Apple Watch Series 7 Titanium. Will the next titanium watch have a completely new design?
David Phelan
It is said that this fall we will see many new Apple watches. And one of them stands out as the most exciting: a new addition to the range that will be much harder than the rest and will suit lovers of extreme sports. But amid the intriguing news, a new report comes as a big surprise for the price.
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According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, the super-rugged Apple Watch will be very different from the current model, the 7 Series. This means that Apple is “ready to give the Apple Watch its ‘Pro’ level.” Does that make sense. After all, there have been models like iPhone Pro, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, AirPods Pro and iMac Pro, so why not Apple Watch Pro?
Gurman ironically points out that adding the suffix Pro means different things, but one change is consistent: a higher price.
Many of Gurman’s comments today have been stated by him and others before: you can read my full summary of the latest details here. These include a larger screen, a more break-resistant front, better tracking of swimming and hiking, longer battery life, and a more premium metal coating.
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Now, Gurman specifies that he believes the new metal will likely be titanium. Personally, I was looking forward to the return of ceramics to the range. Gurman has a stab at what the new watch will be called. After all, there have been rumors about Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Max, Apple Watch Plus and Apple Watch Explorer. The latter always sounded a little weak to me.
Gurman says, “Given that the rugged Apple Watch, codenamed N199 within the company, will apply to extreme sports enthusiasts and consumers who typically opt for Apple’s professional offerings, I think the company will likely go by the name and marketing of Apple Watch Pro. Apple has already been promoting the durability of current watches, so it’s clearly a selling point that believes there are clicks with consumers.
This makes sense to me, and certainly matches the expectations of Apple users of a higher price.
So what about the current premium end of the range, the Apple Watch Edition, currently available with a titanium finish? Gurman believes he will be abandoned. “Switching to a new Apple Watch will probably mean the end of the Apple Watch Edition.”
It may be true, though I do get the idea flowing that Apple Watch Edition could also be the name of the new model.
However, the models of the previous edition have been identical in design and features to the usual watches, with the premium metal justifying the additional price. Or maybe Apple Watch Edition could continue alongside this new Apple Watch Pro.
Gurman says a new Apple Watch SE will replace the existing model at a price of $ 279. This may be true, but with the 3 Series expected to disappear from the range, I would have thought there was a definite place for the original SE to become the entry-level model rather than disappear.
Finally, Gurman reveals the price he expects Apple to charge and is a bit overwhelming. The current Apple Watch Edition costs $ 849 for the larger 45mm model. But the new “Pro” model will cost a lot more, it is claimed. Gurman says, “Given that the new high-end Apple Watch will include a slightly larger screen, new sensors and high-end materials, I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts at $ 900 to $ 999.”
If true, the starting price of the Pro Watch will be roughly the same as the iPhone Pro.
I’m not sure I think that’s right. My intention is that Apple will want their Apple Watch Pro to be more affordable than this. We will know in the coming months.
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