A rugged Apple Watch “Pro” is all but officially confirmed. Not only did we begin hearing whispers of this device over a year ago, but the buzz mill has been amping up as of late with new attributes about potential specs and features.
Pro could deliver multi-day battery life on a single charge and feature the Apple Watch’s intense first redesign… ever. And, if Apple honestly wants to compete with Garmin and Polar, it will need both.
The Pro ideal will be a “good bit larger than the standard Apple Watch” to the point where it might only implore a “subset of customers.” On top of that, he mentions that the device’s fresh look will be an “evolution of the current rectangular shape.” Lastly, the Pro model may last multiple days thanks to a bigger battery and low-power mode and feature more durable titanium to make it “extra rugged.”
Apple hasn’t seriously tweaked the Apple Watch’s design since 2018 with the Series 4 and even then, the changes weren’t a substantial departure from the Series 3. At the time, Apple bumped up the scope of the Series 4’s display from 38mm and 42mm to 40mm and 44mm.
It also transformed the red dot on the digital crown of cellular models into a more subtle red ring. Subsequent models have also taught flatter side buttons. So, considering that’s what’s comprised a “redesign” in the past, the transitions offer a more distinct visual difference on the horizon.
A distinctly visible break from the past is essential if Apple wants a victorious multisport smartwatch. A rugged Apple Watch that glances and functions identically to the standard Series 8 would muddy the waters. Plus, it doesn’t precisely encourage folks to expend more when you can already upgrade to more premium fabrics on the standard models. But, on the flip side, folks who gravitate toward multisport watches like a more outdoorsy vibe.
Large 4750mm displays, button guards, and durable yet lightweight case materials are hallmarks of this sort. Adding at least some of those components would help the Pro model sense, like an Apple Watch that could take a beating. Apple should also believe in opting for multiple buttons, as relying solely on the touchscreen and digital crown isn’t intelligent for an outdoorsy watch.
The Pro model’s size may only demand a subset of folks suggests we’re likely to see the most extensive ever Apple Watch 47mm at the minimum. But, of course, that’s what “standard” Garmin and Polar watches tend to estimate and would enable the Pro to house a much bigger battery. And layout aesthetics aside, multi-day battery life could decide whether a Pro model will compete in the multisport watch space.
Warranted or not, people have been complaining about the Apple Watch’s battery since 2015. And nobody manages more about multi-day batteries than outdoor athletes. watchOS 9 can count all the running metrics and triathlete support it likes, but it’s meaningless if an athlete has to even believe about pausing to set in hour five or six of an activity.
Even the threat of your watch dying and not entirely counting your activity is enough to eschew Apple in favor of Garmin, Polar, or CorOS. Carrying a charger for another device is even less appealing for multi-day activities or camping. It’s hard to believe that the Pro will get beyond 48 hours, but getting at least 24 hours would go a long way in terms of credibility.
So far, the Pro model is shaping up to be the most intriguing update to the Apple Watch. But if Apple doesn’t nail a rugged design and true multi-day battery life, all the advanced metrics and features in the world wouldn’t make it a compelling product.
- watchOS 1 3: iPhone 5 or later
- watchOS 4 5 : iPhone 5S or later (GPS Only), iPhone 6 or later (GPS + Cellular)
- watchOS 6 8: iPhone 6S or later
- Website: http://www.apple.com/watch
Apple Watch is a streak of smartwatches produced by Apple Inc. It includes fitness tracking, health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication and blends with iOS and other Apple products and services.
The Apple Watch was unleashed in April 2015. It quickly became the best-selling wearable device: 4.2 million were sold in the second quarter of 2015. Over 100 million people were evaluated to use an Apple Watch as of December 2020. Apple has presented new generations of the Apple Watch with improved inner components each September each tagged by Apple as a ‘Series,’ with specific abnormalities.
Each Series has been marketed in multiple variants determined by the watch casing’s color, material, and size, excluding the budget watches Series 1 and SE. In addition, it is available only in aluminum, beginning with Series 3, with the possibility in the aluminum variants with LTE cellular connectivity, which arrives standard with other materials.
The band contained with the watch can be chosen from multiple options from Apple, and watch variants in aluminum co-branded with Nike and stainless steel co-branded with Herms are also offered. In addition, it includes exclusive brands, colors, and digital watch faces holding those companies’ brandings.
The Apple Watch serves primarily in conjunction with the user’s iPhone for operations like configuring the watch and syncing data with iPhone apps. It can individually connect to a Wi-Fi network for data-reliant purposes, including essential communications and audio streaming. LTE-equipped models can link to a mobile network, including for texting, calling, and installed mobile app data usage, substantially decreasing the need for an iPhone after initial setup.
Although the paired iPhone is not near the watch, to make a call with the watch, the paired iPhone must still be powered on and connected to a cellular network to make a call with the watch. In addition, the oldest iPhone model is compatible with any offered Apple Watch counts on the version of system software installed on every device. New Apple Watches come with watchOS 8 preinstalled and need an iPhone running iOS 15, which is obtainable for the iPhone 6S and later.