Last updated: February 13, 2023, 12:39 PM IST
Apple Watch with a camera could happen
The company has filed a patent for the feature which could be introduced in the near future.
Apple Watch is one of the most popular wearable devices on the market, serving millions around the world. The fitness features have been praised for their accuracy and in some cases help save people’s lives. The company could further bolster its case by integrating a camera into the Apple Watch, which could expand the wearable’s capabilities.
Apple has reportedly filed the patent to bring this feature to its smartwatch and some details have also been revealed through the patent. The filing was spotted by Patently Apple, highlighting the possible use case of the camera and where it could fit into the smartwatch design.
Apple Watch camera patent: what it offers
The patent suggests that Apple could place the camera on the strap. It may not sound very practical, but according to the patent, the company could have a flip-out mechanism that keeps the camera secure. Having the camera on the strap also means that the durability of the watch will be crucial, so Apple will have to revise the design to make this feature work.
The patent filing also suggests that Apple needs the Watch band to take out and hand-hold the Watch unit to click photos with the camera. Camera could bring a lot of features to the iPhone users and if implemented correctly you could even use the Watch to unlock iPhone through Face ID technology.
In addition, 3D mapping becomes a possibility on the Apple Watch. While the patent doesn’t mention which model of the Apple Watch might introduce the camera, it’s likely that Apple will keep the feature exclusive to the premium Ultra model.
That said, patent applications are generally made to give the company full rights, and in this case, Apple has prime rights to offer cameras through the Apple Watch in this way. It should also be understood that filing a patent does not necessarily mean that the product will be rolled out. But as with any Apple product, we’re curious to see if this patent makes it to production.
Read all the latest technical news here
