Apple will probably introduce new models of its own smartwatch as early as September. This year, a very special special model will be added to the expected Apple Watch Series 8. Evidence of this has now been discovered in a new patent.
In autumn 2022 we can not only expect a new Apple Watch, there should be three new Smartwatch models – the Apple Watch 8, a special model for extreme sports and the successor to the Apple Watch SE. There are again clues for the special model, hidden in a patent that has now become public (source: Patently Apple via 9to5Mac).
Apple Watch 8 for extreme athletes: ATM instead of IP class
As a result, the iPhone maker is working on a more effective way to detect water intrusion and then take action to protect the watch. The goal could be that Apple is aiming for higher water resistance. Away from the simple IP protection class, towards a sports-focused water resistance scale, which is known to be measured in atmospheres, or ATM for short.
In this context, three well-known classifications are mentioned:
- 5 ATM: For example, diving in a swimming pool.
- 10 ATM: Surfing, snorkeling, rafting and other surface activities, in short the watch can be used for swimming.
- 20 ATM: Real scuba diving, it’s a real diving watch.
The current Apple Watch 7 is not quite as extreme:
Rugged design isn’t just cosmetic
Good to know: the patent was originally filed in September 2020, so Apple has been working on it for a while. We could then admire the result this autumn. Externally, this special model should also differ more clearly from the regular Apple Watch 8. Accordingly it would Cases of this Apple Watch feature a rugged design with shock resistance and an equally protective exterior. It would be comparable to the G-Shock watches from the Japanese manufacturer Casio.
Even if patents do not always indicate a timely implementation in practice, in this case the realization is probably a lot more likely. Apple shouldn’t be satisfied with a simple IP classification, the new extreme design of this Apple Watch must not promise more than it can technically keep in the end.