Apple Watch 3 Might Have Flexible Display, Patent Hints

A patent published by the United States Patents and Trademarks Office Thursday, shows the company is working on endowing the Apple Watch 3 with a flexible display.

Apple will be using a special kind of glass called the willow glass. Willow Glass is known for its flexibility and strength. Apple called it “one exemplary flexible glass substrate” in its patent filing. It also states the display would be a standard flexible one which will be rollable, wearable and foldable, said a Patently Apple report.

Another feature of the smartwatch, according to the filing, could include a flexible display, covering not just dial of the smartwatch but even the band. The company seems to be working on a screen that could be wrapped around a user’s wrist, according to a Digital Trends report.

Read: iPhone X vs. Samsung Galaxy X: Comparison Review Of Features, Specs And More

While the display will get its processing power and battery from a panel inside the smartwatch, the usable surface area of the device for a user would be larger than any smartwatch currently available. The panel could also include a communication module for LTE connectivity, which would let the Apple Watch work as a separate device independent of a phone.

The technology could even be used for larger devices such as phones and TVs, the patent says. Apple has been rumored to be working on the concept since 2015, but it was rival Samsung, which first showcased the technology at CES 2013.

Apple isn’t depending on just the iPhone 8 to maintain its market share in 2017, it is also expected to come out with the Apple Watch 3. The smartwatch is expected to come with features such as RFID tracking for food items and LTE, said a ValueWalk report.

Both Apple and Samsung are expected to come out with flexible ‘X’ series devices this year. Samsung has two concepts in the fray — a flexible display like the one it showcased in 2013 and an inside-out folding display, which can be folded outwards with two back-to-back displays that can be laid out to form a tablet-esque display. While folded, it might feel like any other smartphone, but with a dual display.

Apple’s concept, according to the patent, seems to be inching more towards a display that can be easily worn and requires less space, while giving the user more surface area to work on. Similar to the idea of wearing an Apple iPhone, on your wrist

But, the flexible display is not the only feature the smartwatch offers. The major focus of the upcoming smartwatch will be fitness, according to rumors and leaks surrounding the device. BGR reported Monday that it could feature a non-invasive way of glucose monitoring.

Read: Apple Watch Series 3 To Feature Non-Invasive Way Of Glucose Monitoring

Earlier rumors about the smartwatch include food nutrition tracking and monitoring using RFID tags on different kinds of food so consumers can stay properly informed about what they are eating. Apple is also expected to feature extensive sleep monitoring in the Apple Watch 3, going by its recent acquisition of sleep-tracking platform, Beddit.