Is Apple finally planning on using Liquidmetal in a product’s casing? The company reportedly plans its largest smartwatch display to date, with a bigger battery, and “a rugged metal casing” in an upcoming Apple Watch for extreme sports athletes, Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman reports Wednesday, citing “people with knowledge of the plans.”
Apple has a perpetual, exclusive license to use Liquidmetal Technologies in consumer electronics.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The rugged version of the Apple Watch will get a screen that measures almost 2 inches diagonally, while a new, standard Apple Watch Series 8 will keep the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the current Apple Watch Series 7.
The extreme sports watch will use a strong metal material rather than aluminum, have a more shatter-resistant screen and include a larger battery compared with standard Apple Watches — letting athletes track workouts for longer periods of time, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the watch details haven’t been announced.
The display size increase for the rugged model will be the third in the history of the Apple Watch. The company expanded the device’s screen in 2018 with Series 4 and again last year with Series 7. The nearly 2-inch display on the rugged model will make the screen one of the largest offerings from a mainstream smartwatch maker.
MacDailyNews Take: If ever there was a time for Liquidmetal to finally appear in an Apple product beyond an iPhone SIM ejector, this would be it. That said, cost (and manufacturing capacity) may be an issue, so we’ll have to wait and see. Even if the “Apple Watch Extreme” uses titanium, it will be a costly model. Currently, the 45mm Titanium Apple Watch Series 7 costs $849. The 50mm “Apple Watch Extreme” would seem to slot in around $999 in Titanium. Your guess is as good as ours how much it would cost in a Liquidmetal case, but a relatively high price might be well worth it as such a case (2.5X stronger than titanium) would likely prove to be pretty near indestructible.
See also:
• Apple Watch patent applications cover use of Liquidmetal and polymers – March 27, 2020
• Apple patent describes Liquidmetal housing for electronic devices – January 27, 2017
• Apple’s exclusive Liquidmetal pact could see future Apple products encased in metallic glass – August 11, 2010
Please help support MacDailyNews. Click or tap here to support our independent tech blog. Thank you!
Shop The Apple Store at Amazon.
The source article has some bad math. The current larger Series 7 Watch is 45mm, which is 1.77 inches, not 1.9 inches. “Almost 2 inches” probably means 50mm. A “rugged” version of Watch should not be overly large; it may get in the way of the extreme outdoor activity by being too bulky and heavy. The easiest way to damage current Watch is to accidentally hit the rounded glass edge against something hard, like rock or metal. Extending side of casing above the glass will make it more durable, and also replace Digital Crown functionality with something that does not stick out and turn.
I wear my series 5 to work. After work I leave it on doing anything outdoors.
I’ve got a few small scuffs on the screen, otherwise it always cleans up like new.
So my question is, has anyone broken a case? Just wondering how strong do they need to be? Mountain bike crash strong? Just wondering? Isn’t the display more fragile?
We cracked the glass on a Series 3 on a doorknob – they’re just the right height; walked past too close and – bang! We’ve actually done similar to other models – doorknobs are our nemesis – but they never cracked, or even scratched.
I’d like a larger Apple Watch, but without the bulk of a “rugged” version. 41mm, 45mm, 50mm regular and 50mm rugged
I am still wearing my original “Series 0” Classic Apple Watch (titanium, sapphire). I have several hit it quite many times to a granite and brick wall. No scraches. Glass is like new. Titanium body shows some very very light scraches but visible only if looking from a very close distance. These would probably go away I rubbed it with some wool. People who scrach and break their Apple Watches are wearing Apple Sport watches – which have iOn-X Glass and aluminium body.
My Series 0 (aluminum) never cracked, but after 5 years I heard a crinkling sound and thought I had stepped on scotch tape or something, turned out the screen was starting to fall out. I suppose it was the result of years of sweat from workouts and dozens of times banging it against doorknobs that did it in. Luckily someone was selling a Stainless Series 4 with a Milanese loop locally for $190. Though underpowered with that original processor my first Watch was worth the purchase. I don’t think I’d spend another $500+ on an Apple Watch though unless it offered something really exceptional, when I can buy one that’s 1-2 years old for half price or less.
I don’t even remember since when I’ve been reading this rumor
It seems like eons have passed since Liquid Metal began to be on the radar. I’d sure like an Apple Watch made from it. Would have to be super durable.
Have bought aluminum Apple Watches — Series 0, 3, and now 6, and either I’ve been fortunate and / or the watches and crystal are super robust, because I’ve barely scratched either the body or the screen. But I will say I am careful with my electronic devices, thinking how much I’ve spent on them. I see some people throw their devices around like they were made out of diamonds.
LQMT stock is going for 7.5 cents a share right now. Might have to consider kicking up my buying
Closed at $.0934