Apple has reportedly shelved plans for an Apple Watch with a built-in camera. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino-based tech giant took this decision despite previous work on the project. The report claims that Apple had been actively developing a camera-equipped Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra with a target release of 2027. However, that work was ceased this week, according to sources familiar with the situation. Previously, Gurman had reported that Apple intended to incorporate cameras into both its premium Apple Watch models: the regular Series and the Ultra. The Series model was expected to feature a camera within the display, while the Ultra version would have placed one on the side, near the Digital Crown and Side buttons. Gurman also noted that Apple continues to work on AirPods that include cameras.
What was the Apple Watch camera project and why the company may be giving up on it
Earlier, Gurman said: “Apple is probably considering this approach because the thicker Ultra has more room to work with. It would mean that an Ultra wearer could easily point their wrist at something to scan an object. A Series watch user, meanwhile, would have to flip over their wrist.”The latest report claims that despite Apple’s intention to enhance Visual Intelligence by adding a camera to the Apple Watch, it may have faced obstacles such as battery drain, accuracy challenges, or concluded that the benefits didn’t justify the effort.With no definitive roadmap for Apple Intelligence, Apple is expected to refocus on the features Apple Watch users care about most: health monitoring for its next model.The company may also need a new standout capability to drive upgrades as Apple Watch sales have reduced. For this, the company may introduce new health related features like a temperature sensor, blood-pressure tracking, or blood-sugar monitoring.The next major Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 12, is expected to be announced at WWDC 2025 (June 9–13) and a public launch may happen in September 2025. With this update, the company is it’s expected to introduce Apple Intelligence features on the Watch for the first time. Apple has already started development may reveal the new capabilities.
