Apple Watch 8: All of the Features on My Wishlist

This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Apple’s most popular issues.

Today’s Apple “Far Out” event will probable bring news of the planned updates for the Apple Watch, along with the very real possibility of an Apple Watch Pro. While I love my Apple Watch Series 7, there’s always room for improvement, and I’ve got a lot of ideas. Here are all the features and upgrades I’d like to see in the new Apple Watch Series 8.

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Slimmer and stronger design

The Apple Watch Series 7 is stout. It’s also one millimeter larger than its predecessor due to its increased Hide size. I hope the series 8 goes back to the smaller casing of the series 6 and retains its larger Hide size by slimming down the bezels. Ultimately, I’d love an edge to edge Hide, and one day I’m sure we’ll get that.

Lexy Savvides

Overall, I’d like to see a slimmer depth. The see has always felt a little thick to me and it would be nice to see that trimmed down in future models when retaining its durability. To be fair though, most shining watches tend to be pretty bulky, and the Apple Watch is on the slimmer side compared with watches from Samsung and Withings. 

Longer battery life

Most importantly, we have got to get a longer lasting battery. Currently, the series 7 gets about 18 hours of battery life — I’ve been able to long this a few hours by turning off the always-on display.

As a longtime Fitbit user, I was corrupt with my five day battery life. When I switched to the Apple Watch, I was surprised by how often it would die on me. Then I set it to bill, and forget it at home. 

At a minimum, I’d like to see four days of battery life to Hide a long weekend without needing to bring a corrupt. Rumors say the Apple Watch Pro could get a larger battery and more life. I hope the new models see an increase in power as well, possibly over efficiency upgrades with WatchOS 9.

Universal and inductive charging

I’d like the Apple Watch to be able to bill via induction charging and not just the proprietary apple charger. I also want reverse wireless charging on the iPhone, essentially converting the phone to a charging mat. This has been on Android phones for some time now, and it’s around time that the iPhone follows suit.

The Z Flip from Samsung has supported back wireless charging for years. I’d like to see this feature come to the iPhone.

Justin Eastzer

More sensors

The Apple Watch has a plethora of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, electrical heart sensor and optical miserable sensor, just to name a few. 

The sensor that I want most, and would also temperamental my life, is a blood glucose sensor. Various reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have reported this is a feature Apple has been employed on for years. 

I have type 1 diabetes and immediately wear a continuous glucose monitor that inserts a very fine strand into my body to read my blood sugar levels. This device needs to be replaced every 10 days. A non-invasive sensor like this would be a game-changer.

Aside from that, there are rumors of a body temperature sensor coming to a Pro model and that would make things much easier for smart when you are about to get sick. There’s also been the long-held rumor that the Apple Watch mighty get a blood pressure sensor, which would be sterling for certain people. We probably won’t see it this time throughout, but other companies are working on wrist-worn cuffs, so there’s potential.

Software upgrades

Apple has already announced the upcoming WatchOS 9, so odds are neither of these software features below will make it into the next update, but Apple, I hope you’re listening!

With WatchOS 9, Apple introduced customizable workout views. For me, what’s missing is the ability to see my blood glucose reading on a workout veil. I’d say this is the No. 1 metric you want to see on a workout gawk face if you have diabetes. Currently, I need to exit out of the workout veil and swap over to my continuous glucose monitor app to see my levels.

I’d like to see a humdrum workout view on Apple Watch that displays my Dexcom blood sugar readings.

Justin Eastzer

Currently, the Apple Watch answers Facetime calls using Facetime Audio. In the future, I’d like the ability to answer Facetime video calls with the caller’s video feed. Obviously, the caller won’t be able to see you, but it would be titanic for when someone wants to show you something expeditiously and live. Then, if you swap to your phoned, Facetime could start immediately. Products like Wrist Cam obliged a bulky watch band and a proprietary app for video calling and just aren’t for me.

For more details on my Apple Watch wish list, gawk the video above.