A Rugged Apple Watch Would possibly Be within the Playing cards

Final yr, Apple broke with custom and provided not one, however two Apple Watches—the Collection 6 and the cheaper SE. Now, a Bloomberg report is suggesting Apple is mulling including one other rugged variant to enchantment to out of doors athletes and hikers.

The information comes from Mark Gurman, a famous Apple prognosticator with a great monitor document. Citing unnamed Apple sources, Gurman contends a rugged Apple Watch wouldn’t supplant present Apple Watch fashions. Relatively, it’d be its personal mannequin, within the vein of different particular version Apple Watches, just like the one it has with Nike. Functionally, the rugged watch wouldn’t be that completely different from the common Apple Watch. The principle distinction is that it’d have “additional impact-resistance and safety.”

Aesthetically, Bloomberg contends the rugged watch would possibly look one thing like a Casio G-Shock. That is sensible given its rubber exterior, a glance that yow will discover on many a Garmin or Suunto. Proper now, you may get the Apple Watch in both aluminum, titanium, or chrome steel. Whereas the titanium and chrome steel variations are hardier than the cheaper aluminum mannequin, they’re nonetheless not proof against dings and scratches—particularly in case you’re somebody who likes extra excessive sports activities like downhill mountain biking or mountain climbing. The identical goes for the dearer sapphire crystal screens. (They’re largely positive in case you’re sticking to the health club or gentler workouts like yoga.)

Apart from a beefier encasing, sturdier supplies, and watch strap equipment, it’s not clear what else Apple would do to set a possible rugged watch aside. The present Apple Watches are already waterproof to five ATM or 50 meters, which is the minimal stage required for swimming. Apple’s native exercise app additionally contains all kinds of out of doors actions, together with climbing, open water and indoor swimming, water sports activities and water polo, browsing, snowboarding, downhill and cross nation snowboarding, and even looking. Bloomberg says the corporate is engaged on new swim-tracking options, however except they’re upping the ante to 10 ATM, higher swimming metrics wouldn’t essentially be restricted to the rugged model. The identical holds true if Apple decides to supply the identical in-depth operating metrics provided by extra fitness-focused wearables like Garmin and Polar.

In any case, Bloomberg’s report says the earliest we may see a rugged Apple Watch is later this yr or 2022 on the earliest. If it’s this yr, we’ll probably discover out someday this fall, which is when Apple often launches its new era of Apple Watches. (That is offered that the worldwide chip scarcity and present provide chain points don’t proceed to muck up the same old product launch cadence for 2021.) Then once more, this isn’t the primary time Apple has purportedly thought of a rugged model. Again in 2015, after launching its first Apple Watch, the corporate reportedly mulled releasing a mannequin to enchantment to excessive sports activities athletes however finally determined in opposition to it. The identical factor may occur right here too.

One factor in favor of a rugged watch, nonetheless, is the truth that the Apple Watch is a way more vital product for Apple nowadays. It’s arduous to say precisely how a lot the Apple Watch generated in income for the corporate, because it’s lumped in with AirPods, the HomePod, and equipment in Apple’s reporting. Nonetheless, that phase noticed a document 30% progress in Q1 this yr for a powerful $13 billion in income. Plus, Apple has famous that by way of the watch, 75% of shoppers are first-time patrons, relatively than upgrades. Provided that, including one other SKU makes extra sense now than it did when the Apple Watch was extensively thought of an pointless luxurious.

However whereas the transfer is sensible, it’s unclear whether or not it’s a big gamble that can repay. By providing a rugged watch, Apple’s taking clear purpose at rivals like Garmin, Suunto, and Polar. Good luck there, as Garmin customers are among the many most brand-loyal within the smartwatch class, and there’s a motive it’s one of the most popular endurance sports activities manufacturers. Apple doesn’t natively supply as a lot in the best way of the restoration metrics—which could be a critical dealbreaker for devoted athletes. To not point out, the Apple Watch continues to be touting an 18-hour “all-day” battery life—which on this planet of rugged smartwatches, is pitifully quick. Lastly, whereas Apple’s just lately made an even bigger push into health (See: Health+), its largest power continues to be in its superior well being options and multi-purpose utilization.

Proper now, the largest rumor swirling across the Collection 7 is the potential for blood sugar monitoring. (A feat, that if Apple may pull off, would render a rugged variant small potatoes.) Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has additionally stated the Collection 7 will probably concentrate on “progressive well being administration features” and “improved kind issue design.” It’s potential the latter is referring to a rugged watch, although it may additionally imply a extra aesthetic redesign. We’ll simply have to attend and see.