Apple’s new commercial, focused on the durability of its Apple Watch Series 7, arrives weeks ahead of a rumored rugged model that should launch in the fall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naXsHs4ykJc

A closeup of a tennis player’s forearm hitting the mud while wearing an Apple Watch Series 7 on their wrist and squeezing a racket in their hand

Apple’s new ad is all about the Apple Watch’s durability

Published onApple’s YouTube channel, the 90-second video features quick scenes depicting folks using Series 7 watches in challenging conditions. Set to “Power of My Love” by Jack White [Apple Music link], the video depicts various athletes working out while wearing the watch, like a tennis player who thrusts himself into the ground, hitting a mud hole with their wrist while wearing an Apple Watch. The ad goes through a bunch of similar energetic scenes, almost making you believe you were watching an ad for a rugged Apple Watch that should’ve launched back in 2021.

The most crack-resistant screen to date

The current Apple Watch Series 7 model has a display that’s more crack and dust resistant than any previous model. This indeed makes it the most durable Apple Watch ever built. But not for too long, it would seem, because a rugged Apple Watch may come out this year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He said back in 2021 that arugged Apple Watch would launch in 2021, but no one has corroborated the rumor. It didn’t come true anyway so Gurman in the summer of 2021 said the so-calledApple Watch Explorer would arrive in Fall 2022.

But we’re getting a rugged watch in 2023, no?

So who’s to say that a rugged Apple Watch is indeed coming in 2022 and not in 2023 or 2024? Mark Gurman, of course! Listen, Gurman’s had his share of misses but his track record in terms of reporting about Apple remains among the best in business. As far as our opinion goes, we previously noted that arugged watch is precisely what Apple needs to competewith Garmin, Casio and other watches aimed at extreme athletes. Read:The best rugged cases for the Apple Watch Series 6