The Apple Watch isn’t known as the most durable smartwatch out there. In fact—like their iPhones—it was advised by ReviewGeek that the Watch should be better off with a screen protector. But it seems like Apple is considering launching something tougher to withstand extreme situations like sports and hiking, according to Bloomberg.
Apple has apparently “internally discussed” introducing the more rugged Watch later in 2021, or in 2022 at its earliest. However, this wasn’t mulled by the company for the first time—Apple weighed a model to appeal to extreme sports athletes after launching their first version of the Watch in 2015.
As for the features, Apple could be changing its look to a more “rugged look”—giving it a rubberised exterior that could be useful for outdoorsy, extreme environments. Their current aluminium, titanium and stainless steel exterior could be more prone to damage in those situations.
The Series 6 Watch is already water-resistant to 50 meters, a high-end feature for most smartwatches. However—according to the same source—Apple is also working on new swim tracking features for the Watch.
Since I’m not a “smartwatch expert”, I asked our resident smartwatch expert Nic about what else he’d like to see on a new “rugged” Apple Watch. He mentioned that a longer battery life should be key, as it “can’t be extreme if can’t last long”. The current Apple Watch only has 18 hours of battery life—whereas something like the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar has a whopping 21-day battery life which can be extended by up to 3 days using solar power.
He said that he would also like for the Watch to have double the water resistance it has now. While the Series 6 Watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, an extreme Watch would be even better with water-resistance down to 100 meters (10 ATM).
A transflective screen could also come in handy on watches like the rugged Garmin ones. The benefits include better battery life, and good visibility under sunlight. But, it is unlikely to offer the same kind of viewing experience as the current crop of Apple Watches.
In late January, it was reported that the next Watch could also possibly monitor your blood sugar levels. This is added on to its other features—including fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, sleep/stress tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring.
I’m curious to know what other features Apple might add onto their possible “extreme” Watch. Are they going to go full-on Garmin, or are they just going to add the rubber sides to their regular smartwatch and call it a day? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments!
