It appears that Apple Watch may be launching the rumoured rugged variant of its Apple Watch later this year, according to a new report by Mark Gurman. It’s worth noting that the Bloomberg journalist was also the first to report on the alleged smartwatch’s development last year, though it wasn’t certain when it was expected to be released then.
Gurman says the rugged Apple Watch, also dubbed as the “extreme sports” version, will feature the largest display among all of the wearables offered by the company. Its screen will measure in at almost two inches diagonally, and comes with a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels. It is said that the larger size would enable fitness apps to display more metrics or information on watch faces.
The device will apparently use a stronger metal than aluminium and feature a more shatter-resistant screen. This is something that is often associated with G-Shock watches, which are known for their rugged build. However, unlike most of Casio’s heavy duty timepieces, Apple’s allegedly upcoming extreme sports wearable will come with smartwatch capabilities and features. In addition, it is also suggested that the device will be equipped with a larger battery in order to accommodate longer workout times.
In terms of features, Gurman says the watch is expected to have improved tracking metrics such as elevation tracking and so on. Furthermore, this variant will feature the ability to detect fevers by scanning the user’s body temperature as well – a function that is alleged to be available across all Apple Watch Series 8 devices, according to another report by Gurman prior to this.
The Bloomberg journalist adds that the extreme sports Apple Watch will be announced alongside two other models later this year, namely the aforementioned Watch Series 8 and an updated version of the entry-level Apple Watch SE. Though its pricing has not been determined just yet, it is expected that the new variant will cost more than the Series 7 Stainless Steel variant, which is currently priced at US$ 699 (locally at RM 2,999).
(Source: Bloomberg)
