In a nutshell: The digital crown has been a staple on the Apple Watch since the get-go version launched in 2022. Modeled afterward the crown on traditional watches, the digital crown is a physical button that tin be pressed or spun to assist with navigating watchOS. Future versions, however, could ship with an optical sensor in place of the digital crown, should an idea from a contempo patent filing find its fashion into a finished product.

In a recently published patent application, Apple envisions an implementation of the lookout with an optical sensor in place of the digital crown. As Apparently Apple highlights, the sensor could exist used for gesture controls and assist with biometric measurements.

Eliminating the digital crown would gratis up valuable real estate inside the wear for things like a larger battery. It would too reduce the number of moving parts and further enhance water resistance, only like removing the SIM card slot from the iPhone would do.

One pressing concern is whether or not gesture controls are reliable plenty to replace a concrete button, especially one with the history that the crown has on traditional wristwatches. Gesture controls have ever felt a chip gimmicky – would Apple be willing to run a risk with the watch's reputation for a gimmick?

What are your thoughts? Should Apple ditch the digital crown and make its smartwatch a bit more than streamlined, or is this a feature that Cupertino has no business tinkering with?

Image credit: Torsten Dettlaff, Pixabay