Apple Watch Series 2 is Fine for Swimming, but Scuba Diving and Waterskiing Not Recommended

One of the key new features of the Apple Watch Series 2 is an improved water resistance rating of up to 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010, which by definition means the watch can be used for shallow-water activities such as swimming in a pool or ocean, white water rafting, and fishing without risking water damage.

These activities are in addition to the previous IPX7 splash resistance that allows for the Apple Watch, including first-generation models, to be worn while washing your hands or jogging in the rain. Many original Apple Watch owners also routinely shower and swim with the device, although Apple never officially recommended such activities.

However, while the Apple Watch Series 2 has improved water and dust resistance, fine print on Apple’s website says the device should not be used while scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth, presumably including jet skiing and deep water snorkeling.

Apple Watch Series 2 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

Apple Watch Series 2 models are priced from $369 and will be available starting Friday, September 16 in the U.S. and select other launch countries.

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Apple Discontinues Gold Apple Watch Edition Models

Apple today announced the debut of a new Ceramic Apple Watch, which is positioned as the high-end “Apple Watch Edition.” With the introduction of the new glossy white Ceramic Apple Watch, Apple has discontinued the previous-generation 18-karat Gold and Rose Gold Apple Watch Edition models. Gold Apple Watch Edition models are no longer available for purchase from the Apple Online Store.

Pricing on the original Apple Watch Edition collection started at $10,000 and went as high as $17,000, and the quiet discontinuation of the Gold and Rose Gold models suggest they did not sell well enough to justify keeping them in the lineup.

The new Ceramic Apple Watch Edition is priced more affordably at $1,249 for the 38mm model and the $1,299 for the 42mm model. While the Gold and Rose Gold Apple Watch Edition models shipped with several band options, the Ceramic Apple Watch Edition is available with a single “Cloud White” Apple Watch Sport Band.

The Ceramic Apple Watch Edition will be available for pre-order alongside the other new Apple Watch Series 2 models on September 9.

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Apple Announces Swimproof ‘Apple Watch Series 2’ With Built-In GPS

Apple today announced the second generation Apple Watch, which it’s calling “Series 2,” confirming a handful of previously rumored features on the wearable device.

Series 2 is swimproof and water resistant up to 50 meters, so users can “wear their watch with confidence in the water.” In addition to its water resistance, Series 2 has a second-generation display that is 2x brighter than the original generation Apple Watch, making it easier to read in bright sunlight.

The company also confirmed that Series 2 has built-in GPS so users can get more accurate pace and distance readouts during running workouts.

In addition to aluminum and stainless steel models, the company is introducing a new ceramic edition of the Apple Watch in Series 2, which has a pearl-like, smooth white color. Apple briefly touched upon a new set of Hermès bands, as well, including versions of Single Tour, Double Tour, Cuff, and Double Buckle Cuff.

Apple Watch Series 2 will start at $369, with pre-orders taking place on September 9 and an official launch on September 16. The company is also now calling generation one “Series 1,” and will have models starting at $269, with a processor upgrade to put it on the level of Series 2.

Stay tuned for more updates on Apple Watch Series 2.

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Tag: September 2016 event
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Apple and Nike Debut Apple Watch Nike+ Edition

Apple and Nike today announced the Apple Watch Nike+ Edition at Apple’s September 2016 Special Event. The aluminum watch comes with a custom perforated rubber band and watch face. The watch is aimed to deliver the “best running experience out there.”

The Nike+ Edition comes with a couple ways to easily start a run, including a shortcut on the watch face and Siri. The running interface has a reduced interface to avoid distractions and only shows you your pace and distance.

The Watch also has integration with Nike+ Run Club, which can suggest when to run based on the weather, your friends and the days of the week. It also includes “Just Do It Sundays” invitations to join others on runs.

The Apple Watch Nike+ Edition comes with four band colors in shades of black and grey and will cost $369.

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Tags: September 2016 event, Apple Watch Nike+ Edition
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Apple Watch Losing Ground to ‘Basic Wearables’ Like Fitbit Ahead of New Models

New data from market research firm IDC shows a split in the wearables market, with “basic wearables” (Fitbit) gaining popularity, and “smart wearables” (Apple Watch) seeing stalled growth. Despite a portion of the market stalling out, the overall wearable device market grew 26.1 percent in comparison to the year ago quarter, suggesting the burgeoning technology is gaining traction among consumers.

IDC specifically categorizes basic wearables as those devices without third party application support and smart wearables as any device with support for third party applications. Comparing each section’s growth from last year, the research firm said that the two categories “traveled at different speeds and directions” in 2016, with basic wearables up 48.8 percent from 2015, and smart wearables down 27.2 percent year-over-year. In total, basic wearables represented 82.8 percent of every wrist-worn device shipped during the quarter.

Basic wearables, which include most fitness trackers, have benefited from a combination of factors: a clear value proposition for end-users, an abundant selection of devices from multiple vendors, and affordable price points,” said Ramon Llamas, research manager, Wearables.

“Smart wearables, meanwhile, are still struggling to find their place in the market,” added Llamas. “There is plenty of curiosity about what smart wearables – particularly smartwatches – can do, but they have yet to convince users that they are a must-have item. The good news is that smart wearables are still in their initial stages and vendors are slowly making strides to improve them. But this also means that it will be a slow transition from basic wearables to smart wearables.”

Apple, representing the smart wearables section of the market, was the only company among the leaders in the wearable market to post a year-over-year decline in shipment volumes, which IDC ascribes mainly to the lack of a second generation Apple Watch on the first generation’s anniversary last March. Specifically, Apple again finished third in the overall wearables market with a 7 percent market share and 1.6 million units shipped. In the first quarter of the year, Apple had a 7.5 percent market share and approximately 1.5 million sales for the Apple Watch.

As the Apple Watch stalls, Fitbit has grown, with a 25.4 percent share of the market and 5.7 million units shipped in the second quarter, compared to a 24.5 percent share and 4.8 million units in the first quarter. Because the company’s name remains “synonymous with fitness bands,” IDC believes its reign will continue in the wearables market. Until smart wearables with various functionalities can justify higher prices to consumers, a more affordable wearable with “a clear value proposition,” i.e. fitness-focused features, will help Fitbit remain on top of the market, according to the firm.

Any slowdown in market share of the Apple Watch could also be attributed to prospective buyers holding out for the second generation device, now expected to be announced during Apple’s media event set for tomorrow, September 7. In addition to a thinner display and larger battery, the Apple Watch 2 is believed to include GPS, an improved processor, and better waterproofing.

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Apple Watch 2 Display and Battery Components Measured Against Original Model in New Video

After sharing photos and a video of the thin display and larger battery for the Apple Watch 2, Byte today posted a video focused on comparing the measurements of the new and old Apple Watch generations. As expected, the measurements for the Apple Watch 2 represent an overall slightly thinner display than the original model, while its battery is noticeably thicker.

Thanks to the detailed measurements, Byte was able to confirm that the Apple Watch 2’s display is 2.86 mm at its thickest location and 2.12 at its thinnest, compared to 3.57 mm and 2.99 mm, respectively, for the original Apple Watch.

The thickest point of the Apple Watch display (left) vs thickest point of the Apple Watch 2 display (right)
The Apple Watch 2’s slightly different measurements continued in the height and width of its display (appearing to be a 42mm model), which measured 39.47 mm tall and 33.43 mm wide. The first generation Apple Watch came in at 38.74 mm tall and 32.65 mm wide, so while the Apple Watch 2 is slightly taller and longer, the overall difference appears to be similarly negligible as iPhone generations that jump between the main models and an “S” generation.

Byte also measured the thickness, length, and width of each generation of Apple Watch battery, with the first measuring 3.95 mm thick, 27.46 long, and 18.42 mm wide. Comparatively, the upcoming second generation Apple Watch battery measured 5.11 mm thick, 27.50 mm long, and 18.71 mm wide, falling in line with previous rumors that the Apple Watch 2 would have a larger battery to fuel speedier performance and improve its recharge life.

The battery for the 42mm Apple Watch 2 was investigated in a video last week, and was rated for 1.28 watt-hours. If proved true, this means that the 42mm Apple Watch 2 will have a 334 mAh battery that is 35.7% larger than the 246 mAh battery in the original 42mm model. Last week’s video also showed Apple Watch 2 components like the Force Touch gasket, but the piece wasn’t measured due to the similar size between each generation.

Byte also shared a circular gasket component of the Apple Watch 2, speculating its potential involvement in providing further water resistance to the unit, particularly its appropriate size for the heart rate sensor.

Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch 2 during tomorrow’s media event, along with the debut of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Despite the slight differences in the measurement of its display and battery, the new generation of Apple Watch will still keep the external design of the current model.

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What to Expect From Apple’s September 7 Event

We’re just a few days away from Apple’s annual fall event, where we expect to see the launch of the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, a second-generation Apple Watch with new bands, and refreshed Beats products.

We may also see the debut of Apple’s rumored wireless “AirPods” earbuds, and we’ll find out when iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3 will officially launch. For details on all of Apple’s new products culled from the rumors we’ve heard over the course of the last year, read our below guide on what to expect, but beware — there are lots of spoilers!

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iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Design wise, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will look a lot like the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, featuring the same dimensions (4.7 and 5.5-inches) and thickness. There will be some visual differences, though, including relocated antenna bands that no longer span across the back of the device and larger cameras for both devices.

The iPhone 7 is said to feature a bigger camera with optical image stabilization and perhaps a larger sensor for better low-light performance, while the larger iPhone 7 Plus will include a dual-lens camera that should bring some significant improvements resulting in truer colors, less noise, and crisper images for brighter, more detailed photographs.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus dummy models based on the iPhone’s design
The other major visual change is the lack of a headphone jack, which is being eliminated in Apple’s newest iPhones. Headphones will connect via Lightning or Bluetooth, with the space left by the headphone jack being taken up by a second set of speaker holes. These won’t necessarily be functional speaker holes and are not an indication of stereo sound — one of the holes may house a microphone while the others will simply be cosmetic additions to make the phone look symmetrical.

Lightning provides better quality audio than a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may be one reason Apple is making the switch. The removal of the jack could also be a major factor that’s allowing Apple to improve the water resistance of the iPhone 7, as has been rumored. It’s not clear if enhanced water resistance will be a quiet update or a headline feature, but liquid should be less of a problem for the new devices.

Better water resistance and better reliability may also be the reason behind another rumored feature, the introduction of a flush Home button. Apple is said to be eliminating the physical Home button in the iPhone 7, introducing a flat button with haptic feedback capabilities to mimic traditional button presses.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus dummy models based on the iPhone’s design
Inside, the iPhone 7 is expected to include a more efficient A10 processor, faster LTE and Wi-Fi chips, and perhaps some improvements in battery life introduced through software and hardware streamlining and a somewhat larger physical battery. Displays that adopt features first introduced in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, such as DCI-P3 Wide Color gamut and True Tone ambient lighting adjustments, are not out of the question.

2GB of RAM is rumored for the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7, while the larger iPhone 7 Plus could come with 3GB of RAM because of the greater system resources a dual-lens camera consumes. 16GB of storage space is rumored to be a thing of the past, and the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models are said to start at 32GB of storage with a maximum of 256GB of storage. That latter option may be limited to the 5.5-inch iPhone.

The iPhone 7 could come in five colors this year: Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and a new “glossy” Space Black color. Multiple rumors have hinted at the Space Black color option, but whether it’ll actually happen is up in the air because we haven’t seen much evidence of the new color.

For more details on what to expect from the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, make sure to check out our full iPhone 7 roundup.

Apple Watch 2

Like the iPhone 7, the Apple Watch 2 is rumored to feature few, if any, exterior design changes, so it’s going to look a lot like the original Apple Watch. It will continue to come in 38mm and 42mm sizes, and Apple will continue offering the watch in different materials at a range of price points.

Improvements to the second-generation Apple Watch will be largely internal, with Apple rumored to be including a faster processor, better waterproofing, a bigger battery, GPS functionality, and a barometer.

GPS functionality and a barometer will enable better navigation and fitness tracking capabilities, with the Apple Watch 2 able to better calculate location when not near the iPhone. Based on part leaks, the 42mm Apple Watch 2 could have a 35 percent larger battery, and similar improvements would likely be introduced in the smaller model.

A slightly thinner Apple Watch display has been spotted, in line with rumors suggesting the company will use new display technology, but space saved with the display component may be taken up by the larger battery, resulting in an Apple Watch 2 that’s likely to be the same thickness as the original Apple Watch. Additional battery life is essential to compensate for the inclusion of a GPS chip.

A display component said to be for the Apple Watch 2
We’ve heard some confusing rumors about the Apple Watch that have suggested Apple is planning to introduce an upgraded first-generation Apple Watch with a faster processor and improved waterproofing, so there is the possibility that models at different price points could have different features.

With many existing Apple Watch models and bands out of stock, the Apple Watch 2 will undoubtedly be accompanied by a selection of new Apple Watch bands in new colors and perhaps new styles. Details on forthcoming Apple Watch bands have not been leaked, though.

For more details on what to expect from the Apple Watch 2, make sure to check out our full Apple Watch 2 roundup.

Software Release Dates

iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3 have been in testing since they were first unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, so we’re well acquainted with the new software features, but the September 7 event should offer one missing tidbit of information – official release dates.

iOS 10 will likely be released two days ahead of when the iPhone 7 launches, which is when we’ve seen past iOS releases take place. Rumors suggest the iPhone 7 will be available on either September 16 or September 23, so we’ll see iOS 10 on Wednesday, September 14 or Wednesday, September 21.

Because watchOS 3 goes hand in hand with iOS 10, it’s likely to be released on the same day iOS 10 is released.

Mac software updates have historically come later in the month than iOS releases, so we may not see macOS Sierra until the end of September. As tvOS is a new operating system, tvOS 10 is a bit of a wildcard. It could come alongside iOS 10 and watchOS 3, or later in the month with macOS Sierra.

Apple is likely to release golden master versions of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10 following the event to finish final testing ahead of the public launch of the software.

For details on the new features included in the software updates, visit our roundups:

– iOS 10
– macOS Sierra
– tvOS 10
– watchOS 3

New Beats Products

Apple accidentally let it slip that new Beats products are in the works, with a debut set for the September 7 event. No details are available on the prospective update, but it will undoubtedly see the release of new wireless Beats headphones and wired Beats headphone models with Lightning connectors.

AirPods

For the last several months, Apple has been quietly working on a product called “AirPods,” which are said to be wireless Bluetooth earphones that could be sold alongside the iPhone 7. The AirPods are rumored to be totally wireless like the Bragi Dash, without a connective cord between the earpieces.

The wireless earphones reportedly have a battery life of approximately four hours, but may ship with a carrying case that serves as a rechargeable battery to extend battery life as much as possible.

Apple’s “AirPods” could look similar to the Bragi Dash
We don’t know if the AirPods are going to be unveiled at the September 7 event, but Apple was recently granted a number of product certifications from the Eurasian Economic Union, including AirPods, suggesting it is a finished or near-finished product. Nevertheless, the AirPods may not be ready to go and are something of an unknown for the event.

No MacBooks

We’re all eager to see new Macs, especially the rumored MacBook Pro that features a major design overhaul with an OLED function bar, but unfortunately, refreshed Macs are not expected at the September 7 event.

Multiple reputable sources have said the event will focus on the iPhone and Apple Watch 2, with Macs to come later in the year, perhaps as soon as October.

Rendering of the MacBook Pro with touch panel
MacRumors will be offering a live blog and full coverage of Apple’s September 7 event, both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, so make sure to join us on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to see just what Apple has in store.

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New Video Shows Thinner Display and Larger Battery for Apple Watch 2

Byte, a small British shop that sells Apple-certified accessories and repair parts for iOS devices, has shared new photos and a video that appear to show the Apple Watch 2’s thinner display technology and larger battery.

Photos: Apple Watch 2 parts on left, original Apple Watch parts on right
The Apple Watch 2 display looks slightly thinner than the original Apple Watch display when placed side by side, although the second-generation Apple Watch could very well have the same overall thickness as the original model due to the rumored inclusions of a GPS, barometer, and thicker battery.

The battery shown is rated for 1.28 watt-hours, which is identical to the battery that surfaced last week. If accurate, that means the 42mm Apple Watch 2 will have a 334 mAh battery that is 35.7% larger than the 246 mAh battery in the original 42mm model. The battery for the 38mm model has yet to be leaked.

Also shown is the alleged Force Touch gasket for the Apple Watch 2, which appears to have a new chip alignment but otherwise no discernible differences.

Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch 2 alongside the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and spec-bumped Apple Watch 1 models at its September 7 event next week. In addition to a GPS and barometer, other rumored Apple Watch 2 features include a faster processor and improved waterproofing.

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Tag: Apple Watch 2
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Apple Granted Eurasian Certificates for ‘AirPods’, iPhones, and Apple Watch models

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC) has issued new certificates for Apple products that suggest the company is set to release wireless earphones and multiple new versions of Apple Watch alongside the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Manufacturers are required to certify electronic devices for sale in countries that are signed up to the EAEC treaty (ratified last year), which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia. Russian website iPhones.ru found a reference to “AirPods” along with other Apple certificates added to the regulatory body’s digital products registry yesterday.

Last month, MacRumors revealed that an “AirPods” trademark filing discovered last October seemingly confirmed Apple’s work on upcoming wireless earphones in lieu of a headphone jack on the iPhone 7. This latest regulatory certification appears to cement that finding, although whether Apple plans to bundle the AirPods with its new phones or sell them exclusively as a separate accessory is still unclear.

Elsewhere, the documents list several new certificates for Apple Watch (although oddly these are labelled as running watchOS 2, not watchOS 3, as would be expected for new models) and two certificates for products running iOS 10, likely indicating Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 and 7 Plus expected to be announced in a special event next week.

Apple may use the same event to debut its second-generation Apple Watch, said to include better waterproofing, better battery life, an improved processor, and a built-in GPS chip – but no cellular. Design changes are not expected for the next-generation Apple Watch, but new materials and new bands are always a possibility.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3, iPhone 7
Tag: AirPods
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