Apple is expected to launch a 'rugged' version of the Apple Watch aimed at athletes in 2022, alongside two other new smartwatches.
According to an Apple tipster, the 'ruggedized' watch would be more durable and resistant to scratches to compete with rival firms including Garmin and Coros.
Apple could also reveal an updated version of the Apple Watch SE, the lower-cost model that was first revealed in autumn 2020.
Both models are expected to hit the market around the same time as Apple's flagship wearable, Apple Watch Series 8.
Apple will launch three smartwatches in 2022, according to a respected Apple tipster. Pictured is the Apple Watch Series 7 in various colours, released this year
The rumoured release details come from Apple tipster Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, writing in the latest installment of his Power On newsletter. MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment.
It's likely the three Apple smartwatches that make up the 2022 range will be released in the autumn, which is when the iPhone 14 is expected to be announced.
Gurman said the 'Rugged Apple Watch' would be a 'ruggedized version aimed at extreme sports athletes'.
'2021 was a modest year for Apple product updates, but I’d expect a wider-range of new products in 2022,' he said.
Apple has released a new flagship Apple Watch every year since 2015. This year's Apple Watch Series 7, supposedly its most durable to date, was released in autumn with up to 33 per cent faster charging and a bigger display, with prices starting from £369.
As yet, not much is known about the Apple Watch Series 8, which should be released next autumn as expected, along with the other two new models.
Apple only recently released its Series 7 smartwatch but rumours are already circulating about its next generation of wearables
Apple Watch Series 8 could potentially have a flat-edge design and will likely come equipped with a temperature sensor.
As for the updated version of the Apple Watch SE, Gurman revealed fewer details in his newsletter.
SE is the name for Apple's lower-price products – not just for smartwatches but iPhones too. In 2020, Apple released iPhone SE 2, four years after the original iPhone SE.
The £249 Apple Watch SE, released in September 2020, is a lower-price option for wearers, but it lacks features including an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Gurman didn't mention what upgrades will be included in the 2022 version – possibly called Apple Watch SE 2 – or whether it would be more expensive than the original.
The Apple tipster is
