The Apple Watch Could Be Getting a Game-Changing New Feature

You’ll be able to do more things straight from your wrist.

Published March 24, 2025

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The Apple Watch hasn’t changed that much in recent years.

Sure, Apple has upgraded the latest models with brighter screens and faster processors, slimmed down the body, and introduced new sensors for niche activities.

But for the most part, the Series 10 is pretty darn similar to the Series 7 … and you can say the same for many past models.

That could be set to change.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 10 — The current Apple Watches, the Series 10 and the Ultra 2 (in black).

Cameras in an Apple Watch?

According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is working on integrating cameras into future Apple Watch models — both Series and Ultra lines.

The goal of these cameras — which would be hidden inside the display for the Series models and next to the digital crown and side button on the side of the Ultra models – would be to unlock Apple Intelligence features right from your wrist.

Obviously, Apple Intelligence hasn’t been a runaway success so far, but it has introduced some Visual Intelligence next to the digital crown and button — which uses AI and your iPhone’s camera to analyze and identify what you’re looking at — that have been quite promising.

For instance, you can point your iPhone’s camera at a store or restaurant, and it can show its business hours or pull up a menu. You can point it at a plant or animal, and it can identify its species or breed. Or you can point it at a flyer or poster and it’ll add that event to your Calendar app.

The idea is that with built-in cameras, you’ll able to do similar things from your wrist. No need to even take out your iPhone.

Soon? Or years away?

But if you’re in the market for a new Apple Watch, don’t hold your breath for the next models to be the ones with built-in cameras.

According to Gurman’s article, it’s going to equip its smartwatches with cameras — along with AirPods with cameras, reportedly — no sooner than 2027. So we’re still a few years (or more) away.

As for the next Apple Watches, the Series 11 and Ultra 3, which Apple is expected to release this coming fall, the rumors are pointing to another year of incremental upgrades over the current models.

And definitely no cameras.