Apple may ditch the Digital Crown and replace this feature with something entirely different.
According to a now-disclosed patent, the company can opt for a suite of optical sensors for effortless navigation.
Optical sensors with the same functions as the current Apple Watch digital crown
Apple may be considering a background change for its smartwatch that involves replacing the Digital Crown feature that currently allows navigation through the watchOS interface, effortlessly and without the need to touch the screen.
According to a patent application that has now been revealed, the Cupertino company, in the future, could replace this feature with a set of optical sensors that would have exactly the same function.
In documentation submitted to the authority of the US Patent and Trademark Office, the brand clarifies that the new sensors will be used to detect and track user input, thereby eliminating the need for Digital Crown.
In the same document, one of the advantages presented to replace the current function with sensors is that the moving parts of the Apple smart watch are reduced. But, more important than that, is the fact that it frees up space.
Optical sensors can allow the integration of a larger battery into the smartwatch

In other words, the space that the Digital Crown now occupies can be used in much more useful ways, such as the introduction of a larger battery or even additional sensors, with other functionalities.
On the other hand, it should also be noted that the introduction of optical sensors allows Apple to add several other potential features in the area of ​​health. For example, monitoring respiratory rate and even blood pressure. The latter would be especially important, as Huawei’s new smartwatch is currently the only smartwatch available on the market with this functionality.
However, we still have to wait a while to see this possible fundamental change included in the Apple Watch, since the sketches shown in the patent applications usually take time to reach the end user.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max without physical SIM card slot
Other Apple-related news reports that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, which will be released in the year 2023, may come without a physical SIM card slot.
It appears that the Cupertino company will choose to only provide support for eSIM cards to ensure connectivity. The same sources also added that the brand could include inputs for two eSIM cards, in order to guarantee the functionality of the dual SIM.
However, we must consider this information very carefully, especially considering that we are talking about models that will only be launched in 2023. Until then, Apple may change its mind …