Apple Watch Pro: All we know about Apple’s rugged smartwatch
Alongside the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8, Apple is rumored to unveil an all-new Apple Watch. And no, we aren’t talking about the Watch SE 2. Apple is tipped to be working on an extreme version of its wearable that could be called the Apple Watch Pro to compete with the sports-focused Garmins of the world.
Lately, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg (among other sources) has been sharing information about the upcoming Apple Watch Pro in bits and pieces. Here’s everything we know about the wearable so far.
Design and hardware
According to previous reports, the Apple Watch Pro will offer a larger, more shatter-resistant display. It could get a rugged case made of titanium. It will be “a good bit bigger than the standard Apple Watch,” says Gurman. As for the display, it could be up to 7% larger.
Moreover, the new wearable will offer a fresh look for the first time since Apple updated the Watch design in 2018. Before you assume, it won’t have the flat sides that were rumored to be introduced in last year’s Series 7. Instead, the new design will be an evolution of Apple’s current design.
Recently, Japanese website Mac Otakara shared a report from “reliable sources” suggesting the Apple Watch Pro will get a bump in size to a 47mm or 48mm screen, measuring just under 2 inches diagonally. This confirmed a July report from display analyst Ross Young. Almost nothing has been said about the Apple Watch Pro coming in a smaller size, and it seems likely that Apple will match Samsung’s playbook from the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro — a premium Apple Watch in a single size available only with a higher-end titanium casing.
With only days to go until Apple’s September 7 event, during which the company is expected to unveil this year’s Apple Watch lineup, a new series of cases and renders have also surfaced depicting the design of the new Apple Watch Pro. Leaker Sonny Dickson shared images of cases purporting to be for the new extreme Apple Watch model, while 91Mobiles has managed to get its hands on some CAD renders illustrating the design of the wearable.
These renders show a flat-screened design that could explain where last year’s rumors of a big design change for the Series 7 came from. That design change never materialized, and while some leakers suggested that Apple changed the design at the last minute, it was more likely they misinterpreted the information they had. Nevertheless, although the renders show a flat screen, there’s no sign of the iPhone-style flat sides; Apple’s contoured design is still very evident here.
More significantly, the renders also show a second physical button on the opposite side of the wearable, plus a more rugged Digital Crown protected by a protruding portion of the chassis. This is presumably designed to protect the dial while making it easier to access, especially inside a thick and rugged sport case. 91Mobiles also pegs the size at 49mm.
With the larger size, there’s also a possibility that the Apple Watch Pro might be incompatible with existing watch bands for the first time in the history of the wearable. Bands designed for the original 2014 Apple Watch, which came in 38mm and 42mm sizes, still fit the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 models. However, since the Apple Watch Pro will technically be an entirely new model, Apple might not feel as obligated to ensure compatibility. There’s also a possibility that the Apple Watch Pro will have a new mounting mechanism for watch bands to go with its more rugged design.
This is indeed it https://t.co/ZQj7yDGHVI
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 5, 2022
Gurman has confirmed that the 91Mobiles renders match what he’s seen of the new Apple Watch Pro. With the new device expected to be announced tomorrow, it’s a safe bet that these are accurate. However, 11th-hour leaks have been wrong before, so we won’t know for sure until Apple takes the stage and shows it off.
Battery life
The Apple Watch Pro is also said to offer longer battery life, which is an essential aspect if it wants to be taken seriously by outdoor sports enthusiasts. Some rumors suggest the Apple Watch Pro will have a longer battery life, but they haven’t explained how Apple will achieve that.
A more recent report states that the smartwatch could last multiple days on one charge via a new low-power mode. It remains to be seen what functionalities will be limited with the new low-power mode, but we’re certainly intrigued to learn more.
Software
There is no word on whether Apple will offer special software features with the Watch Pro. The company will likely bring additional sports modes and fitness tracking options, and the larger display will almost certainly make it possible to show more information during workouts.
Apart from those possible additions, the underlying OS will likely be the same as what we’ll get on the Apple Watch Series 8 — WatchOS 9. One of the outstanding features is the presence of Apple Medications on the WatchOS 9. The new option in the Health app allows you to keep track of your medicines, vitamins, and supplements by letting you create a medications list, set up schedules and reminders, and view all the medicine-related information.
Other latest features include a bunch of new watch faces. Although, we will reportedly get Apple Watch Pro-exclusive watch faces too. WatchOS 9 also brings updates to the workout app, better sleep tracking, and more.
Price and release date
Apple will be replacing its expensive, more luxury-focused Apple Watch Edition variants with the Apple Watch Pro. For reference, the Watch Series 7 with a titanium case (instead of aluminum or stainless steel) starts at $849. It gives you a sapphire crystal over the screen for further protection. Plus, you get a single cellular variant.
Apple is likely to price the Watch Pro a bit more than the Watch Editions. The Apple Watch Pro price could go up to $1,000. That said, Apple will really need to deliver on the additional features and new design if it wants to tempt people to spend a thousand bucks on a wearable, especially when top models from Polar and Garmin cost around $500.
What about the Apple Watch Series 8?
Alongside the Apple Watch Pro, we’re also expecting the Apple Watch Series 8 this year. It will supposedly join the iPhone, MacBook Air, and Pro with flat sides. The device will likely come in the same 41mm and 45mm sizes as the Series 7, with 1.7 and 1.9 inches of display sizes, respectively. It will be powered by the same chip as the Watch Series 7.
“For those hoping for a faster chip in this year’s Apple Watch, I’m told the S8 chip will have the same specifications as the S7, which was also the same as the S6. Next year’s models, however, are slated to get an all-new processor,” Gurman wrote.
The Watch Series 8 is said to have a compass, GPS, a blood oxygen sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a gyroscope, and additional similar functionality. While the temperature sensor should appear in Series 8, the blood-pressure technology and glucose monitoring aren’t coming any time soon. It will likely start at the same $399 price as the Watch Series 7.
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