With Apple anticipated to unveil its 2022 Apple Watch lineup in just a few weeks, experiences of a brand new third mannequin are gaining steam, offering extra hints at what this rugged sports activities model of the Apple Watch will seem like.
Rumors of this new Apple Watch “Explorer Edition†first appeared over a 12 months in the past, when Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman acquired wind of Apple’s plans to launch a ruggedized model of the Apple Watch designed for outside journey fanatics.
It was an thought Apple had reportedly been contemplating for years — not less than way back to 2015. Nevertheless, as an alternative of releasing a devoted sports activities mannequin, Apple selected to concentrate on the Apple Watch Collection 2, which gained new “swim proofing†options and exercises focused at swimmers.
Whereas the Apple Watch has confirmed common with sports activities fanatics, it nonetheless can’t compete with the sturdiness of one thing like Casio’s G-Shock lineup. Over the previous couple of years, Apple has come to understand that it’s been dropping enterprise to outside sports activities followers who want one thing that may survive essentially the most excessive adventures.
A number of sources have since confirmed that this would be the 12 months of the rugged Apple Watch, though it’s unclear what Apple will truly name it; the “Explorer Edition†is reportedly how Apple was referring to the venture internally final 12 months, however Gurman hasn’t used that title in his more moderen experiences.
Nevertheless, what we do know is that this rugged Apple Look ahead to excessive sports activities aficionados will likely be launched alongside the Apple Watch Collection 8 and sure a brand new Apple Watch SE, making this the primary 12 months that Apple has three new Apple Watch fashions to point out off.
Apple Watch ‘Explorer Edition’ Options and Modifications
In a current article in Bloomberg, Gurman additionally offers extra particulars on what we are able to count on from the brand new Apple Watch mannequin, together with a fair bigger display.
- Based on Gurman, the display will measure “almost 2 inches diagonally. This could provide 7 p.c extra display actual property than the Collection 7, which already boasts a bigger show than its predecessors.
- The Apple Watch “Explorer Edition†may have a show decision of 410 by 502 pixels, with the identical general sharpness as current fashions. That’s a rise from the 45mm Collection 7’s 396×484 display.
- The Apple Watch Collection 8 and Apple Watch SE will retain the identical 1.9-inch diagonal display because the Collection 7.
- Apple will seemingly make the most of the bigger display in watchOS 9 to point out extra element for issues like the brand new multi-sport exercises geared towards triathletes.
- The intense sports activities Apple Watch will likely be comprised of a robust metallic materials reasonably than aluminum for extra sturdiness. The display may also be much more shatter-resistant than the Apple Watch Collection 7, which already improved over the Collection 6.
- The brand new Apple Watch can also be anticipated to pack in a bigger battery than the usual Apple Watch Collection 8 so athletes can “track exercises for longer durations of time.â€
- It’s unclear if Apple will launch this rugged version in two sizes, as Gurman solely talked about the bigger two-inch display.
In addition to these variations, the Apple Watch “Explorer Edition†is anticipated to incorporate all of the options of the Apple Watch Collection 8, together with the S8 processor and physique temperature sensor. Regardless of the brand new title, the S8 chip isn’t anticipated to be any sooner than the S6/S7 that got here earlier than.
The Apple Watch “Explorer Edition†will nearly actually promote for a better price ticket than the Apple Watch Collection 8; Gurman suggests will probably be pricier even than Apple’s chrome steel fashions, which begin at $699. That’s across the identical worth because the Android Put on OS-powered Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000, however Apple nearly actually intends to set a a lot larger bar for its first excessive sports activities Apple Watch.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]