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The larger Apple Watch Series 8 model expected to arrive later this year is rumored to feature a titanium casing, raising questions about the future of the Apple Watch Edition.

apple-watch-series-7-titanium.jpg

Yesterday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the new, larger Apple Watch model scheduled to launch this year will feature a casing made of "a more durable formulation of titanium to make it extra rugged."

Apple has offered a titanium version of the Apple Watch since the launch of the Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019, under the "Apple Watch Edition" brand. Currently, the Apple Watch Edition comes with an additional Sport Band, and while it offers a lighter, stronger casing than the stainless steel model, it is otherwise identical to the standard Apple Watch.

Now, a wide range of rumors point toward the launch of an all-new high-end Apple Watch model later this year. The device is expected to feature a larger display, longer battery life, a ruggedized casing, and a completely new design. Potential names for the device include "Apple Watch Pro" or "Apple Watch Explorer Edition," and the device has been associated with extreme sports, athletes, hikers, and other users that require a more durable watch.

Priced starting at $749, the current Apple Watch Edition is $150 more expensive than the stainless steel Apple Watch. For this year's new high-end Apple Watch, Gurman has floated a price point that "starts closer to $900 to $999," positioning it above the Apple Watch Edition.

Overall, it seems clear that the new high-end Apple Watch will be more of a departure from the standard Apple Watch models than any previous Apple Watch Edition model in terms of features, size, design, and price. This raises the question of if Apple will continue to offer the Apple Watch Edition after the launch of the new high-end Apple Watch later this year.

apple-watch-edition-video-promo.jpg

The Apple Watch Edition has evolved considerably since its launch in 2015. When it first launched, the Apple Watch Edition line was exclusively made up of Apple Watches with 18 karat yellow or rose gold casings that cost $10,000 to $17,000. These were discontinued just a year later upon the launch of the Apple Watch Series 2, which replaced the expensive gold casings with more affordable white ceramic models, starting at $1,249.

Apple-Watch-series-2-ceramic.jpg

A gray ceramic variant was added with the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017. While there were no Apple Watch Edition models available for the Series 4, Apple revived the white ceramic Apple Watch Edition line for the Series 5 alongside new natural and Space Black titanium models. With the Series 6, Apple again discontinued the ceramic Apple Watch Edition, and briefly discontinued the line once again ahead of the launch of the titanium Apple Watch Edition Series 7 models last year.

Since the Apple Watch Edition has such a tumultuous history, it is by no means certain that Apple will continue to offer the device. With its titanium casing being the Apple Watch Edition's key differentiating feature, it is difficult to see how the variant could be justified in the lineup with a substantially different titanium model placed just above it, not least because the Apple Watch Edition could draw sales away from the new high-end model.

apple-watch-series-5-titanium.jpg

Earlier this month, display analyst Ross Young said that the new high-end Apple Watch is expected to sell in comparatively low volume – just like previous reports of low sales for the Apple Watch Edition models due to their high price point. Apple is purportedly expecting to ship just one million units of the larger Apple Watch in the third quarter of this year, compared to four million 45mm ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ models.

Beyond pricing and positioning in the market, Gurman's confirmation of a titanium casing for this year's new high-end Apple Watch model is the best indication yet that Apple may be planning to effectively fold the current Apple Watch Edition line into this new product category. This would allow it to continue to offer a titanium casing, but more overtly tout the weight and strength advantages of the material amid a focus on durability at a higher price point.

Leaving the more affordable titanium Apple Watch Edition in the lineup could also have the unwanted effect of cannibalizing sales of the new high-end model. Likewise, the new high-end Apple Watch could be much more appealing to some customers than the Apple Watch Edition, with meaningful differentiating aspects like display size, battery life, and design providing more justifiable reasons for an upsale.

With names like Apple Watch "Pro" being far from locked-in at this stage of the rumor cycle, it is also worth noting that the new high-end Apple Watch models could simply form the Apple Watch Edition line going forward. At minimum, it looks like the Apple Watch Edition line in its current form may not be around for much longer.

Article Link: Titanium Apple Watch 'Pro' Could Signal the End of Apple Watch Edition
 
Apple does a piss-poor job of marketing the higher-end edition watch benefits. Many ppl just don't know what they're getting in regular vs edition watches, and only understand that they are shinier. Apple needs to make it clear that:

- DLC coating on black Hermes watches is damn near indestructible, and is far different that the scratch-prone stainless finish
- All edition watches have sapphire
 
I always hated that "Edition" branding. It needs an adjective or it just sounds pretentious (or worse, like Apple Watch Addition).

Either way, technology of this small form factor is changing so rapidly that it doesn't seem worth it to me to invest in expensive materials. Your solid gold series 0 Apple Watch Edition is now an expensive paper weight.

Plus, the screen is the more obvious point of failure than the case. Put a raised lip around it, Apple!
 
The issue I always had with titanium it shows scratches so bad compared to stainless steel
If you get the natural titanium it will show the scuff however they can easily be buffed out without damaging the watch. I decided to go back to the space black titanium and it does not show any type of scratches or scuffing. Honestly, Titanium feels amazing due to its durability and being so lightweight. It does have the premium look compared to aluminum.
 
The problem with the purported 'Apple Watch Pro' / extreme version taking the place of the 'Edition' model is that it leaves the Hermès line high and dry. Or perhaps that's the plan – allow Hermès to fill the place of the standard size luxurious model?
Agree. I hope/wish Hermès line adopts the Titanium Chassis. That is a lot of money you are talking about for a yearly Apple Watch.
 
It makes sense to (again) retire the Apple Watch Edition and just have the Titanium models move up to Apple Watch Pro which leaves three general lines:
  • Apple Watch with Aluminum or Stainless Steel finishes
  • Apple Watch Hermès with Stainless Steel finishes
  • Apple Watch Pro with Titanium finishes
 
Apple does a piss-poor job of marketing the higher-end edition watch benefits. Many ppl just don't know what they're getting in regular vs edition watches, and only understand that they are shinier. Apple needs to make it clear that:

- DLC coating on black Hermes watches is damn near indestructible, and is far different that the scratch-prone stainless finish
- All edition watches have sapphire
Well that's because 100% of Apple's marketing of the watch is geared toward expanding market share. With the low end entries being very reasonable in price, Apple wants everyone with an iPhone to have an Apple Watch. And they're doing a good job on that. The high end ones don't really need marketing, and would only hurt the low end if the wrong person sees the wrong ad and thinks Apple Watch is only ultra premium.
 
It makes sense to (again) retire the Apple Watch Edition and just have the Titanium models move up to Apple Watch Pro which leaves three general lines:
  • Apple Watch with Aluminum or Stainless Steel finishes
  • Apple Watch Hermès with Stainless Steel finishes
  • Apple Watch Pro with Titanium finishes
As long as there is still a polished stainless steel finish, I'm in. It's pretty hard to beat both in appearance and quality.
 
I always hated that "Edition" branding. It needs an adjective or it just sounds pretentious (or worse, like Apple Watch Addition).

Evidently "Edition" is a horological term used to identify a high-end or special edition of a watch line.

The problem with the purported 'Apple Watch Pro' / extreme version taking the place of the 'Edition' model is that it leaves the Hermès line high and dry. Or perhaps that's the plan – allow Hermès to fill the place of the standard size luxurious model?

With Hermès watches you are paying for three things:
  1. The Hermès name
  2. The included Hermès band (though you can buy them separately and use them on a non-Hermès model)
  3. The Hermès watch faces that are only available on a Hermès watch

So creating an "Apple Watch Pro" line really should not impact the Hermès line since you can add a Hermès band to that watch if you want.
 
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I'd be disappointed if they made the Titanium available only in a larger size. The 45mm is about as large as I want a watch to be, and I was looking forward to upgrading from Al to Ti with the Series 8.

My Stainless Steel S4 is great… but a bigger screen would be nice.

Heck, better battery would be 👌

I upgraded from S4 to S7 as a stop-gap primarily because of battery, anticipating getting a Ti S8 this year, and figuring trade-in on the S7 would take some of the bite out of pricing, then go back to my anticipated 3-4 year upgrade cycle. I haven't regretted that choice. Battery life has been very good, even with AOD (which I don't really care about, but leave on because I've got sufficient battery to last two+ days when needed - something I no longer got with my S4 post WatchOS 8).
 
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As long as there is still a polished stainless steel finish, I'm in. It's pretty hard to beat both in appearance and quality.

I would really like to see the Space Black Stainless Steel finish come back to the Series 8 watch. I have a SB Series 4 and just love the finish. I know there is the Space Black Hermès watch, but I am not 100% sure that the finish is still the same as the S1-S5 Space Black finish and even if it is, I don't really care about the custom face or the Hermès band so it hurts to pay so much more over the Stainless Steel finish premium.
 
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