Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Apple is mulling over the possibility of offering a “rugged” Apple Watch made for use in extreme environments.
From the Bloomberg report:
Apple Inc. is considering launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing aimed at athletes, hikers and others who use the device in more extreme environments, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has internally discussed introducing such a Watch variation later in 2021 or 2022 at the earliest, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.
Gurman says this isn’t the first time that Apple has considered offering a rugged smartwatch. The company considered releasing an extreme sports model alongside the original Apple Watch back in 2015.
The report says if Apple goes ahead with the rugged offering, the new watch would be an additional model similar to how Apple offers a lower-cost option called the Apple Watch SE and special editions co-branded with Nike Inc. and Hermes International.
The new watch version is sometimes referred to as the “Explorer Edition” inside Apple. The new Watch model would offer the same functionality as a standard Apple Watch but would boast extra impact-resistance and protection in the vein of Casio’s G-Shock watches.
Gurman suggests that the new wearable would be more rugged, thanks to a rubberized casing, making it more resistant to damage in extreme environments compared to the current lineup of aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel cases.
As always, reports like this are to be taken with a grain of your favorite salt-free seasoning. Rumors like this sometimes pan out, but many times they don’t.
