I've been in the Apple ecosystem for 25 years and own most of the production line except the watch. The original model was probably the most beta product Apple had launched since Job's return. A watch, you couldn't wear in the shower and barely lasted a day. It hasn't stopped them from dominating the market but I must say that surprises me. I have a Garmin Fenix 6 Titanium because I live an outdoors life. It is probably one of my favourite pieces of tech from the last decade. Garmin have massively upped their UI game to the point where whilst it's not quite apple quality software it's good enough. The hardware is superb though, 7+ days of battery life, pretty easy on the eye ( I prefer the traditional watch look) and features so extensive you can't touch the sides. If apple want to gain Garmin customers they need to deal with battery life first and then ruggedness before we'll consider it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Bloomberg: Apple May Launch Rugged Apple Watch Model for Extreme Sports as Soon as This Year
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Shame there's no mockup image.
Wonder how Apple would make it look. I imagine they'd wanna keep the same shape.
Wonder how Apple would make it look. I imagine they'd wanna keep the same shape.
And I use my SBSS for mountain biking and many other “rugged” activities, resulting in some (minor) scratches on the sapphire but body is flawless... there is no “need” for a more rugged body, just a question of an appeal to certain folks, and that is fine.
IF they would offer sapphire glass in a “rugged” body without cellular at a price point like the aluminum, that would be an option to consider.
I would class rugged activity in this instance as something where your wrist is frequently, or highly likely to be, coming in to contact with or banging against rough surfaces.
Totally makes sense they would do this. Me personally, I would rather change my stainless steel Apple Watch for more semi-formal and wear the ‘rugged’ version when I’m doing more weight lifting activities, or anything that would involve more rigorous activity.
I’m totally on board for Apple releasing this, and why wouldn’t they? They should, being the Apple Watch has grown exponentially and broadening their lineup only creates more point of sales.
I’m totally on board for Apple releasing this, and why wouldn’t they? They should, being the Apple Watch has grown exponentially and broadening their lineup only creates more point of sales.
Hopefully they make a 38mm or smaller version for people who don’t have gorilla arms. Typically rugged devices are even bulkier than their original counterparts so I doubt it, but Apple is shunning a huge demographic by making giant smartwatches only. I’ll probably have to stick with my Series 3 for a long time.
Garmin's Fenix comes in 42, 47, 51 mm. So big indeed.
I do woodworking with my apple watch no big deal its been fien for eyars very little wear. including several crashes on bikes and scooters
I would love that.. hopefully ECG option will be included. There are folks who are active but still want to make sure heart is good.
Sure, but the iphone also gets much uglier and bigger with a case, more so with a rugged one. I got one of those transparent soft cases on my iphone SE 2 and still wish, I wouldn't need one. But I destroyed my 8 by dropping it (not that a case would have helped much there, it had the apple leather case on it). Never dropped or destroyed my old S0 Watch (although, after 5 years the bottom dropped out sometimes)
Idk, probably me. I bought the S6 and haven't used the EEG and oxymeter that much after the first few days. It just feels like a gimmick to me. Also the always-on-display sucks when it's always shining in the dark. Granted, it's a little faster than the S0 I had before, but I was really expexting more and probably should have gotten an SE to save some money.
They should just improve the durability of the current watches instead of making a separate rugged watch. When I buy an Apple Watch (regardless of the current designs or a rugged one), I expect it to be extremely durable as advertised. That's not the case now - one drop on the ground and the screen shatters. Just greatly improve the strength of the glass and the casing of the current models as well as scratch-resistance, Apple.
This is what I was thinking Apple is more likely to do rather than a redesign of the actual watch. This way you could use with the extra protection when necessary and revert back to a regular band when it wasn’t.
DLC Chips and flakes. A hardening treatment to the metal itself is superior.In recent years, a new generation of PVD + PACVD (plasma-assisted CVD) coatings has gained widespread commercial success. As is well known, carbon can exist in three allotropic forms. Carbon, in a diamond crystal structure, is one of the hardest know materials. Carbon, in a graphite crystal structure, is very soft and lubricous. Carbon-based coatings, referred to as Diamond-like-Carbon (DLC) coatings, combine these two different properties of diamond and graphite - hence possess high hardness levels - in the range of conventional tribological PVD coatings (1500 - 3200 HV), coupled with a coefficient of friction which is 200-500% lower than that of conventional PVD coatings.
How do you know they didn't do both?
BTW, my charging port on my Fenix 5+ is loose so I contacted Garmin. They are sending me a replacement. No charge except shipping my old one back to them.
I bought it in 2018.
I actually had one of these silicon covers for my first apple watch. Didn't keep it long tho, lol.
Rugged can go different directions. I've had G-shocks, but my big dive watches are a much dearer memory.
I'd go big. Larger screen. When active it's a lot harder to deal with teeny ass info. Especially if dive computer functions could be an option. With larger screen, also much larger battery. I'd love a 48hr, for overnights without a charger, intensive use of extra functions etc. No plastic rubberized BS. Unapologetic bezel with screen/face recessed (and hardest scratchproof glass for sure.
My biggest peeve is that apple doesn't let you put your own image behind configurable hands. I made so many cool faces with the limited digital time readout.
Rugged can go different directions. I've had G-shocks, but my big dive watches are a much dearer memory.
I'd go big. Larger screen. When active it's a lot harder to deal with teeny ass info. Especially if dive computer functions could be an option. With larger screen, also much larger battery. I'd love a 48hr, for overnights without a charger, intensive use of extra functions etc. No plastic rubberized BS. Unapologetic bezel with screen/face recessed (and hardest scratchproof glass for sure.
My biggest peeve is that apple doesn't let you put your own image behind configurable hands. I made so many cool faces with the limited digital time readout.
Correct. I was actually a bit surprised at that. Apple has given me a few freebies outside of the warranty period in the past but not a whole product replacement.
Honestly I think this is and currently are a job for the 3rd party marketplace. This way you get the best designs and choose from there. This way Apple concentrates on their vision of design and continually refines it. Another accessory which potentially changes the entire R&D cost structure for a 1 off model will benefit the industry disruption, but is it needed by the makers of the original product?
I’d rather that money be put into:
1. Better advertisement of the 12 mini which will rapidly lead to sales.
2. Future larger screen Apple Watch’s 46mm/52mm the larger size will equat to a much larger 2 day full use as a base - including ALL notifications from all 3rd party apps, email notifications outside of VIP alerts, Maps for 6hrs for navigation. 4hrs increased bluetooth and A.M. Streaming to AirPods.
About the always on in the dark, I have a shortcut that I made that turns on and off the always on really quickly. You can even only say “always on” to Siri to activate the shortcut. Very useful.
After seeing some of the 3rd party work...
...I'd still like to see Apple's design team take a crack at it.
Apple is weighing up the possibility of launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing that's made for use in extreme environments, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
From the report:
As noted by Gurman, this isn't the first time Apple has considered a rugged smartwatch. The company mulled releasing a model to appeal to extreme sports athletes alongside the original Apple Watch, which launched in 2015.
The latest Apple Watch models are water resistant to 50 meters, but Gurman suggests that Apple could make a new device more "rugged" by giving it a rubberized casing, making it more resistant to damage in extreme environments compared to the current lineup of aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel cases.
Despite actively considering such a model, Gurman includes the usual caveat about rumored future products by noting that his sources say it could be ultimately canceled or delayed.
Apple is also working on new swim tracking features for the Apple Watch, according to the report, although no additional details were given.
Apple typically launches new Apple Watch models in September, but rumors are thin on the ground when it comes to a Series 7 model. According to Korean site ETNews, Apple will add blood glucose monitoring capabilities to the Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.
Other rumors indicate a future version of the Apple Watch may adopt solid state buttons that don't physically click but instead provide haptic feedback to users when the buttons are touched, but it's not clear when this is coming.
Article Link: Bloomberg: Apple May Launch Rugged Apple Watch Model for Extreme Sports as Soon as This Year
I suggest you make Apple Watch interesting first.
Apple is weighing up the possibility of launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing that's made for use in extreme environments, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
From the report:
As noted by Gurman, this isn't the first time Apple has considered a rugged smartwatch. The company mulled releasing a model to appeal to extreme sports athletes alongside the original Apple Watch, which launched in 2015.
The latest Apple Watch models are water resistant to 50 meters, but Gurman suggests that Apple could make a new device more "rugged" by giving it a rubberized casing, making it more resistant to damage in extreme environments compared to the current lineup of aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel cases.
Despite actively considering such a model, Gurman includes the usual caveat about rumored future products by noting that his sources say it could be ultimately canceled or delayed.
Apple is also working on new swim tracking features for the Apple Watch, according to the report, although no additional details were given.
Apple typically launches new Apple Watch models in September, but rumors are thin on the ground when it comes to a Series 7 model. According to Korean site ETNews, Apple will add blood glucose monitoring capabilities to the Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.
Other rumors indicate a future version of the Apple Watch may adopt solid state buttons that don't physically click but instead provide haptic feedback to users when the buttons are touched, but it's not clear when this is coming.
Article Link: Bloomberg: Apple May Launch Rugged Apple Watch Model for Extreme Sports as Soon as This Year
Rugged version top/back secured by screws with O-ring to make water proof. Remove screws for relatively easy access to replace battery. I am finally in.
I’ve seen that. I wouldn’t call that round or likely.This patent filing:
Apple Researching Totally Redesigned Apple Watch With Wrap-Around Display
Apple is researching a potential radical redesign for the Apple Watch, including a rounded watch face, wrap-around flexible display, and...www.macrumors.com