Future Apple Watches may perform certain tasks depending on which watch band is attached

Apple has been granted a patent (number US 11662691 B2) for “identification of bands for wearable electronic devices.”  The goal is to provide bands for the Apple Watch that can be used for specific functions.

The idea is that the smartwatch can “identify” the type of band and, accordingly, use it as an input to initiate actions performed by the Apple Watch. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the electronic device. 

Identification of the band can be performed by components of the Apple Watch that also serve other purposes. For existing sensors, communication elements, and/or detectors can be used to detect and identity a band provided to the electronic device. The Apple Watch and then respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the electronic device.