This upcoming Apple Watch feature might be delayed, and Watch SE 3 in "serious jeopardy"

While Apple plans new Watches with cameras, its long-rumoured work on integrating the blood-pressure tracking feature into the Apple Watches is being run into roadblocks, says Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the latest edition of Power On newsletter. Not just that, but the rumoured upcoming Watch SE that's said to switch to plastic construction, Gurman notes, is also at risk of being scrapped.
According to Gurman's report, Apple "continues to run into problems" with testing the blood-pressure monitoring feature intended for the Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, both expected to launch in September 2025. The nature of these problems wasn't specified, but they could relate to accuracy, battery life, or false readings.

The situation for the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE 3 appears even more precarious. Gurman reports that the planned redesign featuring a plastic casing is in "serious jeopardy" as Apple's design team "doesn't like the look" of the cheaper material. Additionally, the operations team is finding that the plastic casing isn't substantially less expensive to produce than the current aluminum chassis, eliminating a key benefit of the switch.
These setbacks come at a critical time for Apple's wearable division. Bloomberg notes that Apple Watch shipments reportedly declined in 2024, contributing to the first-ever contraction in the global smartwatch market.

There is some positive news in Gurman's report. The Ultra 3's rumored satellite texting feature appears to be on track, as does the Reduced Capacity 5G upgrade that would improve cellular connectivity when the watch is used independently from an iPhone.
With less than six months until the expected September launch alongside the iPhone 17, Apple faces significant challenges to overcome these development hurdles or risk disappointing consumers with a lackluster 2025 lineup.