Apple Drops Red Digital Crown Ring on Watch Series 10 After 7 Models
Updated
Updated · SlashGear · May 8
Apple Drops Red Digital Crown Ring on Watch Series 10 After 7 Models
6 articles · Updated · SlashGear · May 8
Series 10 and current Ultra Apple Watches no longer use the red Digital Crown ring that had marked cellular-capable models since the 2017 Series 3.
That red accent originally signaled GPS + Cellular support—the feature that first let Apple Watch place calls and send messages without a nearby iPhone.
Ultra models broke the pattern in 2022 with an orange crown ring, and Series 10 followed in 2024 by switching to crown colors that match the case.
With Ultra 3 still using orange and Series 10, 11 and SE lacking red, a red ring now generally identifies a Series 9-era or older watch.
As AI and health sensors become key, what will be the next 'red ring' to visually signal Apple's cutting-edge technology?
Is Apple ditching visual cues on base models to make its premium products, like the Ultra, seem more exclusive?