Apple partner accidentally tips off existence of Apple Watch Series 5

While T-Mobile subscribers are looking forward to this coming Tuesday because of the free Whopper they will receive with this week's T-Mobile Tuesdays promotion, others will be focused on the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. That is where Apple will be holding its new product event and we expect its category-leading device to be updated for 2019. No, we're not talking about the iPhone even though three new models will be introduced. We are actually referring to the next iteration of the Apple Watch, the Series 5.

The Apple Watch has become the most popular smartwatch in the world and has become a threat to even Swiss analog watch manufacturers, some of whom have been in business for many, many years. Long ago, Apple gave up on the idea that its smartwatch would be a fashion accessory and instead it has positioned the device as a tool to monitor one's health. Equipped with a heart rate monitor and an electrocardiogram (on Series 4 models), the timepiece has earned a reputation as a device that can save lives. And the Apple Watch Series 5 could feature a sensor that will check your blood pressure and launch with support for a native sleep tracking application.

Last month we showed you a photograph that claimed to show the Apple Watch Series 5 with a model number of A2157. Honestly, it looks just like the Series 4 version with most of the changes made internally. Another reason to expect the latest Apple Watch to share the spotlight on Tuesday was found on the website of luxury goods manufacturer Hermes. The company posted (too early, obviously) photos of what were labeled Series 5 watch bands. Discovered by 9to5Mac, the images of the three bands and the descriptions of them are copies of existing Series 4 bands. These were discovered through the search tool on the website and web cache results studied by 9to5Mac reveal that the listings are new this week.

The bands pictured include a Single Tour etoupe bracelet, a Single Tour deployment buckle bracelet, and a Single Tour fauve bracelet. Since the Series 4 and Series 5 models look similar, some believe that Apple will not unveil a new watch this year, and will instead continue to sell the Series 3 and Series 4 units with new casings (Titanium and Ceramic in both 40mm and 44mm sizes) and new bands. Hermes has since taken down the image, which only strengthens the idea that the photos on the Hermes website are related in some way to the upcoming Series 5 timepiece even if they were only meant to be placeholders.

Besides the Apple Watch, we expect to see three new iPhone models on Tuesday with two of the handsets sporting a "Pro" moniker. Those two handsets might feature support for some version of the Apple Pencil and all three models should arrive with reverse wireless charging capabilities. This will turn the glass rear panel of any 2019 iPhone model into a wireless charging pad allowing users to charge an Apple Watch, the AirPods wireless charging case, and a compatible handset. We also could see the third-generation of the wireless Bluetooth AirPods take the stage on Tuesday. The new model could include noise-cancellation (very welcome), protection from water (also very welcome) and perhaps a grippier material to keep the device from tumbling out of your ears. And yes, there is a very small chance that Apple could take the wraps off of its long-rumored mixed reality Apple Glasses headset.