It is being reported by Russian media that some Russian army troops will be using military-grade, ruggedized smartwatches from 2018 / 2019 onwards.

The rugged army smartwatches are shock-resistant devices with an OLED screen, medium-range wireless connectivity, and specialized security functions such as intruder alerts.

Of course, these devices will NOT be on sale to the public. But they do highlight the (quietly) emerging trend for rugged wearables that we see in the general consumer environment. Smartwatch owners increasingly like waterproof, dustproof or scratchproof models for oudoor sports, biking or hiking, such as Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and Garmin Fenix 5. Device makers also like them, because it means they can add new features and raise their average selling prices (ASP).