Apple develops screenless fitness tracker and refines iPhone 18 Pro design

Apple is exploring new hardware directions and design philosophies. The company is reportedly developing a prototype for a screenless fitness tracker consisting of a textile strap and a sensor module. This device would focus on continuous health and activity tracking, such as heart rate, similar to the approach used by competitors like Whoop.

In terms of product design, Apple designers have shared insights into the creation of the iPhone 18 Pro color palette. The selection includes Burgundy, Glacier, Black, and Silver. A primary technical challenge involved ensuring that the colors appeared consistent across both glass and aluminum surfaces. To achieve a unified look, the team utilized specialized inks and underwent extensive prototyping to manage how different materials react to pigments.

Additionally, a new interactive archive titled ‘Apple in Colour’ by sheets.works documents nearly three decades of the company’s aesthetic evolution. The project catalogs 341 product colors across various device families, including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch, highlighting the shift from the translucent designs of the late 1990s to more modern metallic finishes.