The Apple Watch 8 is rumored to be getting a "Rugged Edition" or "Extreme Edition," designed for extreme sports or heavy outdoor use.
This type of smartwatch would resemble those made by Garmin, Amazfit, or Casio, with a rugged design, long battery life, and a focus on features that would be useful for extreme sports.
Think of long-distance hiking, running, climbing, skiing or similar activities, with useful additional functions such as GPS tracking and altitude and weather monitoring, making the watch a practical tool.
Even the best Apple Watches don't offer that kind of versatility right now.
We've heard enough rumors to think this new Apple Watch 8 for endurance sports is coming, but since Apple hasn't made one yet, we're not entirely sure what it will look like. But to give us a first look, we've put together this guide: It'll walk you through what we've heard so far and what we want to see.
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- What is it? A more robust version of the Apple Watch 8, with more functions
- When did it come out? Later in 2022, according to leaks
- How much will it cost? No idea, but probably more than the Apple Watch 8
Apple Watch 8 Rugged Edition release date and price
Current rumors indicate that this next Apple Watch variant will launch alongside the Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch SE in late 2022; it's expected to launch alongside the iPhone 14 in September, or perhaps at a separate launch event a bit sooner or later. the aforementioned models. .
As for the price, it's hard to pin down an exact figure, but we imagine it'll be more expensive than the standard Apple Watch 8... another watch we don't have a price for.
In some context, though, the Apple Watch 7 would set you back $399 / £369 / AU$599 for its most affordable option, going up if you want a larger case or more premium material. So expect a higher price for the beefed-up device.
Apple Watch 8 Rugged Edition Name
Since it is not yet an official product, we do not know what it will actually be called.
We've named it the Apple Watch 8 (the focus is on the number), but it may not relate to the flagship smartwatch in such a tangible way and could lose the number.
Most of the leaks have referred to the device not by its name, but by its specifications, so we don't know if it will be called Extreme Edition, Rugged Edition, Endurance Edition, or something else entirely.
We chose the middle one for this article because it is the name that most of the Apple fan community decided to use, but that does not mean that it is confirmed in any way. We'll change the name of this article if we hear an official title from Apple.
Most of the Apple Watch Rugged Edition leaks we've heard simply mention the existence of the watch, not what it will actually do. But we've heard rumors of Apple Watch 8 that may actually be about the Rugged Edition.
One of them is new technology that can detect if your smartwatch has suffered water damage and alert you if it will be a problem - great for water sports.
It's also possible that the Watch will get a body metrics tracker that was originally meant to appear in Watch 7.
And it's likely to come with watchOS 9, as it's Apple's newest smartwatch operating system; some of its features include new running posture tracking and better sleep tracking.
Apple Watch 8 Rugged Edition: what we want to see
Having worn plenty of rugged watches before, we've found a few features we wish an Apple Watch Extreme had.
1. GPS mapping functions
If you are walking in nature, measuring the elevation and steps of your long distance walk, it is very easy to turn around and get lost.
Some watches have GPS mapping features: you can see maps and your location on them, and sometimes also see a plotted route, to help you get your bearings or simply plan optimal routes.
We would like to see Apple embrace this type of technology, so that it can remain competitive with many other devices on the market. Apple has a bad habit of making its best features exclusive to the US or certain countries, so maybe it could work with another map company on the feature, ideally not Apple Maps.
2. Robust design
Smartwatches can be some of the most fragile devices out there – they sit in the open on your wrist and you can easily knock or bump them. That's why rugged watches need a little more durability.
Many of the ones we tested have rugged designs, designed to protect the screen and internal components. This can mean thick frames, materials that don't scratch easily, and great weatherproofing.
The Apple Watch will need absolutely the same to survive in the wild. You don't want to scratch it on the first rock wall you try to climb, or break it with a splash while surfing.
The rugged edition of the Apple Watch will need enough features, both hardware and software, over its main series cousin to justify its existence.
You can buy rugged cases for the standard Apple Watch, which are likely to cost a lot less than a rugged version of the device, and if there's no built-in functionality to justify their existence, then the extreme version would be a waste. from space.