Apple Watch Series 10 might retain compatibility with existing bands and straps, contrary to previous rumors

Apple’s next-generation Apple Watch, dubbed the Apple Watch Series 10, has been slated to feature a major new redesign that could break compatibility with existing bands and straps, although a new report from a source claiming to have obtained CAD renders of the new wearable suggests this may not come to fruition.

According to a new report by 91mobiles, who claim to have renders showing how the Apple Watch Series 10 will feature a 2-inch display that beats the current-largest Apple Watch in the series, the Apple Watch Ultra, there is no evidence of the Apple Watch Series 10 breaking compatibility with existing bands and straps, suggesting that the rumored redesign of the Apple Watch Series 10 may not be has major has previously suggested.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported last year that Apple designers were working on a thinner watch case and have explored “changing the way bands are attached to the device.”

Since the original Apple Watch, bands have slid into the sides of the chassis and attached with a locking mechanism. Keeping that design the same let the bands stay compatible with old and new models, “but it has downsides,” Gurman reported. People involved in the development of new Apple Watches were alleged to have said “the system takes up a considerable amount of space that could be better filled with a bigger battery or other components,” leading to many suggesting that compatibility with existing bands and straps could be dropped with the introduction of this year’s new model.

However, writing in their recent report, 91mobiles say “we don’t see any evidence of this on the Apple Watch Series 10 renders,” with the wearable said to retain the same design as the Apple Watch Series 9, including the Digital Crown, a square display and side button with the traditional band and strap locking mechanism.