The Apple Watch was launched in 2015, and in the years since, there have been no dramatic changes to its design. However, according to the latest rumors, the Apple Watch 7 may change. Apparently, it is unlikely to be a major change, but it could be quite noticeable.

At least that's what a series of supposedly leaked CAD renderings (via 91Mobiles) show. This would be the first major design change for the Apple Watch, although it retains the same rectangular design and digital crown as before. The only question is, is it actually necessary?

Apple users will no doubt be familiar with the phrase "it just works." It's a phrase used to describe the effectiveness of Apple products and the fact that the company would never gamble on something that isn't completely necessary.

You could argue that the Apple Watch design has changed little in six years because the original design certainly just works and is perfectly effective at doing what Apple and its customers want from a smartwatch.

In other words, this rumored design change will only be made if Apple feels it is absolutely necessary. It also explains why the rendered images of the Apple Watch 7 keep the same rectangular design as before, rather than the outlandish Apple's first circular smartwatch.

These renderings also show off the same band attachment mechanism as previous Apple Watches. If taken at face value, the Apple Watch 7 will likely be compatible with older bands, regardless of the design changes. How can an incompatible design "just work"?

Of course, there is an argument for a more drastic Apple Watch redesign. After all, many of its competitors have switched from rectangular "screen" designs to circular, wristwatch-like ones. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 and its predecessor are good examples of how you can have a smart device without making it look like a wristwatch computer.

But Apple is not the kind of person to do something just because a competitor is doing the same thing. In particular, the Apple Watch's rectangular design a) works well and b) is popular enough to sell in large numbers. Apparently there were 30 million new Apple Watch users in 2020 alone, so clearly the blocky design is not putting people off.

In any case, Apple is unlikely to make any significant changes to the Apple Watch design unless there is a good reason.

Unfortunately, these rendered images have not yet been verified by Apple, so we cannot be completely certain that Apple will really change the Apple Watch 7 design this much. However, there are rumors that the upcoming smartwatch will have a flatter display and flat edges, both of which seem to be supported by the 91Mobiles renderings. However, this is not accurate evidence.

It is also rumored to have blood glucose monitoring, swim tracking, and a better display closer to the surface than previous watches. 91Mobiles' sources say that the Apple Watch 7 will be several millimeters larger and thicker, and like the Apple AirTags They also add that it may support ultra-wide bands.

Not only will it be easier to integrate with Apple's "Find My" network, but it may also offer better connectivity with other devices, such as smart locks, for example.

It is not known exactly when the Apple Watch 7 will be available, but it is likely to be announced along with the iPhone 13 series. It is typically announced in mid-September, and so far there is nothing to suggest that this will be the case this year. So we certainly don't have too long to wait to find out.