Apple Plans To Launch An 'Extreme Sports' Apple Watch With a Larger Screen, Metal Casing: Report

Apple is reportedly planning to launch an "extreme sports" version of the Apple Watch this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. TechCrunch reports: The extreme sports Apple Watch is expected to have the company's largest smartwatch display to date, along with a bigger battery and rugged metal casing. The display will measure in at almost two inches diagonally, Gurman says. The extreme sports model will have about 7% more screen area than the largest current Apple Watch. The display will also have a resolution of about 410 pixels by 502 pixels. Gurman speculates that the larger screen could be used to display more fitness metrics or information on watch faces.

In addition, Gurman says the extreme sports watch will use a stronger metal than aluminum and have a more shatter-resistant screen. The watch is also expected to have a larger battery in order to accommodate longer workout times. Gurman also says the watch is expected to have improved tracking metrics, such as the ability to detect elevation when hiking. As with the Apple Watch 8, the extreme sports model is expected to have the ability to detect fevers by taking the wearer's body temperature. The extreme sports model is reportedly going to be announced later this year, alongside two other models, the Apple Watch Series 8 and an updated version of the low-end Apple Watch SE.

Gurman says the Apple Watch Series 8 will retain its 1.9-inch diagonal screen size, while the Apple Watch SE will stick with its current 1.78-inch screen size. The extreme sports version of the Apple Watch is expected to cost more than the standard stainless steel Apple Watch, which is currently priced at $699. All of the new Apple Watches will use an S8 processor with similar performance to the S7 chip in the Apple Watch Series 7, Gurman says. Apple typically announces its new watch models in September alongside its new iPhone launches.

Casio G-Shock should be nervous

[Camembert]

The Apple Watch has become very popular. At financial industry conferences, I saw it often on the wrist of senior managers who would traditionally wear a Rolex or similar luxury watch.
G-Shocks were able to still provide a compelling alternative due to their ruggedness. They will get stiff competition. Casio also makes (or made?) an android smartwatch but it was never that popular. The one area where G-Shocks will still have an advantage, and it may be crucial for some buyers, is a huge difference in battery life.
Being a bit of a watch nerd myself, I typically wear a mechanical watch on the left for time, and an Apple Watch on the right for everything else.

Robustness

[Iamthecheese]

I bought a g-shock when it had just come out, before it was a luxury brand. It lasted me two years, where a typical watch at that point in my life lasted me two months. My point is they were, from the start, designed to be tough. Apple's design and marketing is more about being a slick luxury brand. That being the case I'll be surprised if this watch is actually nearly as rugged as a g-shock.

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[Camembert]

True, remains to be seen.
Still wondering how you can break a G-Shock in 2 years though! Mountain-biking all the time maybe?

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[LifesABeach]

rugged.
test the watch at 4 atomspheres on a real deep dive.
i am just throwing it out there

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[FoolishBluntman]

Naive question: (I'm a diver) Does the watch have a pressure sensor that could be used as deep gauge?
Have you seen developers trying this?

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[Camembert]

The current Apple Watch is only designed for surface swimming. Not many rumours about specific features of the upcoming rugged one.

Huge screen ... not!

[jaa101]

The extreme sports model will have about 7% more screen area than the largest current Apple Watch.

So the biggest currently has a 1.90" display and a 7% increase in area would bring that up to 1.97", assuming a constant aspect ratio. I doubt people would notice, even side by side. A bigger screen is clearly not a major feature of this watch. The resolution step is from 330DPI to 348DPI, not major either and, anyway, you'd need a magnifying glass to resolve the pixels on either.

Metal casing, wow!

[Acum Amcum]

Don't they all have metal casing? AFAIK there is no model with plastic :)

SIze matters

[Joce640k]

Gurman speculates that the larger screen could be used to display more fitness metrics or information on watch faces.

That's because he's an idiot.

Real reason: It's because the "extreme sports" demographic wants everybody to see how big their watch is.

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[BladeMelbourne]

I guess it's about the BWE - big watch energy.

I'm fine with my small Fitbit Charge 5.

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[dbialac]

I've never seen the point of smart watches. I'm fine with my analog automatic watch. Tells me the time every time and naturally recharges itself.

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[BladeMelbourne]

I'm not sure whether my watch is considered 'smart'.

I like the sleep and heart-rate monitoring, step counter, etc. plus the ability to pay for stuff with my watch without needing my phone or wallet is super handy.

The Vendée Globe Challenge variant

[ElitistWhiner]

Apple’s timepiece when not connected at the bellybutton to Internet and power

Solar gotta be in there somewhere then

But is it water resistant? LOL

[iliketrash]

No mention of water resistance in the article? Apple prominently advertises that its watches are "water resistant" to 50 meters. It's even engraved on the back where there is little space for information. Many people have found this promise to be a big lie. My wife is one. After only her third time swimming in a 2 m swimming pool, where she was swimming _on_top_ of the water, her watch refused to sense the "raise" motion which illuminates the display when the wrist is moved upward for reading. Apparently

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[Camembert]

the watch ratings of 50/100/300m are not real life diving ratings, they are static pressure tests. This being said, the Apple Watch should work well for surface swimming, It has various tracking features for that activity. Hence your wife's watch seems to be faulty to me.
For more info on WR ratings, the table at the end of this wikipedia page gives a good indication: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]