Apple is pursuing a non-invasive solution that could measure glucose through the skin
Since its debut in 2015, the Apple Watch has evolved from a fashionable accessory into a serious health instrument, and Apple's next chapter pushes further still. The Series 7, arriving in 2021, brings the expected refinements — speed, display, connectivity — while the more consequential work unfolds quietly in the years ahead: a body temperature sensor delayed to 2022, and a non-invasive blood sugar monitor that, if realized, would mark a genuine leap in what a wrist-worn device can know about the body carrying it. In the longer arc of personal technology, this is the moment when the smartwatch begins to resemble something closer to a medical companion than a gadget.
- Apple's blood sugar ambition is the kind of feature that could redefine an entire product category — non-invasive glucose monitoring would spare diabetics the daily ritual of drawing blood, and no competitor is close to offering it.
- A body temperature sensor, once planned for Series 7, has been pushed to 2022 — a quiet admission that Apple would rather wait than ship something imprecise, even as Fitbit and others already offer the capability.
- The Series 7 still arrives this year with a tighter display, faster chip, and ultra-wideband unlocking for doors and hotel rooms — incremental, but the kind of polish that keeps the ecosystem sticky.
- A rugged 'explorer' edition targeting Garmin and Casio loyalists is planned for 2022, signaling that Apple intends to compete not just in lifestyle wearables but in the demanding world of serious outdoor athletes.
- Manufacturing is distributed across Luxshare, Foxconn, and Compal, and timelines remain fluid — Apple's roadmap is ambitious, but the company has quietly acknowledged that ambition and shipping dates are different things.
Apple is building the next generation of its watch with ambitions that stretch well beyond a faster chip or a brighter screen. The Series 7, expected in 2021, delivers the anticipated refinements: a quicker processor, improved wireless, a display pressed closer to the front glass through a new manufacturing technique, and a more capable ultra-wideband chip that can unlock doors and hotel rooms — a feature previewed at Apple's June developer conference.
The more significant story, however, is what comes after. A body temperature sensor was originally planned for this year's model but has been pushed to 2022. The delay reflects Apple's preference for precision over speed, even as competitors like Fitbit already offer the capability. Temperature monitoring became newly relevant during the pandemic, and its eventual inclusion would complete a health toolkit that rivals have been assembling for some time.
The blood sugar sensor is a different order of ambition entirely. Apple has spent years pursuing a non-invasive approach — one that could read glucose levels through the skin, eliminating the finger pricks that diabetics currently rely on. Companies like Dexcom already sync blood sugar monitors with the Apple Watch, but users still need to draw blood. Apple wants to remove that step. If it succeeds, no other smartwatch will be able to match it. A commercial release remains years away.
Also in development for 2022 is a rugged 'explorer' edition aimed squarely at Garmin and Casio's hold on serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts — a market Apple has not yet meaningfully entered. The company declined to comment on any of its plans, and those familiar with the roadmap were careful to note that timelines can shift.
The scale of Apple's wearables business — more than $30 billion in revenue last fiscal year across watches, accessories, and home devices — means the company can afford to spend years perfecting something like a blood sugar sensor. And when it finally ships one, the market will be watching.
Apple is quietly building the next generation of its watch, and the ambitions are larger than a faster chip or a brighter screen. The company is working on a lineup of new models that will push deeper into health monitoring than it has before—some arriving this year, others still years away from your wrist.
The Series 7, expected to launch in 2021, will get the incremental upgrades you'd anticipate: a faster processor, better wireless connectivity, and a display that sits closer to the front glass thanks to a new manufacturing technique. The bezels will be thinner. The watch itself may be slightly thicker overall, though not noticeably so. Apple has also refined the ultra-wideband technology already found in its AirTag tracker, which will let the watch unlock doors and hotel rooms—a feature the company previewed at its developer conference in June.
But the real story is what comes next. Apple had originally planned to include a body temperature sensor in this year's model, but that feature has been pushed to 2022. The reasoning is straightforward: the company wants to get it right. Temperature sensing became suddenly relevant during the pandemic, as people sought ways to screen for fever. Competitors like Fitbit already offer the capability. Adding it to the Apple Watch would round out the device's health toolkit and match what other smartwatches and fitness trackers already do.
The blood sugar sensor is a different matter entirely. This is the feature that could genuinely separate Apple from everyone else. The company has been working on it for years, and it remains years away from any commercial release. What makes it significant is the approach: Apple is pursuing a non-invasive solution that could measure glucose through the skin, rather than requiring the finger pricks that diabetics currently endure. Competitors like Dexcom make blood sugar monitors that sync with the Apple Watch, but users still need to draw blood for an accurate reading. Apple wants to eliminate that step. If it works, it would be a feature no other smartwatch can match.
Apple is also planning an extreme sports edition for 2022, sometimes called an "explorer" or "adventure" model internally. This is a direct challenge to companies like Garmin and Casio, which have dominated the rugged wearables market. The watch would be built to withstand the kinds of conditions that appeal to serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts—the people who need durability as much as data.
The company's plans remain fluid. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment, and the people familiar with the roadmap emphasized that timelines could shift. Manufacturing is split among several partners: Luxshare Precision assembles most of the main Apple Watch, while Foxconn and Compal Electronics handle some orders and the SE model.
Since 2015, when the Apple Watch first arrived, it has become essential to how Apple thinks about its business. The watch, along with the iPhone and iPad, anchors the company's hardware ecosystem. Last fiscal year, the wearables, home, and accessories category—which includes the watch—generated more than $30 billion in revenue. That scale means Apple can afford to spend years perfecting a blood sugar sensor. It also means that when the company finally ships one, the market will pay attention.
Notable Quotes
Apple is aiming for a non-invasive solution that can analyse blood through the skin— people familiar with Apple's plans
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why push the temperature sensor to next year if the pandemic made it so relevant?
Because Apple doesn't ship half-baked health features. Temperature sensing is table stakes now—Fitbit already does it. But if you're going to add it, you want the accuracy and reliability to match the rest of the watch's health ecosystem. A year of refinement matters.
And the blood sugar sensor—is that actually realistic, or is it vaporware?
It's real work, but it's genuinely hard. Non-invasive glucose monitoring through the skin is something medical device companies have been chasing for decades. Apple has the resources and the patience to keep iterating. The fact that they're not promising it soon suggests they're serious about getting it right.
Why an extreme sports edition? Isn't that a niche market?
It's not about volume. It's about positioning. Garmin owns the serious athlete. By building a rugged watch, Apple signals that it's not just a lifestyle device—it's a tool for people who actually push their bodies to the limit. That's credibility.
Does the Series 7 itself feel incremental?
On paper, yes. Faster processor, thinner bezels, better wireless. But the ultra-wideband unlock feature is genuinely useful—no more fumbling for your phone to open a hotel room. It's the kind of friction Apple loves to remove.
What's the real play here?
Health. Everything else is window dressing. Apple is building a device that knows more about your body than you do. Temperature, blood sugar, heart rate, oxygen—over time, that data becomes invaluable. That's the ecosystem lock-in.