Gurman: 'Apple Watch Pro' Extreme Sports Model Could Cost Nearly $1,000

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

$999 sounds steep for a starting price.

Titanium starts at $799 I believe so I do wonder what these "higher-end materials" will be.

It’s about doing an AW that’s more feature packed and premium all around and doubling down on product segmentation for the entire AW line.

Consumers were not readily willing to shell out extra for AW Edition as they don’t actually have better internals or more features over the standard AW.

So this is Apple second attempt at getting the average AW buyer to spend way more than just $399.

Apple already does this for the iPhone line with the Pro models. So now the same strategy will be put to use on the AW line.

AW Sport = More features, more premium materials and better specs at a markedly higher price.

 

[calstanford]

Apple’s prices are probably too. Low . The suggested $1000 price point for the Apple Watch “Pro” is reasonable. There are many Apple product users who should move to low end electronics alternatives.

I've never read such ridiculousness in my life. They've sold the watch for 7 years for "too low"? Hahaha man.

 

[RobCh]

I think that's a little ridiculous. Apple Watch by its very nature is a product with very short life span. After 3-5 years the hardware becomes obsolete and you're stuck with un outdated piece of technology. The gold casing or "rugged" casing does not speed up the processor or increase the on-board memory post-purchase. The reason people are spending thousands on mechanical watches is because a Patek Philippe bought today will have the same appeal in 20 or 200 years. This is not the case with Apple Watch.

 

[BootsWalking]

I don’t know where this ‘rugged’ requirement is coming from. Extreme sports, endurance, Ironman dont happen in extreme environments. They just need a bigger battery! Apple may just be missing the point with this one.

It comes from Apple's marketing department and targets consumers who aspire to be seen as urban Ironmen and Ironwomen by their friends and colleagues.

 

[tucupeis]

garmin epix is $999 and no LTE included. If apple maskes a round AW with LTE and longer (at least 3 days) for $1000 then it will sell well

 

[lotzosushi]

I mean, I paid as much when I got the white ceramic Apple Watch Edition. I miss that. The white was stunning with any watchband.

 

[Starscape]

Hysterical. A generic smartwatch that probably won't do much more - if anything at all - than a standard watch. But, but but... Apple diehards will line up to get it.

Apple really has no shame.

 

[troc]

I ditched my Apple Watch a year ago, replaced it with a Garmin fenix for sport (running and cycling mostly) and went back to wearing my “proper” watches.

Took a week or two to get used to not having instant notification and stuff but very happy with my choice, I vastly prefer my other watches and it’s actually rather nice not to be enslaved to my apple devices 24/7.

The fenix is superior in so many ways as a sports watch, the 7+ days of battery life being a rather important one.

 

[Oscar_440]

usd999? Ok. Bye AW. Hello Garmin.

 

[theob05]

Has it already been once, again?

Apple - Apple Watch - Edition

web.archive.org

 

[Reason077]

Is there any limit to Apple's greed?

 

[Rogifan]

This watch has to be at least having 21 days battery life - which is what the more expensive gamins offer.

Where are you getting this from? I didn’t see it anywhere on Garmin’s website. The most was 12 days but that was basically if you didn’t use any of the advanced features and only used the watch to receive notifications and count steps. Why would you need 21 days battery life? Who is away from power for that long?

 

[ericwn]

if true, it will not help increasing market share ...

True, however it might help raise profits which is their strategy anyway. Market share to Apple’s brand is secondary.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts closer to $900 to $999… We're only a couple months away from finding out exactly where Apple lands…

“Wouldn’t be surprised… Finding out…”

Stopped reading.

 

[person s]

The display will measure in at almost two inches diagonally, which is larger than the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the current Apple Watch Series 7 and the planned Apple Watch Series 8.

this is a bit strange
‘almost two inches’ is somewhere between 1.9” and how much?
this is a tiny margin of difference

 

[the 12th Doctor]

Considering the popularity of the high end Garmin lines, I could see this being a hit. It would need to be in the same spec range as the garmin epix/fenix line. Customers would pay $900+ if it had the battery life the Garmin's have as well as the solar capability. If Apple does drop something like this and it doesn't come close...I think....nah, who am I kidding. People would still buy it.

 

[debug77]

"Samsung Watch Pro 5, the likely rival of 'Apple Watch Pro' "

Why is the Samsung Watch a likely rival? My Apple Watch fights for wrist time with my regular watches, not some smart watch for a phone I don't own.

 

[George Dawes]

Definitely interested, compared to normal watches it’s a bargain

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

You clearly have no clue what features the Apple Watch has

I have a series 7 and I can confirm the Apple Watch has no relevant features that other watches couldn’t do.

 

[johnmed]

Charging something nightly isn’t exactly difficult in any way.

My AW has changed my life. Notifications, paying for things at the store, and controlling my music and podcasts on the go.

+1. I tried owning an iPad, and it’s wasn’t for me. I tried the AW, and yeah, no way in the world would I choose to be without one.

 

[ct2k7]

Where are you getting this from? I didn’t see it anywhere on Garmin’s website. The most was 12 days but that was basically if you didn’t use any of the advanced features and only used the watch to receive notifications and count steps. Why would you need 21 days battery life? Who is away from power for that long?

Looking at the specs for the Fenix 6X, switching between smartwatch mode and whatever performance mode can yield up to 21 days of battery life.

 

[Rogifan]

I ditched my Apple Watch a year ago, replaced it with a Garmin fenix for sport (running and cycling mostly) and went back to wearing my “proper” watches.

Took a week or two to get used to not having instant notification and stuff but very happy with my choice, I vastly prefer my other watches and it’s actually rather nice not to be enslaved to my apple devices 24/7.

The fenix is superior in so many ways as a sports watch, the 7+ days of battery life being a rather important one.

If you’re only wearing the Garmin when doing physical fitness activities why does the 7+ days of battery life matter? I would assume when you’re not wearing it it would be on a charger?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Yeah gimme a Pro Max Watch

That’s essentially what you’re getting.

If Apple can’t get us to buy an AW Edition for the premium materials alone, then it will push harder by doing an AW “Pro” with both better materials AND better specs over the $399 AW.

The strategy fits right in line with what Apple has been doing for iPads and iPhones for several years now.

 

[ericwn]

Many Apple consumers can no longer afford the next generation of top tier products.. They’re in denial over the reported $3000 coming MIxed Reality headset. They declare the reasonable price of $1000 for the Apple Watch “Pro” to be unacceptable. The good news is Apple does not listen to them. The Marxist style angst is amusing. Apple’s top of the line products are for the affluent, developers and content creators. And that is as it should be.

Pretty sure Apple sells to all mainstream markets too.

Apple’s prices are probably too. Low . The suggested $1000 price point for the Apple Watch “Pro” is reasonable. There are many Apple product users who should move to low end electronics alternatives.

LOL, someone is dreaming of the days two decades back before Jobs led the company to be a mainstream money maker, when only DTP folks and designers used Macs. 😂

 

[Mike WA4D]

Eh in times where sunflower oil increased from 0,79 cent to 4,99 Euro, I fully expect a price hike across the Apple board in the fall

they shouldn’t wait for fall. They should do it now before school starts.