You won’t be capable to use older straps with the Apple Watch Pro

While Apple has elevated the dimensions of the Apple Watch over time, customers have all the time been ready to make use of older watch bands with newer models. That would possibly quickly change. Initially spotted by MacRumors, leaker UnclePan claims that the so-called Pro — Apple’s forthcoming rugged smartwatch — is probably not suitable with current straps.

Until now, Apple’s been capable of simply preserve compatibility as a result of the Apple Watch’s design has barely modified. Each Apple Watch mannequin is available in two sizes: a smaller model and one which’s 4mm bigger. The unique watch up by way of the Series 3, for instance, was offered in 38mm and 42mm sizes. That modified with the Series 4, which elevated the circumstances to 40mm and 44mm. Apple as soon as once more bumped up the dimensions with the Series 7 to 41mm and 45mm. That’s 3mm over seven years — and never as soon as did that warrant customers needing to purchase new straps except they had been transferring from the smaller watch to the bigger one.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said that the Pro will likely be a “good bit bigger than the standard Apple Watch” and should solely attraction to a sure area of interest. So far, it appears the rumor mill has settled on the Pro having a two-inch show housed in a 47 mm case. If this pans out, that bigger show might be the wrongdoer. It’s admittedly laborious to see straps made for the 38mm / 40mm / 41mm Apple Watches engaged on a 47mm watch. That’s a big 6-9mm improve.

Other design tweaks may additionally play a task. Gurman additionally famous that the Pro will sport a contemporary look that’s an “evolution of the current rectangular shape.” Perhaps this “evolution” meant Apple needed to redesign how the straps connect to the case for a safer match or added sturdiness.

That mentioned, it isn’t clear whether or not everybody upgrading to the Pro would wish new straps. It’s very potential that you could be solely want to change in the event you’re upgrading from the smaller mannequin to the Pro. If you’ve a 42mm / 44mm / 45 Apple Watch, the case dimension is just growing 2-5mm — which isn’t too far off from previous will increase. It, as Gurman suggests, simply won’t look as good or match fairly as effectively.

In any case, it’s best to take this with a grain of salt. (Remember the flat edges redesign rumored for the Series 7 that by no means got here to move?) That mentioned, this can be a new wearable class, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Apple determined to make a transparent break with watches that got here earlier than the Pro. The actual takeaway from all these rumors is Apple’s gearing as much as make some dramatic modifications to its watch lineup — and we’ll discover out precisely what these modifications are at subsequent week’s “Far out” occasion.