Apple's upcoming smartwatch will no longer have leather bands.
The tech giant has reportedly discontinued its leather bands for Apple Watches to introduce new products made from different materials as soon as next week.
Apple's next smartwatch isn't due for release until 2024, per Macworld.
Apple Leather Band discontinuation
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently discovered that Apple is expected to "begin moving away from leather on its Apple Watch brands as well," per his X.com posts. According to the reporter, sources told him that the tech giant started offering employees its Hermes leather accessories and leather link bands at a 90% discount.
With such a discounted price Apple gave its employees for such a luxury product as Hermes' leather accessories, it is quite clear that some inventory clearing is happening within the company. Interestingly enough, while the deal is still available for Apple employees, every Hermes leather product, including the leather link bands, is out of stock hours before press time.
9to5Mac also added that the sale could end the partnership Apple and Hermes had been enjoying since 2015. Gurman theorizes that the sale is a sign that Hermes' leather products are going away for good, as Apple did the same with the original HomePod before discontinuing it in 2021.
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At that time, retail and corporate employees could get an Apple HomePod at half its usual $299 price tag - an uncommon occurrence according to The Apple Post. Apple may have done so to try to lower its HomePod inventory ahead of the launch of an updated model, which would mark the HomePod's discontinuation.
While the steep discount Apple offers its employees for Hermes leather accessories follows past precedence, it isn't as surprising as others think. There was some speculation on the internet that Apple has been phasing out its Hermes Watch bands for some time - it is only now that it is actually happening.
What's The New Product Apple Will Introduce?
As for why Apple wanted to discontinue its Hermes leather accessories, it may have to do with the environment. The tech giant has a significant carbon footprint that it wants to address, and discontinuing its leather accessories may be the company's way to go with it.
To replace these accessories, Apple may be looking to replace its discontinued leather accessories with new "FineWoven" ones, made of a soft fabric material combined with regular silicone - something MacRumors previously reported days ago.
According to the publication's report, which cites device collector and leaker known as "Kosutami," these FineWoven accessories will come in the form of iPhone cases first, which Apple will sell in various colors.
Whether Apple will introduce FineWoven Watch bands for public purchase is unknown, though we'll know more about the company's plans when it launches its Sept. 12 press event.
Apple may also introduce the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Series 9 during this press event. As such, it is possible that the company could reveal something about the Watch bands its Series 9 Watches will come.
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