Apple's new "double tap" gesture looks to be a big part of the Apple Watch moving forward, and Apple enthusiasts are speculating that the feature could be integrated into another upcoming Apple product: Apple Vision Pro.
As part of today's Apple Wonderlust Event, the tech company revealed its Apple Watch Series 9, which includes an upgraded CPU and GPU, an all-day 18-hour battery life, and more new features. But the feature that's getting the most reactions from Apple enthusiasts is the new double tap gesture, which controls the primary button in an app.
Examples shown in the presentation included answering a call, silencing an alarm, taking a photo, playing music, or launching the Smart Stack. The gesture is performed by tapping your thumb and index finger twice on the watch-wearing hand. The double tap feature is coming in a software update next month.
On X (formerly Twitter), people noticed that the double tap is similar to the gesture used when interacting with the Apple Vision Pro — Apple's upcoming $3500 mixed-reality headset — leading to speculation that the technology could be used across Apple devices when the Vision Pro launches in 2024. Some Apple analysts are pointing out that the Apple Watch's double tap will acclimate people to using the gesture ahead of the Vision Pro's release.
"Double Tap" is also the same exact finger pinch gesture as selecting items while wearing Apple Vision Pro, so... that could be interesting to keep an eye on hah
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 12, 2023
Double Tap on Apple Watch is Apple is conditioning people to interact with Vision Pro before it launches #AppleEvent
— David ImeI (@DurvidImel) September 12, 2023
New double tap feature in the new Apple Watch! #appleevent — this is very much like how you will control Apple Vision! pic.twitter.com/C8a2b6ok99
— iJustine (@ijustine) September 12, 2023
Apple Vision Pro was announced at WWDC 2023, where we learned of Apple's plans for the mixed reality headset, including the new VisionOS and a feature called EyeSight, which is designed to help users stay connected with people around them. The device is slated for an early 2024 launch, but a recent report claims Apple is already scaling back production plans for the Vision Pro due to production difficulties and the headset's complex design.
For more from today's Apple event, check out the official iPhone 15 announcement and Apple's first-ever carbon neutral product, as well as our roundup of everything announced.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over seven years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
