Apple will bring a redesigned Apple Watch to market with new high-end “extreme” model featuring a ruggedized metal case made of a more durable titanium formulation and a larger 50mm display (up from 45mm on the current largest model).
Apple is holding a special media event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Wednesday, September 7th.
The company is expected to announce new iPhone models, as it has every September since 2012.
This year’s event has the tagline “far out,” which could refer to features such as night-sky photography.
Apple is likely to show the eighth major new version of its watch next week… Apple is considering a body temperature sensor in the new devices, according to the Wall Street Journal, which could help with fertility and sleep tracking. Other sleep tracking features could include the ability to detect advanced sleep patterns or apnea.
But the biggest Apple Watch Series 8 announcement could be a new “Pro” model with a bigger screen and more durable finish. Apple has previously released Apple Watches with pricey case materials such as gold, ceramic and titanium, and the new “Pro” model described by Bloomberg and Kuo could be one of the first high-end Apple Watches to gain additional features over its less-expensive siblings.
Also likely: A new updated version of the Apple Watch SE, its $329 entry-level Watch model.
MacDailyNews Take: “Apple Watch Extreme” would be too good of a name, so Apple will never use it, but hope springs eternal, so maybe they’ll go that route and sell millions more simply due to proper naming.
Now, about this “more durable titanium formulation” which Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman has parenthetically guessed is “probably titanium given it’s much more durable than steel.”
We’ve seen titanium Apple Watches before. Yes, they’re strong, but they’re nothing new. Apple’s selling them right now. They’re not tagged “Extreme,” or even “Pro.” But Apple might finally have the potential to offer an Apple Watch with a metal case that’s 2.5X stronger than titanium:
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. — MacDailyNews, July 6, 2022
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
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I am interested in new medical features not that it is a mini iPad.
To spend $1000 on a watch I think is crazy.
Dang, I had completely forgotten about “liquid metal.”
Oh, I didn’t. If this is LiquidMetal, as I’m hoping, it could really help get me closer to retirement. Bought it years ago on the rumors, and hoping and praying…
Before, when I heard “rugged,” I imagined Apple’s (Casio) G-Shock 🧗♀️🏞 Now, I see it as a clever move to better differentiate the most expensive Watch choice from rest of lineup, similar to upcoming better distinction between iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. Before, the top Watch is different due to material used for casing (gold, ceramic, titanium…) with sapphire instead of glass. The tech specs are the same as the lower-cost aluminum Watch. Going forward, the top Watch will also have better internals with larger display to better justify higher price.
I don’t expect it to look “rugged”; it will still be elegant, just made from the toughest material. Also, Apple has been quite thoughtful about keeping watch bands compatible (at larger and smaller sizes) from Series 0 to 7, so customers can keep using existing bands while upgrading the watch. Apple could have required new bands at Series 4 and again at Series 7 (to profit more from band sales) but did not. With this new distinctive casing, Apple can sell new high-end watch bands made from high-end materials for only the new high-end Watch that is intentionally different.