Apple unveiled the Apple Watch ten years in the past final September, prompting the hearsay mill to invest about an anniversary watch—similar to the iPhone X as soon as was. The Apple Watch X was imagined to characteristic a brand new magnetic wristband system that would release extra space within the case for the battery and different modules.

A number of months in the past, there was hypothesis about an estimate of blood strain, which Apple is claimed to have lastly succeeded in doing. Only a few years in the past, the blogosphere was buzzing about blood glucose measurement, however hopes for this characteristic to reach has shifted to the late 2020s, if then.

What Apple introduced in September was with out query a strong replace: the Apple Watch Collection 10 has retained the most effective of the Apple Watch Extremely, with bigger battery sacrificed for even much less weight and even slimmer dimensions. However even for me as an Apple Watch fanatic, there was an odd aftertaste: like while you’re wanting ahead to chilly glowing water on a sizzling day and are served lukewarm, stale soda as an alternative. Briefly, it was considerably disappointing.

And it’s not simply me. The most recent gross sales figures for Apple’s wearables division present this. The Apple Watch makes up a big a part of Apple’s steadiness sheet, as may be seen from the dependable spikes each first quarter when the accounts for the Apple Watch introduced in September roll in. The Apple Watch reached its peak with Collection 7, launched on the finish of 2021. Since then, not even the brand new Apple Watch Extremely has been in a position to generate noticeable progress.

In fact, the coronavirus pandemic performed into the Apple Watch’s palms. Above all, Apple launched the hand-washing reminder only one model earlier. Blood oxygen saturation is also monitored with the Apple Watch for the reason that Collection 6. Since then, nevertheless, Apple’s smartwatch has provided few arguments for switching to it, other than the brand new Extremely.

The primary line across the Collection 8, 9 and 10 solely introduced evolutionary enhancements: Collection 8 introduced a temperature sensor for the primary time and an improved accelerometer that would detect automobile accidents, Collection 9 was eclipsed by the brand new Extremely regardless of the brand new one-handed operation , Collection 10 had inherited the water temperature sensor from the Extremely.

Apple Watch is not distinctive – or is it?

If you happen to look across the market, Apple Watch doesn’t provide any distinctive options. Withings & Co. even have complete well being monitoring and supply comparable very important indicators. Garmin additionally provides out of doors maps and tracks your individual hikes, just like the Extremely. The Samsung Galaxy Watch has a blood strain estimate on board, albeit with large compromises, extra on this later.

Considerably absurd, however a singular promoting level of the Apple Watch is the massive vary of wristbands from third-party producers. With my check samples alone, I may put on a “new” Apple Watch each day, with an identical color or materials for each high or gown. The connection to the iPhone and the general package deal of options can even persuade clients. However these are arguments that solely emerge after the acquisition, not earlier than.

This impression of stagnation might be because of Apple’s philosophy relating to well being. On the one hand, the corporate has the ambition to positively affect the lives of humanity, or no less than the a part of it that may afford an Apple Watch. Then again, which means that the brand new well being features will solely be launched if they’re additionally helpful from a medical perspective.

Apple doesn’t need to launch options just like the blood strain characteristic on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, the place the person has to calibrate the watch’s blood strain information at common intervals utilizing a standard cuff. The Galaxy Watch has additionally not been included within the European Society of Hypertension’s database of validated units.

Analysis takes time, and Apple’s ambitions are excessive. That is exactly why the brand new blood strain estimation perform has been delayed by no less than a yr. However Apple should lastly introduce one thing essentially new within the well being sector. Each the Apple Watch and its customers can address the brand new begin.

This text initially appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.