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Leaked Apple Watch Pro cases and drawings hint at extra button, thankfully

Leaked Apple Watch Pro cases and drawings hint at extra button, thankfully

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Touchscreens are nice but athletes need buttons

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Apple Watch Pro CAD drawings showing protected Digital Crown and new button on left.
Apple Watch Pro CAD drawings showing protected Digital Crown and new button on left.
Image: 91mobiles

Images of purported third-party accessories and CAD drawings for the rumored Apple Watch Pro are making the rounds this morning, and boy do I hope they’re legit. The cases show cutouts for another physical button added to the left of the watch face, while CAD drawings released separately by 91mobiles align with the cutouts. The drawings also show a completely flat display and a new button on the left side below a redesigned speaker vent, with a new protrusion on the right that houses the mic, button, and Digital Crown which looks to be better protected from accidental presses.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman later chimed in on the authenticity of the Apple Watch Pro renders published by 91mobiles. “This is indeed it,” he wrote on Twitter.

If true, it means that Apple really understands the multisport athletes this watch is supposedly targeting. Adventure junkies like touchscreens for some things, but need to have big grabby buttons when in the surf, under water, on the slopes, and bombing down trails.

A variety of images were posted to twitter via reputable leakers Sonny Dickson and DuanRui (via Weibo). They appear to show decorative case accessories for the Apple Watch Pro which Gurman says will have a larger display with a low-power mode, larger battery, and a “rugged titanium casing.” 91Mobiles’ “industry sources” say the Apple Watch Pro case measures 49mm, which isn’t the biggest multisport watch out there, but it’s close. Apple currently sells watches ranging from 45mm to 38mm.

I hope it’s more waterproof too, as the current Apple Watch’s WR50 rating is only suitable for swimming in shallow water, not for activities like kitesurfing, water skiing, or scuba diving. Hell, let’s add data and emergency satellite connectivity to the wishlist as well.

We’ll be able to finally separate fact from fiction on Wednesday when Apple is set to announce the Apple Watch Pro alongside the iPhone 14 series.

Update September 5th, 12:20PM ET: Added CAD renders and information from 91Mobiles and confirmation from Mark Gurman.