The Apple Watch could have struggled to take any radical leaps ahead in its previous few generations, however a probably vital improve might quickly be on the playing cards – good straps that may speak to the Watch and set off new modes.

Proper now, Apple Watch straps are dumb and easily slide into the smartwatch for brand new seems to be. However as noticed by Patently Apple (opens in new tab), Apple has simply been granted a brand new patent (opens in new tab) that will see NFC-connected bands which can be ready to connect with a brand new NFC module within the Apple Watch’s physique.

However why? One of many fundamental use instances hinted at by the patent is a helpful, if comparatively minor, new characteristic. The brand new connectivity between the Apple Watch and these good straps might see it mechanically change modes whenever you swap bands – for instance, altering the watch face or opening a specific app.

This could possibly be useful when you have a couple of totally different straps for various actions. For instance, join a health band and the Apple Watch might swap to health mode, whereas a water-proof band would set off swimming-friendly options like turning on the Water Lock mode.

Whereas that appears like a probably neat trick, it additionally would not be ground-breaking. However the patent would not cease there – it additionally discusses further options for these next-gen bands, together with the combination of health-focused sensors. And it is right here the place the idea of good Apple Watch bands might assist enhance its standing among the many finest smartwatches.

The sensors that the patent discusses additionally embrace ones associated to biometric, gesture, and environmental sensing, so there would definitely be potential for good straps to transcend merely triggering new Apple Watch states and into areas like safety and well being.

In fact, that is only a granted patent at this stage, and loads of these do not see the sunshine of day in Apple merchandise. However it’s a part of a rising variety of Apple Watch strap-related patents that we have seen recently, together with one regarding good materials (opens in new tab) that present precisely how well being sensors could possibly be built-in, whereas others have detailed Apple’s plans for separate blood stress monitoring gadgets.

Evaluation: A gateway to extra thrilling options

We do not but know if or when Apple would possibly introduce good straps to its smartwatch – and the idea is probably going a bit too far off to make it into the Apple Watch 9, which is anticipated to land in September.

However these patents and Apple’s growing strikes into the well being house counsel it’s a probably candidate for the following large Apple Watch characteristic. The holy grail of blood glucose monitoring, which Apple has reportedly made large breakthroughs in direction of recently, remains to be a few years away. The event of NFC connectivity between the Watch and new straps could possibly be a step in direction of different well being options, although.

This might initially arrive within the type of bands that merely change your Apple Watch’s UI, relying on the kind of strap you have related. Whereas that appears like a neat trick, it’d solely actually be helpful for individuals who usually change their Watch bands – and that definitely would not embrace all Apple Watch house owners. The brand new good straps would additionally probably be pricier than the perfect Apple Watch bands of right now (Hermès ones apart).

Which means the prospect of NFC-connected straps that embrace sensors like those described in Apple’s good materials patent, which embrace heart-rate sensors, blood oxygen sensors, shows, and even audio system, is a extra thrilling one. We could solely get the NFC connectivity to start out with, however these patents present there’s nonetheless loads of potential for Apple Watch innovation – even when our Apple Watch eight assessment referred to as it the “most iterative replace but”.