In a recent revelation, a prototype of the Apple Watch Ultra sporting a black ceramic back surfaced in filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
What Happened: Images of an Apple Watch Ultra prototype with a black ceramic back were discovered in FCC filings, reported 9to5Mac. This prototype design is slightly different from the final version of the Apple Watch Ultra, which was launched in September 2022.
The prototype, discovered by @ParrotSWD on X, formerly Twitter, not only sports a black ceramic back but also exhibits a unique design for the Action Button. This button appears to be made of plastic in the prototype, differing from the metallic button found in the final version of the product.
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It’s not unusual for Apple Inc. AAPL to send prototype designs to the FCC for regulatory approval months ahead of product launches. This isn’t the first instance of Apple making last-minute design tweaks, either. A past example was unveiling a gold-colored iPhone X prototype in FCC filings, despite the absence of this color in the final product.
Even though these design changes occur, the evolution of the design is intriguing to observe, especially the shift from a black ceramic back to a gray one in the final Apple Inc. AAPL Watch Ultra.
Why It Matters: The emergence of this prototype underscores Apple’s iterative design process. It highlights how the tech giant continually refines its product aesthetics and functionality based on various considerations, possibly including customer feedback, manufacturing constraints, or even regulatory requirements.
This process is critical to delivering the polished final products that consumers have come to associate with Apple. It also provides a glimpse into potential future design directions for Apple’s products. The uncovered prototype might not have made it to the market, but its unique features could influence forthcoming iterations of the Apple Watch.
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