Apple is moving its focus away from adding fingerprint security to upcoming smartwatches. According to recent details shared by a well-known leaker on Weibo, the tech giant plans to prioritize larger batteries and upgraded health sensors instead. Earlier rumors hinted that an under-display or side-button fingerprint scanner might arrive soon.
However, the company seems happy with the current unlock methods. It believes the physical space needed for a scanner is better used to keep the device running longer.
The company chooses battery upgrades over new biometric sensors
Adding a fingerprint sensor would take up valuable space inside the device. The parts needed for this feature also increase manufacturing costs. Apple decided this tradeoff is not worth the sacrifice.
The company prefers to keep the Apple Watch tied to its paired iPhone for security unlocks. By saving that internal room, the watch can hold a larger battery to help it easily last throughout the day and into the night.
Future models focus on advanced health tracking features
Recent lines of code suggested new security methods were in testing, but a major visual update is not expected for the 2026 models. Instead, the upcoming hardware will focus on refining what the watch already does best. Apple is working to fit more advanced health trackers into the casing.
Looking further ahead to 2028, it might finally introduce blood glucose monitoring without needles, a feature still in early development.
Currently, unlocking the watch automatically through a paired phone works well for most people. The decision to skip a fingerprint scanner keeps the price steady and ensures the device does not die before bedtime.
While a new security scanner sounds cool on paper, actual daily use benefits far more from longer battery life and better health data.
