The Apple Watch 5 tipped to come in ceramic and titanium versions

Apple Watch 4
(Image credit: Future)

You wait all year for some decent Apple Watch Series 5 rumors and then two come along at once: we only just heard that the fifth-generation wearable might launch in September and now there's news of some different casing materials getting added this year.

Brazilian site iHelp BR spotted graphics hidden in the beta code of watchOS 6 that point to ceramic and titanium casings – quite possibly for the Apple Watch 5 but maybe as new options, alongside stainless steel, for the Apple Watch 4.

Apple has offered ceramic smartwatches in the past, but the option was removed on the Series 4. There's never been a titanium Apple Watch though, so that's completely new.

We did hear rumors about a ceramic model for the Series 5 wearable back in February, from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It's possible that both the Series 5 and the Series 4 (which presumably will stay on sale) are going to get the new editions.

Watch and wait

Only yesterday we reported that Ming-Chi Kuo is expecting a new Apple Watch 5 in the second half of 2019. That would fit in with the launch schedule of previous models, but we haven't heard much in the way of rumors or speculation about a new edition for 2019.

It's possible that Apple is going to unveil the Apple Watch 5 alongside the new iPhones for 2019, at an event which is being tipped to happen in the second week of September, though that's not official yet.

Further digging by iHelp BR found references to both 40mm and 44mm size smartwatches, so whether these titanium and ceramic labels apply to Series 4 or Series 5 devices, they'll have the same chassis size as the existing Apple smartwatches.

If we are getting a new Apple Watch 5 next month then it's not clear exactly what features and improvements it's going to bring along with it, though watchOS 6 offers some clues – it gives the Apple Watch its own App Store portal, for example.

Via 9to5Mac

TOPICS
David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Latest in Smartwatches
Half-Life running on a smartwatch
This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Garmin Instinct 3 next to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
Garmin Forerunner 265S
One of the best Garmin running watches just dropped to a great low price at Amazon
Garmin Forerunner 965 on wrist in the dark
New Garmin leak suggests a release is days away, but don't get your hopes up for the Forerunner 975
Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED watch on wrist
Garmin owners were confused about 13.35 software update for Fenix 8, here's what actually happened
Latest in News
The Russo brothers posing for a photograph and Herman carrying a Volkswagen camper van in The Electric State
'We're optimists': AI enthusiasts Joe and Anthony Russo defend its use in movies and TV shows, but admit there are 'very real dangers' around its application
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
UK PM says AI should soon replace civil servants
Xbox Copilot in Minecraft
Microsoft confirms Copilot can be tested by Xbox Insiders next month and shares new details about how the AI sidekick will enhance the player experience: 'It has to be about gameplay, it has to be personalized to you'
Eight Samsung TVs mounted to the wall showing different basketball games
Samsung is offering you 8 new TVs in one bundle for March Madness, in case you want to watch all games at once like a Bond villain’s lair
Image depicting hands typing on a keyboard, with phishing hooks holding files, passwords and credit cards.
Microsoft warns about a new phishing campaign impersonating Booking.com
The Steam Logo on a mobile phone in front of a wall of games.
Today’s Steam Spring Sale features my absolute favorite game of all time - here's when the sale starts and all the key info