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

[Abazigal]

Interesting strategy if true. So far all the Apple Watch models have had the same functionality. If this ‘pro’ model looks similar to the rest of the lineup but has more features/longer battery life how do they explain that?

The Apple Watch line-up currently consists of the following:

Series 7 - the flagship model. Currently, the sports version is likely the best selling model due to its low price and lightweight form factor. The stainless steel version is more expensive, heavier, and people are likely more conscious about keeping it out of harm's way. I am using the aluminium version without a case and my experience is that the paint chips pretty easily.

SE - less expensive, with fewer features. Perhaps geared towards cost-conscious consumers and children.

Nike - geared towards casual runners, or users who sweat a lot, don't want to spend extra on a nike band and don't mind the more limited selection of colours.

Hermes - plays in the realm of traditional luxury.

If you ask me, an Apple Watch "pro" would be geared towards removing the hesitation the remaining consumers may have about wearing an expensive piece of electronics on their wrist as they engage in rough activities. Setting aside extreme sports such as rock climbing or weight-lifting, I can think of a number of daily activities which put the Apple Watch through a fair amount of abuse, from gardening to washing dishes to even occupations such as firefighting.

This makes a pretty good case for an Apple Watch made of a far more rugged material like the kind of rubber found on g-shock watches.

As for battery life, while a larger case / screen would also allow more room for a larger battery, I wonder if it could also come in the form of a watch strap with a built-in battery (basically a power bank for the Apple Watch) which could serve to double or even triple its battery life (but I don't know about the safety or comfort aspects of running with a heavy battery strapped around one's wrist).

What this also means is that I may have to walk back on my earlier thoughts of this being a more expensive “Apple Watch pro”. It would simply be made of a more durable material, but may not necessarily be any more expensive in the end.

 

[ct2k7]

Ah missed that one. I’d be curious if real world usage matches that claim and what that real world usage is. What exactly is ‘smart watch mode’?

fēnix 6 Pro Series Owners Manual - Battery Information

www8.garmin.com

This seems interesting that you can dynamically: so at its basic level: without working out with GPS, you can get 21 days… or that’s how I’m reading it; may be an incorrect reading though

Ah missed that one. I’d be curious if real world usage matches that claim and what that real world usage is. What exactly is ‘smart watch mode’?

 

[javisan]

I think the only thing extreme about this watch will be the price. Hopefully enough suckers buy into the marketing BS, my brokerage account will greatly appreciate it 😀.

It is a hard pass for me regardless of price. I lost all interest in the apple watch two years ago and I don't miss one thing about it.

 

[Patchwork]

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.

But mechanical watches need servicing with most having a recommended service interval 3 to 5 years. The cost of servicing can be well in excess of an Apple Watch (well it was when I had my Omega serviced a few years ago and doubt prices have fallen). it isnt unusual to take few months to get a watch serviced either, so you really need a back up watch too.

While a high end watch might be worth more in 20 or 200 years, how much has been spent on keeping it running? Generally speaking watches aren’t a great investment apart from some extremely rare examples. Don’t get me wrong, if you like a particular watch then great but buy it in the knowledge that it isn’t just the up front cost of the watch that you will be paying and the watch may be worth less than you paid for it in future. Go in with your eyes open and that $1,000 service bill wont’t be quite as much as a shock ($800 for a replacement buckle on my Longines still was though!).

 

[Mike WA4D]

Because of course it would be.

Apple needs to do a better job of selling the features, etc. of their products before revealing the price. Jobs was great at this.

Jobs would actually tell you all the good reasons you need this, and then hit you with the “only $$$!”, and make you feel like you were getting a good deal.

I don’t get the feeling of a “good deal” anymore from Apple’s best products.

Now it’s: “hey check this stuff out. It’s new. I don’t know… ehhhh… it costs $$$$$. Bye!”

Apple became the most valuable company in the World (or close) by NOT “doing a better job of selling features”. Moreover in the Post Jobs era the company’s business success has been spectacular by any measure. Here on Mac Rumors would be tech business analysts and marketing “experts” complain ad nauseam about price and they long for Jobs to come back from the dead.

 

[foneschlomo]

I’m sure the desire to generate maximum profits is not an Apple specific phenomenon.

Right. Most any manufacturer wants to be in the "apple" or "BMW" position in the market, a mass-market product with wide margins. But every company has to carve out a niche to maximize profits. A company making a cheaper version is not doing it out of altruism.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

I been an owner of the iphone since the original 2g version and to this date I have never own nor wanted an apple watch. Never understood the whole idea of it. I much prefer a simple Swiss watch than something I need to worry about charging.

Must admit I was like this until I recently purchased a series 7 model. Now I love it and wear it everyday to track fitness goals and have my upcoming events on my wrists.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

More price gouging by Apple if true.

On another note they just released an ad about how rugged the current Series 7 model is. Within that ad they were ramming apple watches against walls etc and apparently it can withstand that.

I just see Apple releasing new versions of products to give an excuse to increase the prices somehow.

 

[ericwn]

i dislike the way “Pro” monicker is being abused nowadays.

It’s just a hollow phrase used by marketing And since the day it first was used.

 

[foneschlomo]

Also, the watch hasn't been mind-blowing for me, but it's become something I enjoy having on my person. I have a series two that's just now starting to show signs of age in terms of battery life. When it eventually Peters out, I'll gladly spend the $400 to replace it. It's a nice to have for tracking workouts, seeing notifications when I'm at work or on my bike, and even occasionally for Apple Pay if I am out for a run. As others have said, it's not a mind-blowing device on its own but I find it actually has me picking up my phone a lot less.

 

[TonyC28]

They should make one out of 18-karat gold. I bet they’d sell like hotcakes.

 

[TriApple]

Just spent $800 on a Fenix 7s to replace my AW7, wonder if this will be good enough for me to get back to my AW in the fall. Primary reason for the switch is around battery length, signed up for an Ironman trip and the AW just can't hang with the hours of long training, I gave it a go for a while.

 

[boak]

Seems like a pain to have to keep switching between watches. What’s so special about the Garmin?

• Wayyy better battery life - highly doubt Apple can even double the current battery life without significantly increasing the size of the watch. Many Garmin watches can last a week with moderate activity, I believe
• Better GPS tracking
• Better health stats
• Multiple buttons (for some Garmin models)

 

[JM]

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.

I’m just not sure you understand Marxist theory that well.

A $649 iPhone 5 that was the only choice in 2012 (with the choice of a year old iPhone 4s at $549) seemed like an extremely fair deal and nothing to get angsty over. Has Apple shifted to sell more to only the bourgeoisie since then? (No, they are widening the net, e.g. iphone SE.) Were they not selling luxury back then as well? (yes they were.)

Apple is doing a bad job at selling us why $999 for an iPhone is worth it, as it will be for a $999 watch; and relegating subpar materials and features and hardware to the previously “top of the line” price point. The $649 best and only new iPhone in 2012 had the marketing and the Jobs keynote behind it to convince us of the value.

But thanks to freedom and capitalism, I’m very happy for the elites to take their boatloads of foolish spending with them to the Apple store to boost the stock price and bring home for themselves some Pro Wheels and Pro Monitor stands.

 

[boak]

Just spent $800 on a Fenix 7s to replace my AW7, wonder if this will be good enough for me to get back to my AW in the fall. Primary reason for the switch is around battery length, signed up for an Ironman trip and the AW just can't hang with the hours of long training, I gave it a go for a while.

Would you consider a base AW for day-to-day usage and use the Fenix for working out?

 

[Premium1]

The price resentment of Apple high end products is a reflection of the economic disruption for many.. Many who complain here should move to low price non-Apple consumer products. They’ll be much happier.

Lol, whatever you need to tell yourself to keep paying high-end prices for meh products (Macbook Pro M2 would like a word). Apple loves clueless customers like you.

 

[RedTheReader]

I can’t imagine owning an Apple Watch. I much prefer a classic time piece not having a useless hunk of steel jangling about my arms.

 

[Sf844]

You clearly have no clue what features the Apple Watch has

I do, my parents have AWs, but I’m a healthy younger person and I have no use for it.

If I were going to buy a sports laden watch I would buy the real deal anyway, a Garmin. I already have plenty of serious equipment from them.

 

[wonderings]

Seems like a pain to have to keep switching between watches. What’s so special about the Garmin?

a pain? Unless I am missing something you just slap the watch on your wrist and tighten. People for years have had various watches in their collections and I am not sure a single one of them has ever said what a pain it is to change watches.

 

[jav6454]

$999 sounds steep for a starting price.

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

Likely? Some kind of reinforced metal or metal compound.

Although, I don’t know of any metal compounds stronger than Titanium on its own.

 

[Ceecephous]

Expensive than a Macbook air, an Ipad, Iphone13Pro ? Bruh

 

[JM]

Apple became the most valuable company in the World (or close) by NOT “doing a better job of selling features”. Moreover in the Post Jobs era the company’s business success has been spectacular by any measure. Here on Mac Rumors would be tech business analysts and marketing “experts” complain ad nauseam about price and they long for Jobs to come back from the dead.

Yes, Apple was doing a FINE job before Jobs came back after NEXT. Lol.

Apple is the trillion dollar company that it is because of Job’s work before he died. Cook just led the company into an era That allowed millions and millions and millions of Apple products to be distributed throughout the world.

 

[jz0309]

And you care about that, why exactly?

Maybe in a shareholder?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Interesting strategy if true. So far all the Apple Watch models have had the same functionality. If this ‘pro’ model looks similar to the rest of the lineup but has more features/longer battery life how do they explain that?

I'm pretty sure Apple is pivoting the "Pro" moniker from meaning "high-end materials/asthetics" to "we've omitted most key upgrades on the standard model so you need to spend $999+ if you really want something new".

They've been doing so across all product lines for a while and now AW is going down that path come AW S8 launch.

It adds up if the trillion dollar company wants to continue increased annual revenue.

 

[Mike WA4D]

I’m just not sure you understand Marxist theory that well.

A $649 iPhone 5 that was the only choice in 2012 (with the choice of a year old iPhone 4s at $549) seemed like an extremely fair deal and nothing to get angsty over. Has Apple shifted to sell more to only the bourgeoisie since then? (No, they are widening the net, e.g. iphone SE.) Were they not selling luxury back then as well? (yes they were.)

Apple is doing a bad job at selling us why $999 for an iPhone is worth it, as it will be for a $999 watch; and relegating subpar materials and features and hardware to the previously “top of the line” price point. The $649 best and only new iPhone in 2012 had the marketing and the Jobs keynote behind it to convince us of the value.

But thanks to freedom and capitalism, I’m very happy for the elites to take their boatloads of foolish spending with them to the Apple store to boost the stock price and bring home for themselves some Pro Wheels and Pro Monitor stands.

Ok Man thanks for the analysis. Apple’s business success is without peer.. Apple doesn’t have to tell you “why” they price as they do. You may seek other alternatives. I want to apologize to this forum and those of lesser economic means for being just fine with Apple’s suggested $3000 pricing for the coming Mixed Reality headsets and the $1000 Apple Watch “Pro”. I regret having made enough money to purchase these devices of wretched excess. To atone for being affluent, I am going launch a Go Fund Me campaign to buy Apple Watch “Pros” for the poor. (And write it off of course). Apple’s cruelty in not pricing for the Bourgeoisie should be called out!— Life is unfair. As it should be!

Pro Wheels and Pro Monitor Stands for the Elites!