Apple's next-generation smartwatch, the Apple Watch 7, may be more specialized for use in the water than previous models. The company is reportedly refreshing the wearable's swim tracking capabilities ahead of its planned launch later this year.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is "working on a new swim tracking feature for the Apple Watch." Gurman did not provide details on how the new feature will improve the Apple Watch Series 6's current swim tracking capabilities, though.

In fact, this information is something of a footnote to a report that leaked rumors of a rugged Apple Watch 7. Last month, a source familiar with the project told Bloomberg that an explorer-oriented Apple smartwatch is in the works for Garmin customers. The outdoor-oriented model could feature a rubber exterior for better protection than the familiar aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel cases.

This version alone could support advanced swim tracking capabilities. The current Apple Watch is water resistant to 5 bar (swimmable to 50 meters/164 feet), but there are more water-safe wearables out there. For example, the recently released Amazfit T-Rex Pro and Garmin Enduro are both waterproof to 10 bar.

In addition to excellent water resistance, most of the best sports watches also boast military-grade ratings for temperature and scratch resistance.

Of course, swim tracking capabilities could appear independent of this so-called rugged Apple Watch. Instead, swim tracking could be improved by the next watchOS software update or by sensors added to the flagship Apple Watch 7.

It is also possible that there will be no swim tracking upgrade at all; Gurman is usually a reliable source of Apple rumors, but information about the company's next smartwatch is scarce. There is no guarantee that what little information we have heard is accurate.

As the Apple Watch 7 release date approaches, more credible leaks may begin to emerge. The best Apple Watch yet is likely to appear in late summer or early fall.