Apple could apply a sweeping design overhaul to a next-generation Apple Watch due for release in 2027, a projection said. It also raised the possibility that compatibility with existing watch bands could disappear, suggesting significant changes for the accessory ecosystem.

On June 30 (local time), IT outlet 9to5Mac reported that Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital claimed the 2027 Apple Watch would undergo a "major revamp".

The projection focuses on the possibility of long-term changes to the regular Apple Watch series, separate from the Apple Watch Ultra 4 expected to be unveiled this year.

So far, the industry has discussed the possibility that the Apple Watch Ultra 4, set to be unveiled this autumn, could adopt a new design and sensor improvements. By contrast, little specific information has been known about the regular model, the Apple Watch Series 12.

Instant Digital predicted the Apple Watch Series 12 is likely to see only minor improvements with no major changes, and that full-scale design changes could come in the 2027 model. He also claimed the change could be linked to the long-discussed redesign plan for an "Apple Watch X".

The biggest change cited was the watch band connection method. Instant Digital advised users considering buying an Apple Watch next year to be cautious about purchasing additional new watch bands. If a new design is applied in 2027, the band attachment method itself could change, making it possible that existing accessories cannot be used as they are.

The view aligns with rumours about an Apple Watch X that were first raised in 2023. At the time, there were projections that Apple would redesign the band connection structure to secure internal space and change the product's design. The latest leak has led to an interpretation that the design change possibility reported then could be being pursued again.

Information about the Apple Watch has recently been relatively scarce compared with the iPhone 18 Pro or an iPhone Ultra. As a result, this leak is drawing attention for pinpointing 2027 as the timing of changes to the regular Apple Watch series. Still, it is a claim based on unconfirmed leak information, and it is unclear whether it will be reflected in the actual product.

The industry has also raised the possibility that Apple could separate the timing of design overhauls for the Ultra series and the regular series. It is an analysis that changes could be concentrated on the Ultra lineup this year, while the regular series could adopt a new design and structure in a later generation.

If band specifications do change, it is expected to have a significant impact on the Apple Watch accessory ecosystem accumulated over years.

Accordingly, the market is watching whether the regular Apple Watch series in 2027 will actually adopt a new band structure and design, along with design changes to the Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled this autumn. If compatibility with existing bands disappears, it is projected to bring significant changes to users' replacement demand and buying strategies.