Ladies and gentlemen, the circle is now complete. The Cupertino giant has finally made its Apple Watch an official product. This not only marks Apple's entry into the wearable device market, but also showcases smart watches as luxury items. Three models, two sizes, and a significant number of straps give the Apple Watch a wide variety, both in appearance and final price.
Although the Apple Watch wasn't the only thing Cupertino revealed during its latest keynote, nobody denies that the smart watch was the star of the entire presentation. Apple has been developing this product for a long time, but that doesn't change the fact that the company is entering highly complex territory. The first generation of smart watches has completely failed to capture consumers' interest, so we all eagerly awaited Apple's response to see if its magic could extend to wearable devices, or if the whole concept is doomed to collect rust in a corner.
Models and features
The Apple Watch world is divided into three parts: Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch standard, and the high-end Apple Watch Edition. The hardware is the same across all three variants, with an Apple S1 processor, inductive charging with a MagSafe connector, an estimated 18 hours of battery life, and a Retina display, which adds another subdivision: 38mm and 42mm.
True to its name, the Sport model has a more casual look with plastic straps. Its overall aesthetic is the one that most resembles what we can find on the iPhone 6 today. The Apple Watch conveys a much more pronounced 'corporate profile' feel, with soft and hard straps in metal and leather, and protection based on sapphire crystal. Finally, the Apple Watch Edition aims to whisper into the ears of the so-called 'one percent,' featuring designs in 18-karat gold (pink and traditional) and what promises to be very limited availability.
Pricing and availability
The Apple Watch Edition holds back nothing in appearance. In total, there are ten models for the Apple Watch Sport, twenty for the Apple Watch, and eight for the Watch Edition. Prices start at $349 for the 38mm Sport and go up to $399 for the 42mm version. The Apple Watch rises from $549 to $1,099, and the Watch Edition—are you sitting down?—starts at $10,000 and reaches a chilling $17,000. Pre-orders begin on April 10, and the first deliveries will take place on the 24th of that same month.
