Sports and medicine. Medicine and sports. Here are two concepts that have been at the heart of the last few generations of Apple Watch. Although initially, Apple did not intend to make a device out of a smartwatch for people who are passionate about their condition, over time, it became clear that this was the most optimal way of developing this device. Therefore, every year, we see Apple expanding the medical or sports functions of the Apple Watch once again. True, for some reason, there was no purely sports watch. But it seems that soon there will be such.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is considering releasing a separate Apple Watch for extreme athletes, climbers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. In contrast to conventional smartwatches, smartwatches’ special modification will have a more durable construction with increased shock resistance and water resistance.
Protected Apple Watch
It is clear what to make a gadget for fans of extreme recreation out of a stylish smartwatch with a large screen. Therefore, Cupertino plans to radically redesign the sports Apple Watch’s appearance, putting it in a protective casing similar to the one used by Casio in the G-Shock line. It will increase the damping properties of the case and prevent them from shattering when hit or dropped.
The protective casing, according to Bloomberg sources, will be rubberized. That is, the watch itself will most likely remain metal, but it will not be possible to remove the cover like on a G-Shock. It will be part of the overall structure, and the use of metal will increase the watch’s strength even more. Moreover, joining the glass panel covering the display with rubber is clearly not as reliable as aluminium or stainless steel.
Although Cupertino has not yet decided on the release of the protected Apple Watch for sale, the watch’s development, apparently, has already been completed. Bloomberg’s interlocutors, close to Apple, claim that the new product will have a water resistance of 5 atmospheres, which will allow them to be submerged underwater to a depth of 50 meters, and they call it the Apple Watch Explorer Edition. This is the model’s internal name, but marketers may dance from outdoor terminology when choosing a commercial name.
What will Apple Watch 2021 look like?
As for the timing of the Apple Watch Explorer Edition, they have not yet been determined. Cupertino plans a commercial launch by the end of 2021. Because there is no point in delaying the release further, given that the watch is already ready. However, the final decision has not yet been made. Most likely, the company wants to study public opinion and only after that decide whether to release protected watches on sale or freeze the project until better times.
We already know that some special versions of the Apple Watch are not very popular with consumers. That only is the Apple Watch Edition, which was not adopted in either gold or ceramic. However, the lack of demand for them was affected by the high price. If Apple sets an adequate price for the protected version of the smartwatch, which will not differ much from the original model, it has a chance, if not to shoot, then at least to find its audience.
Most likely, the cost of the Apple Watch Explorer Edition will be more expensive than the usual modification. This would be logical for several reasons. First, additional protection for smartwatches clearly requires money. Secondly, they will probably need separate software with specific functions. Thirdly, Apple cannot allow internal competition between the models, so they need to be separated by different prices. After all, those who really need a secure smartwatch will pay this amount. And they will never become a mass product anyway.