Apple
Apple Watch Release, Price & Feature Breakdown
The new Apple Watch release date is far off, but Apple isn’t hiding their new watch under a blanket of secrecy any more. The Apple Watch, rumored as the iWatch for months, is a smartwatch that delivers some phone functions on your wrist.
Although Pebble, Samsung and other Android Wear devices already offer similar options and features, but Apple often enters a market after the competition to deliver a new way of doing things.
Shortly after announcing the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple CEO Tim Cook shared the details about the Apple Watch.
Here is a look at the important Apple Watch features that we know about, what iPhones you can use the Apple Watch with and what we know about the Apple Watch release date and price.
Here’s what you need to know about the Apple Watch release, features and design.
There are still details we need to know about the Apple Watch, but Apple did share answers to most of the common questions about a new product like how much does it cost and when can I buy it.
Here is a breakdown of the Apple Watch details that you’ll want to know while you wait for the Apple Watch release date to arrive.
Apple Watch Release Date
Apple announced the Apple Watch release date, but like many brand new products there is no specific date available. You can not buy the Apple Watch this holiday season or even this year.
We typically see Apple announce a new product and put it on sale a week or two later, but with the Apple Watch they need more time to get it ready without keeping it a secret.
It’s a good thing the Apple Watch release date is not on the same day as the iPhone 6 release next week, as reports show there is still a lot of work to do.
https://twitter.com/reckless/status/509447933591171074
Apple Q1 2015 ends in late January and Q2 in April, and with a timeframe of early 2015 it’s very likely that the Apple Watch release date arrives in the middle of these.
Apple Watch Models
The Apple Watch comes in three models a basic Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. All of these devices run the same software and many of the same features, but you get a different look for the device and some different finishes and covers.
In addition to the various models there are two sizes, with a 38mm case and a 42mm case option across the Apple Watch options.
This is the base Apple Watch.
With the basic Apple Watch you can choose from three leather bands, a link bracelet, Milanese loop and a high-performance fluoroelastomer. The watch body is made of Stainless steel and Sapphire Glass.
The Apple Watch Sport is designed for activity.
The Apple Watch Sport is made of aluminum, features an Ion-X glass cover and is up to 30% lighter than the basic Apple Watch. This is available in silver and space gray and there are five colors of fluoroelastomer bands.
The high-end Apple Watch Edition features 18-karat gold and leather.
For users that need an elegant watch, the Apple Watch Edition offers six options made of 18-karat gold with a Sapphire crystal watch face cover. The Apple Watch Edition includes high-end watch bands not found on the other Apple Watches.
Apple Watch Price
We know the Apple Watch price starts at $350, but there is no information on the specific prices for the higher end models. With aluminum and a lighter design the Apple Watch Sport price may not be much higher, but it’s hard to imagine an Apple Watch Edition Price below $400.
We don’t know the Apple Watch price, but you can count on premium pricing for the high-end Apple Watch Edition.
Apple Watch Design
From the start you pick the Apple Watch size you want, picking 38mm or 42mm depending on how big your wrist is. Depending on the model you want you can also pick between six finishes from stainless steel and aluminum to 18-karat gold.
You can choose an Apple Watch size for your wrist.
There is a digital crown and a push button on the side of the watch that you use to control the device in addition to the touch screen. Is the Apple Watch left hand friendly? You bet. You can remove the bands and flip the device to be worn on your right hand and accommodate lefties.
Left-handers: You can just turn Apple Watch upside down (and swap straps around) and it’ll just work.
— John Gruber (@gruber) September 10, 2014
In the video below Jony Ive explains the Apple Watch design and what went in to designing the new Apple Watch.
https://youtu.be/ktujsc4ZUTo
The Apple Watch is water-resistant so you can shower with it, use it in the rain, sweat on it and wash dishes, but you won’t want to go swimming with the device.
Apple Watch Features
The Apple Watch works with the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. It does not work with the iPad or with older iPhones.
There are many things you can do with the Apple Watch.
You can see the time and see it how you want to see it thanks to customizable watch faces. You can add options like stock quotes, calendar, weather information and more to the watch faces so that you get the information you want on your wrist.
Read: 5 Killer Apple Watch Apps
When you raise the watch to your face to look at the time the display turns on, allowing you to get better battery life by keeping the display off when not in use. Apple is not talking about the Apple Watch battery life, but you charge it with a magnetic adapter that snaps to the back.
Pick the Apple Watch face you want, including classics like Mickey.
You can use the watch to respond to messages using dictation, emoji and drawings. You can also share your heartbeat with someone if you choose to.
The Digital Crown lets you scroll through friends and recent contacts to make a call or send a message. Apple teased a Walkie Talkie mode, but didn’t expand on this Apple Watch feature.
You can also use Apple Pay with the Apple Watch, tapping it on a credit card reader to make a payment. You can also read email on the iPhone and hand it off to your iPhone when you need to reply. Oddly there is an option to tap a message to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them, like a wrist based Facebook Poke.
https://youtu.be/CPpMeRCG1WQ
The video above covers the new Apple Watch fitness tracking and health features. There are movement, exercise, standing and workout functions that can help you be more active.
