Apple May Release Apple Watch Pro

Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman said in his latest weekly Power On newsletter that Apple could have new smart watch models. Regardless of the name, Apple intends to give the Apple Watch "Pro" status.

For the new higher-priced Apple Watch, which will arrive this autumn, distinguishing features will include a larger and more shatter-resistant display, improved hiking and swimming tracking, increased battery life and a more rugged case made of premium non-aluminium metal. Probably it will be titanium, as it's much stronger than steel.

The new smartwatch will be aimed at extreme athletes and people who want the most advanced Apple Watch.

Gurman believes that the rugged Apple Watch, codenamed N199, will be called the Apple Watch Pro. Apple has already extolled the durability of the current watch, so this is clearly a selling point that the company thinks consumers will be interested in.

Two more Apple Watch models will also be released in the autumn: the regular Apple Watch Series 8 and the new Apple Watch SE. The Apple Watch Series 8 will feature an updated display, S8 processor and body temperature sensor. The new SE will replace the Apple Watch Series 3. It will have the same S8 chip, but without the body temperature sensing feature.

In terms of exact price, I'd guess that the new Apple Watch SE will probably replace the current model at its $279 price point and the standard Series 8 will start at $399 in its smallest size and aluminum configuration to replace the Series 7.

As for the price of the pro-version of the Apple Watch, Gurman states:

Given that the new high-end Apple Watch will pack in a slightly larger display, new sensors and higher-end materials, I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts closer to $900 to $999, the starting price of an iPhone 13 Pro. We’re only a couple months away from finding out exactly where Apple lands.