An introduction to the Apple Watch
There are only a few days to go until Apple’s new wearable gadget, the Apple Watch becomes available for pre-order on the 10th April.
The Apple Watch will have three editions, varying in materials and luxury: the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition.
The entry-level watch and probably the biggest seller, Apple Watch Sport has an anodized aluminium case (which is lighter than stainless steel), with a display protected by Ion-X glass. It’s the lightest member of the Apple Watch family, which should make it a perfect exercise partner. Prices start at £299 for the Apple Watch Sport with Sport Band.
Next up is the Apple Watch; made of stainless steel with a sapphire crystal touch screen which is more scratch-resistant than the current iPhone 6. The Apple Watch comes in a shiny chrome or a space black finish. Prices range between £479 and £949 depending on whether you buy the 38mm or 42mm case and which band you choose.
Finally we get to the Apple Watch Edition. Starting at £8,000 with a casing made from a special 18-carat yellow or rose gold alloy that is between two and four times harder than typical gold. The Apple Watch Edition comes in a luxurious leather box that doubles as a charging cradle. It's one of the most expensive products Apple has ever produced and the brand's first attempt at creating a real luxury item.
Whether you choose the most basic Apple Watch Sport or splash out on the eye-wateringly expensive Watch Edition, you will be getting exactly the same electronics and features. The watch has a limited collection of sensors: a gyroscope, accelerometer and a sensor on the back of the case that uses visible-light and infrared LEDs along with photodiodes, to determine your heart rate. The Apple Watch can also talk to your iPhone’s GPS and Wi-Fi to help with figuring out location and other information.
You will be able to make and receive phone calls, as well as transfer calls to your iPhone or a Bluetooth device. The Apple Watch will be water resistant, but not waterproof. Battery life has been a tricky issue for Apple developers they say the watch will have all-day battery life, which means up to 18 hours of use.
It will certainly be interesting to see if Apple can once again make a massive success by reinventing a product that has been around for some time. Smartwatches have been available for a couple of years now and have enjoyed limited success. However, with Apple now entering the fray it’s very possible one day the smartwatch will replace your smartphone.
For more information about Apple Watch Insurance click here.