Since its release in 2015, the Apple Watch has retained its original square shape and has remained Apple’s best-selling product. Of course, there have been some tweaks in the designs each year, but the shape of the Apple Watch has become a standard that can be spotted from a mile away.
A patent did stir rumors about a potential round Apple Watch design, but I don’t think it’s coming true anytime soon. After all, not all patents are materialized. Let me explain why I don’t think there will be a round Apple Watch. But first,
What The Patents Reveal About The Round Apple Watch
A patent filed in January 2016, 8 months after the release of the original Apple Watch, reveals a circular design of an Apple Product. While it is not specified that the images are of the Apple Watch, the images show a circular display with straps, pointing to a potential design for an Apple Watch.
Because the patent was filed after the launch of the original Apple Watch, it might just be to secure an alternative design. While this design hasn’t been released in the past 10 years, Apple has still secured the patent for a potential round Apple Watch.
Why won’t there be a round Apple Watch
I have a lot of reasons to believe that there won’t ever be a round Apple Watch. I mean, just look at their design from the original to the latest series 10. Apple is known for very slight variations in their designs, be it their iPhones or the Apple Watch.
Despite that, their customer base stands true to its loyalty. Here are five reasons why Apple shouldn’t make a round Apple Watch:
- Despite the square design, Apple Watch exceeds its competitors with a round smartwatch design, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
- Square displays make better use of real estate for displaying necessary information on the watch. The complications available on certain watch faces will also be compromised with a round form factor.
- Square displays have a better app interface, and none of Apple’s existing apps would be compatible with a round display.
- Round display makes it difficult to read texts and information, and it is not as user-friendly. The center would be easier to read, but while scrolling, the side text will either be cut off or become much smaller.
- A square Apple Watch is a standard design that their customers are accustomed to.
Wrap Up
While Apple has filed patents for a round Apple Watch design, it is not a guarantee of such a model coming to pass. The company has heavily optimized watchOS as well as watch faces for the square shape, indicating a shift to a circular display would require significant redesigns of both hardware and software.
A round Apple Watch model’s release date is unknown and highly unlikely. It might give customers a fresh choice, but it would place a burden on developers. With Apple securing a patent for the round design, the idea is still on the table, so maybe, never say never.
