been finalized and will not differ much from the current generation. If Apple plans to link smart bands to the new attachment system, we might have to wait until the Apple Watch Series 13 to get this integrated package. Nevertheless, knowing that Apple is still actively working on this project makes us look forward to upcoming conferences with great passion.
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