Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes that the rugged version of the Apple Watch will feature a “nearly 2-inch display” (diagonally), about 7% more screen area than the largest current Apple Watch. It will also come with a bigger battery for longer life and a larger resolution than its predecessor— 410 x 502, compared to 484 x 396—which will allow it to show more fitness metrics on the screen. The standard Apple Watch 8 is expected to keep the same 1.9-inch screen size as the Apple Watch 7. The updated Apple Watch SE will also retain the current screen size, according to people with knowledge of the plans.
The Apple Watch Series 7 This is the second time Gurman has written about a rugged Apple Watch. The previous occasion was in March last year when he said it would have a rubberized exterior attached to the metal chassis. He now says the wearable will be made of a “strong metal material rather than aluminum” and have a “more shatter-resistant screen.” All the new watches are expected to be powered by the S8 chip that’s said to offer similar performance as the current S7 and previous-gen S6, which would mark the first time Apple watches have performed similarly across three generations. They’re also expected to have an updated low-power mode and a fitness feature that lets users monitor their body temperature. Not surprisingly, the rugged Apple Watch is expected to cost more than today’s stainless steel model, which is $699 for the 41mm version and $749 for the 45mm option. Masthead: Kanut Photo
