Short answer: probably not. The screenshots posted by leaker Majin Bu in September 2024 looked like an Apple Watch with dramatically thinner bezels, but 9to5Mac reported that it found no new Series 10 watch images in the relevant iOS 18.0 and iOS 18.1 beta assets. Its likely explanation was a rendering error that combined existing watch and watch-face artwork incorrectly. That makes the image weak evidence of hardware, even though Apple later released a Series 10 with larger 42mm and 46mm cases.
The screenshot that started the rumor
In early September 2024, shortly before Apple’s September 9 event, Majin Bu posted screenshots on X showing the initial Apple Watch pairing and setup process on an iPhone running an iOS 18.1 beta. The watch illustration appeared to have an unusually large display and almost no bezel.
The timing and appearance made the image persuasive. Reports already predicted a thinner design and larger screens for the upcoming Series 10, so the screenshot seemed to confirm those rumors. It was still only purported beta imagery, not an authenticated Apple product image. Contemporary coverage described the claim and its uncertainty at 9to5Mac and BGR.
Why the apparent leak does not hold up
9to5Mac found no new Series 10 image in the inspected files
9to5Mac said it examined relevant assets from the iOS 18.0 and iOS 18.1 betas and found no apparent new Apple Watch model images. Its report indicated that the setup flow was using Apple Watch Series 9 artwork rather than a newly introduced Series 10 render.
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![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
That is not an official Apple statement that the screenshot was fake, and it does not prove that no future-watch asset existed anywhere in Apple’s software. It does, however, undermine the narrower claim that this particular screenshot directly revealed Series 10 hardware.
A likely rendering mismatch
The reported explanation is a compositing problem. The watch body and the watch face were apparently separate assets. If the face layer is scaled or positioned too close to the case edge, the result looks like a display with almost no bezel even when the underlying watch illustration is from an existing model.
A pairing screen is especially plausible territory for generic, placeholder, or separately assembled artwork. A still image cannot establish the watch’s actual case dimensions, display area, model identifier, or production design.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
What the screenshot could—and could not—prove
| Question | What the screenshot established |
|---|---|
| Was it from an iOS 18.1 beta setup flow? | That was reported by the contemporaneous accounts, but the screenshot itself did not provide independently verifiable metadata. |
| Did it identify a Series 10? | No. It showed no model identifier, file name, dimensions, serial number, or other model-specific reference. |
| Did it prove a nearly bezel-free display? | No. Incorrect scaling of a separate watch-face layer can create that appearance. |
| Could the design direction still have been similar to Series 10? | Yes. A visual match with circulating rumors is corroboration at most, not authentication. |
The rumors behind the rumor
Before launch, reports variously predicted larger displays, thinner bezels, a faster chip, additional health sensors, and a more refined or curved display. Even the proposed case sizes conflicted: some reports discussed 45mm and 49mm options, while others suggested 42mm and 46mm.
That disagreement matters. The screenshot looked convincing partly because it fit the broad direction of the rumor cycle. But a rumor can be broadly correct while the image used to support it is unrelated or misleading. The two claims must be evaluated separately:
- The Series 10 might have larger screens and thinner bezels.
- This iOS 18.1 screenshot showed Series 10 hardware.
The first turned out to be directionally sound. The second remained unsupported.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 46mm case] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Fitness Tracker, ECG App, Always-On Retina Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Cud2WnszL._SL160_.jpg)
- WHY APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 — Bigger display with up to 30 percent more screen area.* A thinner, lighter, and more comfortable design.* Advanced health and fitness features provide invaluable insights.* Safety features connect you to help when you need it.* Faster charging gives you 80 percent battery in about 30 minutes.*
- ADVANCED HEALTH INSIGHTS — Take an ECG anytime.* Get notifications if you have high or low heart rate or an irregular heart rhythm.* Understand your menstrual cycle and get retrospective ovulation estimates.* See overnight health metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, and more with the Vitals app.* Track sleep and get notifications if Apple Watch detects signs of sleep apnea.*
- A POWERFUL FITNESS PARTNER — Measure all the ways you move with Activity Rings, which are customizable to match your lifestyle. Get advanced metrics for a range of workouts with the Workout app. Track the intensity of your workouts with training load. Use depth and water temperature sensors for your aquatic adventures. And Apple Watch comes with three months of Apple Fitness+ free.*
- STAY CONNECTED — Send a text, take a call, listen to music and podcasts, use Siri, and get notifications on the go. Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS) works with your iPhone or Wi-Fi to keep you connected.
- INNOVATIVE SAFETY FEATURES — Fall Detection and Crash Detection can connect you with emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a severe car crash. Emergency SOS lets you call for help with the press of a button.* Check In automatically notifies a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.*
What Apple actually released
Apple ultimately introduced the Series 10 with 42mm and 46mm case options. Apple’s current comparison documentation lists the 46mm case at 46mm × 39mm × 9.7mm and the 42mm case at 42mm × 36.4mm × 9.7mm. Those are retrospective specifications, not information Apple had published when the September 2024 screenshot circulated. See Apple’s Apple Watch comparison page.
Apple’s stated battery estimates for Series 10 are up to 18 hours of normal use and up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode, under Apple’s test methodology. The watch supports fast charging. Apple also says Series 10 and later can be used for snorkeling to 6 meters, while warning against scuba diving and high-velocity water activities.
The eventual 42mm and 46mm sizes make the pre-launch reporting look partly prescient. They do not authenticate the beta screenshot. Hardware that later exists is not proof that an earlier, ambiguous image depicted it.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS, 46mm] - Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band, S/M (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QK6T8A0yL._SL160_.jpg)
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length. There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product will have a battery which exceeds 80% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
Why iOS 18.1 beta was weak evidence
The first iOS 18.1 beta was primarily a test vehicle for Apple Intelligence features, not a public catalog of unreleased hardware. Pre-release software can contain incorrect artwork, incomplete assets, and layout bugs. Apple’s iOS 18.1 release notes document beta-specific issues, reinforcing that a visual anomaly in a beta should not automatically be treated as a product reveal.
A stronger software leak would include an identifiable model reference, a device-specific asset name, dimensions, or corroboration across multiple beta versions and independent files. The screenshot had none of those visible anchors.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to verify a purported Apple software leak
- Identify the image type. Distinguish an official asset from a screenshot, CAD rendering, mock-up, or repost.
- Search for model-specific metadata. File names, device identifiers, dimensions, and SDK or firmware references carry more weight than appearance alone.
- Check for layered artwork. Pairing screens may combine device art, screen art, shadows, labels, and masks.
- Compare software versions. A one-off discrepancy may be a bug; a consistent, identifiable asset is stronger evidence.
- Separate corroboration from confirmation. Resemblance to a rumor shows consistency, not provenance.
- Wait for independent confirmation. Apple’s announcement, official specifications, or reliable hands-on documentation can establish dimensions and features.
Should you install a beta to investigate a leak?
For most readers, no. Apple warns that beta software may contain errors or inaccuracies and recommends installing it on a secondary or non-production device. Apple also says that an Apple Watch running beta software cannot be restored to a previously released watchOS version once the beta is installed. Those are practical limitations, not a prediction that every installation will fail.
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Best Value
- STAY CLOSER TO YOUR HEART HEALTH—The most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable,* Series 12 now measures HRV as often as every five minutes for insights on stress and recovery, and takes background heart rate readings every five seconds.
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Better understand your body with invaluable health insights. View your overnight health metrics with the Vitals app and get a daily sleep score,* track your menstrual cycle,5 and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- CHECK YOUR READINESS FOR THE DAY—Know when to rest or put yourself to the test. The readiness experience can help you determine your capacity to take on the day by analyzing your recent activity, vitals, and sleep.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone8—Series 12 helps you stay active, from running to hiking to strength training.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 12 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.*
The Apple Beta Software Program FAQ also treats unreleased software as confidential and discourages public posting of screenshots. Apple’s installation guidance is at developer.apple.com/support/install-beta.
The verified retrospective
- Series 10 larger-display rumors: broadly credible in direction; Apple later released 42mm and 46mm models.
- The iOS 18.1 screenshot as proof: probably not legitimate evidence of Series 10 hardware.
- Most likely explanation: a rendering problem involving existing Apple Watch and watch-face assets, as reported by 9to5Mac.
The useful lesson is simple: an image can look like confirmation because it matches a rumor. Matching a rumor is not the same as proving a leak.
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