Rugged Apple Watch for extreme conditions could come out later this year

Apple has recently begun introducing slightly different versions of its regular smartwatch, such as the cheaper Watch SE or the special editions co-branded with Nike and Hermes. Now, it looks like an "Explorer Edition" rugged flavor to compete with the likes of Casio G-Shock could arrive sooner than most would expect.

According to insiders familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg, "Apple Inc. is considering launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing aimed at athletes, hikers and others who use the device in more extreme environments." This variation of the popular smartwatch is apparently set to arrive later this year or in 2022.

Regarding its specs and features, there isn't much to say. Since the latest regular models are already water-resistant to 50 meters, the rugged edition will probably get a rubberized exterior for increased shock resistance and maybe some additional glass protection for the display as well.

Unfortunately, Apple refuses to comment anything regarding this piece of technology right now. Bloomberg's sources also claim that the development of the Apple Watch "Extreme Edition" could be canceled or delayed. After all, Counterpoint research data revealed that Apple dominated the smartwatch market in the final quarter of 2020 with a comfortable 40 percent, followed by multiple minor brands with 36 percent, and Samsung with just 10 percent.

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