Apple Watch X? Event date on September 9th marks its 10th anniversary

On September 9, 2014, near the end of Apple’s iPhone 6 press conference, CEO Tim Cook announced “something else” and appeared on stage with the first Apple Watch after a short video. The date of the original device’s unveiling has led some to speculate whether a special tenth anniversary version of the Apple Watch could be unveiled at Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 event on Monday, September 9.

The first rumors about a possible “Apple Watch X” surfaced back in January 2023, when a French report claimed that Apple was planning to forgo the Apple Watch Series 9, similar to what the company did when it launched the iPhone X instead of an iPhone 9 model in 2017. The “X” is pronounced “ten,” referring to the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.

That didn’t happen. If the Apple Watch X had launched in 2023, it would actually have been nine years since Cook unveiled the original model, which is why the rumor was labeled “questionable.” For the “X” branding to make logical sense, Apple would have to announce it in 2024 – specifically on Monday, September 9, which happens to be the date of Apple’s iPhone 16 event.

However, there is still uncertainty as to whether Apple will unveil a special edition “Apple Watch X” or a standard edition Apple Watch Series 10 at next month’s event. One reason for this is that after the Apple Watch’s original unveiling in September 2014, it actually took seven months for the smartwatch to reach customers’ hands. The device’s official release took place on April 24, 2015.

Tim Cook introduces the first Apple Watch in September 2014

Another reason is that the device that Apple is reportedly preparing appears on paper to be a rather modest upgrade of its predecessor. According to BloombergAccording to Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release a thinner version of the Apple Watch this year, but he has said it’s “unlikely” it will look much different than current models. In August 2023, when Gurman first mentioned a thinner model for the tenth anniversary, he said Apple was considering a magnetic band attachment system that would free up space inside the Apple Watch. However, his recent reports have not mentioned this functionality.

Apple has also been working on high blood pressure and sleep apnea detection for this year’s model, but Gurman says those features may not be ready for market yet. Apple is reportedly having issues with the reliability of the high blood pressure feature, which could cause delays, and sleep apnea detection relies on blood oxygen monitoring, which Apple had to temporarily remove from the Apple Watch due to patent issues.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also hinted that the 2024 Apple Watch will have a thinner body with larger screens. Kuo expects this year’s model to come in 45mm and 49mm sizes, compared to the current 41mm and 45mm size options. However, Kuo did not mention the possibility that this could be a tenth anniversary edition.

Alleged CAD rendering of the next generation of Apple Watch

In June, CAD renderings of the possible next-generation Apple Watch surfaced, allegedly showing a larger model with a two-inch display that’s slightly larger than the 1.93-inch Apple Watch Ultra. Dimensions are said to be around 46 x 39.7 x 11.6mm, slightly larger than the Series 9 but smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra. The design appears to have the same Digital Crown and side button, and is overall similar to the Apple Watch Series 9. However, there’s no evidence of a significantly slimmer body or magnetic band attachment system.

To sum up, the Apple Watch Series 9 is out now, so an Apple Watch Series 10 or “X” would be more apt for 2024 than 2025, but the “X” designation is just speculation at this point, and Apple may feel the device doesn’t justify the brand. Alongside the iPhone 16 and new AirPods, Apple plans to unveil the next-generation Apple Watch at its September 9 event, dubbed “It’s Glowtime,” with the launch expected to take place on September 20. Do you expect an era-defining Apple Watch X? Let us know in the comments.