The Apple Watch is set to receive its most substantial software upgrade since it first launched in 2015.
This is according to a new report from Bloomberg’s ever-reliable Mark Gurman, who has reported that an updated interface will be revealed for the first time at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June, alongside its new mixed-reality headsets, a range of Mac laptops, and iOS 17.
Gurman claims the WatchOS refresh will be a “fairly extensive upgrade” and “most of what you need to know about the Apple Watch in 2023,” will be in the software reboot, with the hardware updates reportedly being minor.
This release might see Apple in more legal hot water, depending on which features are focused on.
Masimo has accused Apple of infringing on patents it holds when it added a various health feature to the Apple Watch.
In January, Sound United parent Masimo scored a favourable ruling from the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board, which dismissed Apple’s challenges to two Masimo patents on proprietary technology to test blood oxygenation levels.
This suggests that Apple will be required to remove the feature, or — a more likely scenario — pay Masimo handsomely for use of their patented technology.