Forget the iPhone 16! Apple could launch a 10th anniversary Apple Watch X during ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, leaker claims

After months of speculation and a long wait for fans, Apple has confirmed that the next reveal will take place on September 9.

Under the name ‘It’s Glowtime’, Apple launches its latest smartphone, the iPhone 16, and its different variants during the event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

But as the tech giant’s first-ever smartwatch approaches its 10th anniversary, the company may mark the occasion with a very special new product.

According to a leaker, Apple is preparing for the release of the ‘Apple Watch X’, which could feature a radical new design.

Just as the iPhone X celebrated the decade of the iPhone in 2017, the Apple Watch X could mark 10 years since the world saw the first Apple Watch.

Apple Watch X could be celebrating 10 years since the world first saw the Apple Watch (pictured), which was unveiled in September 2014 and released the following April

This claim comes from respected California-based Apple tipster Mark Gurman, who says in his weekly newsletter that Apple is “preparing a major update.”

“The Apple Watch is coming up to its 10th anniversary and the company has an opportunity to celebrate,” he says.

‘For the X model, Apple designers are working on a thinner watch case and exploring how to change the way the bands attach to the device.’

Gurman also says the watch could have a larger display and “other under-the-hood improvements” in terms of hardware.

For example, new AI-capable chips could “lay the foundation for a number of AI improvements in the future.”

However, if fans are hoping the new watch will use Apple Intelligence, the upcoming suite of AI features, they may need to adjust their expectations.

According to Gurman, Apple Intelligence is “focused solely on iPhone, iPad and Mac” for now, followed by Vision Pro, Apple’s £3,500 headset.

Pictured is the Apple Watch Series 9 which was only released in September last year, along with the iPhone 15

The very first Apple Watch was unveiled in September 2014 by Apple CEO Tim Cook during the same press event where the iPhone 6 was introduced.

Cook called it “the most personal device we’ve ever made,” adding: “We set out to make the best watch in the world, a watch that’s accurate.”

But the model didn’t go on sale until April of that year, so it’s possible this special ‘Watch X’ model follows a similar schedule.

All will be revealed during the ‘It’s Glowtime’ reveal event in September, which will take place on a Monday this year instead of a Tuesday in September like previous years.

Apple’s website features a striking invitation with the classic Apple logo in a new guise: with swirling shades of blue, purple, orange and pink.

Apple’s invitation features the classic Apple logo with a redesigned twist. An animation on the website shows the logo swirling between shades of blue, purple, orange and pink, seemingly referencing the tagline “It’s Glowtime”

The event is expected to be mostly focused on four new iPhone 16 models — the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — in a variety of colors.

The iPhone 16 is expected to get a new button on the right side, which could be a real game-changer for selfie fans.

And according to MacRumorsThe screen size of the two Pro models – the two most expensive options – will be larger compared to their iPhone 15 equivalents.

An expert claims the tech giant’s new AI platform, known as Apple Intelligence, could be delayed until at least October — a month after the iPhone 16 hits the market.

What is Apple Intelligence?

At the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple announced a new era of technology called “Apple Intelligence.”

Apple Intelligence is essentially a flashy brand name for Apple’s new focus on AI, which was fueled by the huge success of the ChatGPT chatbot 18 months ago.

The tech giant announced Apple Intelligence with much awe as “the personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence.”

Simply put, it’s a catch-all term for all the tasks that AI can perform on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer, as long as it runs the upcoming iOS 18 software and has a major AI chip inside the device.

Arguably the biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s built-in virtual assistant.

iOS 18 users will first be asked a question that is sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and then Siri will present the answer

Before WWDC, there were rumors that Apple would develop its own AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT, but instead the company has partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to Apple devices.

It also includes tools like AI-generated emoji, an image generator, and a ‘Clean Up tool’ that lets you make subtle edits to photos.

According to Apple’s website, Apple Intelligence requires an up-to-date AI chip to function: the A17 Pro (in iPhones) or the M1 or later (in iPads and Macs).

Currently, the only two iPhones that get Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but not the standard iPhone 15.

While the update will be available on the upcoming iPhone 16, an expert claims that the release of Apple Intelligence could be delayed until at least October, a month after the iPhone 16 hits the market.