With just over a week to go before Apple’s September 7th launch event, more details are starting to trickle out about what we’re likely to see during the product launch. And that includes the latest on the company’s Apple Watch plans.
The usual round of annual Apple Watch updates (this time we’re on the Apple Watch 8) could include more models. In addition to the Apple Watch SE 2 debuting as Apple’s new entry-level smartwatch, we’ve also been told to expect the Apple Watch 8 Pro. This is a more premium watch aimed at athletes or anyone who needs a rugged device for intense training.
It’s the Apple Watch 8 Pro’s turn in the rumor mill, with Bloomberg’s ever-reliable Mark Gurman (opens in a new tab) reporting that we could see Apple introduce satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Pro . This is a much-talked-about feature that appeared last year ahead of the iPhone 13 launch, and some have tipped the feature to be part of the iPhone 14, or at least the iPhone 14 Pro models of high range, this year.
Gurman believes that Apple’s move into satellite communication could find its way into the company’s smartwatches. In this week’s Power On newsletter, Gurman says, “the company has also discussed internally the idea of giving its watches satellite features, which could make sense for a future version of the new, more rugged Apple Watch Pro “. That said, it’s unclear if the feature will be ready this year or if it’s something Apple will introduce in the future.
Apple’s adoption of satellite connectivity would be a game changer for communicating emergencies when no cellular connection is available. Gurman describes the feature as an “augmentation of the current iPhone and Apple Watch feature to quickly call emergency services and provide them with your location,” which poses a potential challenge to standalone devices like the Garmin inReach.
The feature is internally called “Emergency Message Via Satellite”. Satellite connectivity for the iPhone 14 recently resurfaced as a possibility after T-Mobile and SpaceX agreed last week to team up on satellite communications.
Satellite connectivity is only part of the rumored feature set for the Apple Watch 8 Pro. Japanese website Mac Otakara (opens in a new tab) also claims that the Apple Watch Pro could have a larger case size of 47mm. For comparison, the current Apple Watch 7 model is available in 41mm and 45mm case sizes.
A bigger case size would also mean a bigger screen. The increase in screen size is something that was initially suggested by Gurman, where he said the Apple Watch Pro screen could measure 1.99 inches diagonally, and another screen analyst. Ross Young (opens in a new tab) had also backed up the 2-inch screen rumor. Previous rumors have hinted at a sturdier and sturdier case for the Apple Watch 8 Pro, but the larger case size itself is new information that seems tied to everything we’ve heard about the watch before.
Mac Otakara also mentions that the Pro could have a completely flat screen, a design decision meant to make the watch more durable. Current Apple watches feature curved bezels. A larger watch could also translate to longer battery life for the Pro which could allow for outdoor activities
The Apple Watch Pro is supposed to be an extreme fitness watch that could rival Garmin devices. Other rumors surrounding the watch include a more shatter-resistant screen and the use of premium materials in its construction such as titanium. An Apple Watch 8 is rumored characteristic of body temperature can also be seen in the Pro version. Meanwhile, Gurman pegs the Apple Watch Pro to have improved hiking and swimming tracking capabilities.
All these features could come at a premium price. The price of the Apple Watch 8 Pro has been suggested to be up to $999.
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