Apple Explores Screenless Bands, Ceramic Cases in Watch Shakeup

iphoneincanada.ca Aug 10, 2026

Apple Explores Screenless Bands, Ceramic Cases in Watch Shakeup

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 10, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple is reevaluating its Apple Watch lineup amid growing competition from smart rings and screenless fitness bands, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Over the past year its industrial design team has prototyped screenless wearables, alternative displays and varied case sizes, even testing round screens that are unlikely to reach production. The company is also weighing new price tiers, including a super‑premium tier above the current Ultra and Hermès models and a lower‑cost tier beneath the SE. The upcoming Series 12 and Ultra 4 will receive modest performance upgrades, fresh health sensors, and new colour and band options. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce a ceramic‑case variant as a high‑end material option, slated for release this year or next.

💡 Why It Matters

· Apple’s pivot to diversified form factors and pricing could reshape consumer expectations for wearable tech, forcing rivals to broaden their own product strategies.

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Apple Uji DRAM Buatan China untuk iPhone dan MacBook

Apple is testing dynamic random‑access memory (DRAM) produced by China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for use in upcoming iPhone and MacBook models, according to a Wall Street Journal report dated August 10, 2026. The move comes as the company seeks larger memory supplies amid a global DRAM shortage that threatens the production of the A20 Pro chip slated for the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple has already held early‑stage talks with CXMT to source components for devices sold in China, but CXMT’s pricing matches or exceeds that of Samsung and SK Hynix, limiting cost advantages. Chinese rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi have secured most of CXMT’s capacity through long‑term contracts, and Apple is seeking U.S. government clearance before deploying the Chinese‑made memory in Chinese‑market products.

💡 Apple’s reliance on a Chinese DRAM supplier tests the resilience of its supply chain amid geopolitical tension and a tightening component market.

9to5mac.com · Aug 10

The iPhone 18 Pro will cost Apple 38% more in parts –…

TrendForce’s latest analysis shows Apple’s bill of materials for the iPhone 18 Pro will rise 38 percent year‑over‑year, driven primarily by a three‑fold increase in memory costs. Memory, which accounted for roughly 10 percent of the iPhone 15’s component spend, is projected to exceed 40 percent of the iPhone 18 Pro’s BOM, overtaking the display as the costliest part. The 256 GB model’s component cost surge makes a higher retail price inevitable, with rumors suggesting a starting price of $1,399. However, analysts predict Apple may absorb part of the increase to protect demand, echoing its recent MacBook pricing strategy that sacrificed margin to soften price hikes. The company’s pricing decision will influence both profit margins and shipment volumes for the upcoming flagship.

💡 Apple’s willingness to trim margins to keep the iPhone 18 Pro affordable could preserve its premium market share while reshaping profit dynamics in a cost‑inflated component environment.

appleinsider.com · Aug 10

iPhone 18 Pro expected to be 40% more expensive to make than…

TrendForce analysis indicates the iPhone 18 Pro will cost Apple approximately 38% more to manufacture than the iPhone 17 Pro, driven primarily by a severe memory supply crisis. Memory costs are projected to surge from 10% of the bill of materials in the previous model to 34% in Q3 2026, potentially exceeding 40% by early 2027. This shift marks a significant departure from historical cost structures, where processors and displays were the primary financial drivers. While component price hikes will inevitably impact consumers, with analyst predictions suggesting a $250 to $300 price increase, Apple is expected to mitigate the blow by sacrificing gross margins. This strategy, similar to recent MacBook launches, aims to preserve shipment volumes. The company may also adjust pricing for older models still in circulation to offset rising memory expenses. Consequently, the iPhone 18 Pro represents a major financial challenge for Apple, balancing escalating production costs against the need to maintain market competitiveness and consumer affordability in a constrained supply environment.

💡 Memory has overtaken processors and displays as the dominant cost driver for flagship smartphones, fundamentally altering Apple's manufacturing economics. This structural shift forces the company to absorb significant margin compression rather than passing full costs to consumers, signaling a new era of financial vulnerability in hardware production.

appleinsider.com · Aug 10

Of course, Apple’s already planning a third-gen iPhone Fold

Apple is reportedly developing a third-generation iPhone Fold, potentially launching in 2028, despite the first model not yet shipping. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confirms the tech giant is planning multiple follow-ups to the device expected this fall. The second-generation model is scheduled for late 2027, coinciding with the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Gurman suggests the third iteration will feature slightly larger internal and external displays. This aggressive roadmap reflects Apple’s standard long-term development cycle, where major overhauls take years and iterative updates require approximately 18 months. Consequently, Apple often works on two to three future generations simultaneously. This approach is necessitated by the company’s massive supply chain and manufacturing requirements. Early-stage development costs remain low, allowing Apple to cancel projects like the foldable line if initial sales disappoint, without significant financial penalty. The strategy ensures continuous innovation pipelines regardless of individual product success.

💡 Apple’s parallel development strategy neutralizes the risk of new form factors by keeping early-stage costs minimal. This allows the company to pivot or cancel projects like the foldable iPhone without disrupting its core annual release cycle.

9to5mac.com · Aug 9

iPhone 17 set to break a record no flagship has touched in…

Apple’s iPhone 17, launched in September 2023, is on track to eclipse the 15‑month flagship tenure set by the iPhone 4 in 2010‑11, becoming the longest‑running standard iPhone model. The record, originally held because Apple shifted its release schedule from summer to fall, stood at nearly 16 months until the iPhone 4S arrived with minor external changes but significant internal upgrades such as Siri and a better camera. Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 will remain Apple’s primary non‑Pro handset for about 18 months, until the iPhone 18 is expected in spring 2027, while annual Pro models and a potential first folding iPhone will continue alongside it. No other flagship since the iPhone 11 Pro has approached the 15‑month mark, making the iPhone 17’s run a new benchmark for Apple’s mainline cycle.

💡 A longer standard‑model lifespan gives consumers a wider upgrade window and forces competitors to rethink the cadence of their own flagship releases.

appleinsider.com · Aug 9

Ceramic Apple Watch may return as soon as September

Apple is reportedly planning to reintroduce a ceramic case for the Apple Watch in its 2026 or 2027 update, according to Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter. The material, first launched with the Series 2 Edition in 2016, has been cycled in and out of the lineup, disappearing after the Series 5 Edition and absent since the Series 6. While the watch’s design will remain unchanged, the premium ceramic option—once priced at $1,299 for a 40 mm model—could return at a similarly high price point. Apple had last offered ceramic in limited white and gray variants before dropping it entirely in 2020. The rumor marks the first indication of a ceramic revival for the forthcoming Apple Watch generation.

💡 A ceramic Apple Watch would restore a rare luxury tier, giving affluent buyers a distinct status symbol that Apple has not offered in years.