March 28, 2025 – Patently Apple reported yesterday (March 27th) that Apple Inc. has been granted a patent for an innovative Apple Watch design featuring a fully glass-encased body. This groundbreaking design transforms the side areas of the watch into illuminated touch-sensitive interfaces, enabling music control, stopwatch functionality, and biometric features, while simultaneously enhancing the device’s durability and water resistance.
Currently, Apple Watches only have glass covering the front screen. However, the newly patented design proposes encasing multiple sides of the watch case in glass. This approach reduces the number of seams in the case, resulting in a sleeker, more streamlined appearance and minimizing the risk of liquid infiltration.
According to the patent description, the side glass embeds display screens that can dynamically switch button layouts, such as directional pads and start/stop buttons. The interactive content automatically adjusts based on the context, for instance, displaying fitness controls during workouts or switching to a volume slider when listening to music.
Furthermore, the design supports touch and biometric sensing, leveraging the transparent nature of glass for precise input detection. The side buttons can also control external devices, such as headphones and smartphones, or activate native applications like the stopwatch. This patent marks a significant step forward in the evolution of wearable technology, promising enhanced functionality and aesthetics for future Apple Watch models.
