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Apple Watch release date and price
Apple Watch is at long last coming in April - you can set your friend's inferior Android Wear watch to it - and we know all about what's literally been hiding up CEO Tim Cook's sleeve.
It's a sapphire-coated smartwatch officially dubbed Apple Watch, shedding the fabled iWatch moniker as the company focuses on its first chic wearable over geeky tech (cue: Google Glass).
With the new April release date announced and Apple employees reportedly already wearing it, it's also shedding that vague "early 2015" launch window in favor of a month with 30 days on the calendar.
Matching Apple's drive for style, this iPhone-compatible watch sports a premium rectangular design with rounded-off corners, though isn't a circular smartwatch like its fashionable rival Moto 360.
Of course, behind that pretty watch face, it's still a powerful gadget and works seamlessly with iOS 8 devices including the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
- Hands on: Apple Watch review
Here's everything we know.
What is it? An iOS 8-friendly watch that plays nice with your iPhone
When is it out? April, as little as two months away
What will it cost? Starts at $349 (likely north of £223, AU$403)
Apple Watch release date
Saying something like "Hey, Siri, set a reminder for the 'Apple Watch launch' for three months from now" is going to be a whole lot easier with simple a flick of the wrist less than 60 to 90 days.
April is when the Cupertino firm will release its smartwatch to the masses, winding back the digital crown on rumors that suggested March for the official Apple Watch date.
- All 34 Apple Watch designs: Every band, case and face so far
That's still right on track with the vague "early 2015" launch window Apple had previously stated and the "spring 2015" that was leaked from an internal alleged internal memo last year.
Although this Apple Watch release date news is so fresh that not even Apple's website is updated with the information, believe us, we've already blocked off the entire month to wait in line. It's happening.
Price
We're no longer asking "when will Apple Watch come out?" Instead, we're focused on "how much will the Apple Watch cost?" There's really no precedent for a truly premium smartwatch price just yet.
The answer: More than we were hoping to pay, even though its specs may be on par with Android Wear.
That notorious Apple tax pushes the pricetag to $349 given components involved. That's £223 in the UK and AU$403 in Australia, but expect those prices to be even higher, above the straight dollar conversion.
It's true that Apple has recruited high-profile people throughout the watch and biometrics industries who have wound up on its Apple Watch team. That talent comes at a price.
Then there's a hidden cost. While a subsidized iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are cheaper upfront in the US, stores make up the difference with contract kickbacks. Not so with a smartwatch. Stores need a cut too.
For the sake of comparison, Android Wear's cheaper initial watches included the Samsung Gear Live at $200 (£170, AU$250) and LG G Watch at $230 (£160, AU$250) at launch.
But Apple's biggest and most stylish competition is from Motorola and its Moto 360 that's priced at $249 (£199, likely AU$275 given its rivals' prices).
Apple is aiming for luxury given the sapphire glass-protected display, an imposing digital crown, two sizes and even the 18k gold colored edition. Expect prices for that version to climb even higher.
Apple Watch won't be an impulse buy for most consumers. That's why we'll continue to update this page to see whether or not the iPhone-compatible smartwatch is a fit for you. Stay tuned.
What does Apple Watch do?
Apple's first wearable gadget beams messages, Facebook updates and simplified apps to our wrists, eliminating the all-too-common need to take out our devices to constantly check notifications.
There are more than a dozen ways to interact with the watch, from receiving glanceable notifications, to feeling "taptic" feedback, to summoning Siri, according to the developer WatchKit software.
It's going to become especially convenient to pocket the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and even bigger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus in your jeans, or to always stow the thin, but still 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 in a bag.
Is that phone call from a telemarketer not worth your time or an emergency from a loved one? Apple Watch makes mundane notifications easy to dismiss while keeping you in the loop with important alerts.
Other apps seen in the Apple Watch video include iMessages, Health, Calendar, Weather, Mail, Photos, Camera's shutter button, Passbook that now includes Apple Pay and even Apple Maps for navigation.
The number of apps coming is increasing all the time, even before the launch of the watch, and users can even try out the functionality of the wrist-dweller before deciding to go out and buy one.
We've rounded up the best Apple Watch apps to help you decide whether you'll want one at launch. Many will be extensions of built-in iPhone apps, but there will also be new ones.
Use the watch as a flashlight (by making the screen go white), track your pizza delivery or even browse Instagram without getting the phone out of your pocket - certainly a hassle of some more than others.
All of these Apple Watch apps and settings can be organized within a single iPhone companion app for the smartwatch, according to newly leaked iOS 8.2 beta details.
Developers are now readying more Apple Watch apps thanks to the WatchKit SDK launch. They're being given a headstart with the software and it could bring a whole new section to the iTunes App Store.
The smartwatch also takes cues from the Nike FuelBand SE and other fitness trackers with health sensors and nutrition apps, a must for any serious wearable gadget these days.
Sure there are fitness apps on your smartphone, but you're not always carrying your iPhone while tracking your steps and activity. The Apple Watch is better suited for your everyday workout, going a pedometer step further with a custom heart rate monitor that can compete with some of the best running tech around.
Apple Watch design, buttons and straps
Apple Watch design
The final Apple Watch design isn't too far from the made-up renders that we saw ahead of the official announcement. It draws inspiration from iPod Nano with a rectangular-shaped screen plus one knob and a single button.
The Apple Watch is more than "iPod Nano meets the iPhone," though. The smartwatch display comes in two sizes measured by height: 38mm (1.5in) and 42mm (1.65in). Both are slightly smaller than the entire Pebble Steel watch height, which measures 46mm (1.8in).
We also now know the resolution of each screen. The 38mm Apple Watch will have a resolution of 272 x 340, while a 42mm version will have a 312 x 390 display.
Apple has only revealed the height of its new smartwatch screen, so we can't properly calculate the pixels per inch, and anyone who does is just guessing. But it'll likely rival the 300ppi of the Samsung Gear S.
The Apple Watch's screen is surrounded by casing made of custom of stainless steel, aluminum, or gold that, according to the company, stand up to the physical demands of daily wear.
Beyond the "Apple Watch" and "Apple Watch Sport" versions, a special "Apple Watch Edition" mixes in 18-karat yellow or rose gold for a premium look. It certainly goes well with that gold iPhone 6.
That brings the metal colors to six: stainless steel, silver aluminum, space black stainless steel, space gray aluminum, 18-karat yellow gold and 18-karat rose gold.
A total of 34 Apple Watch design choices is going to complicate the lives of early adopters on launch day. But the official prices are likely to help narrow that decision come April.
Apple Watch digital crown
The Apple Watch doesn't have a round display like the Moto 360, but the casing does feature a circular knob known as the "digital crown."
This input is unique among smartwatches, but a true classic derived from traditional watches. Apple has of course put a modern-day twist on its functionality.
The Apple Watch digital crown replaces the pinch-to-zoom touchscreen mechanic used on everything from iPhones to MacBooks, which is too impractical on such a small display, according to Apple.
Rotating it allows you to zoom into your app selection, your location on Apple Maps and a photo from a gallery. Scrolling through dates and stopwatch times is handled by this knob too.
The digital crown also acts as the Apple Watch home button. There's no Touch ID sensor here, but Apple Watch is smartly tied to your wristwatch with an anti-theft passcode required whenever it's taken off.
Apple Watch conversation button
The button below the digital crown allows you to start a conversation with friends. Pushing it brings up a their contact info photos and zooming into a specific person with the digital crown gets things started.
Beyond calling and messaging Apple Watch wearing friends, you can get their attention with a gentle tap. It vibrates the "taptic" feedback on their smartwatch.
What's intriguing about this taptic feedback system is that it's said to be more precise and subtle than a vibration everyone can hear. Want to ditch a party? Your friends' secret sign may be three taps on the Apple Watch before bailing. It's an interesting way to get someone's attention.
The Apple Watch goes all Drawesome on us with a bizarre sketch function for light messaging on the wrist. Snapchat became big, why not Swipechat? You can also share your heartbeat with someone in real time, though we're not sure why you would want to.
Apple Watch bands
The variety of Apple Watch bands played better than U2 at the press conference, giving consumers a way to personalize their smartwatch.
Standard straps include Leather Loop that conceals magnets for easy fastening, the leather Modern Buckle and the leather Classic Buckle. There's also a gym-friendly elastomer Sport Band.
Higher-end metal straps include the Milanese Loop with flexible magnetic stainless steel mesh and the stainless steel Link Bracelet.
The ability to swap the straps without having to use tooling or visit or jeweler is one of our favorite features in the Apple Watch vs Moto 360 comparison.
Watch faces, battery and the competition
Apple Watch faces
Apple is promising customizable watch faces with "millions of different appearances." It brings everything to its timepieces, from time lapse backgrounds to classic Mickey Mouse arms as dials.
However, just to be clear, the smartwatch comes with a base of 11 watch faces, according to the official Apple Watch press release. Most allow you to change the colors, design elements and add functionality.
The Apple Watch face gallery shows off an Astronomy design with an interactive, real-time 3D model of the earth, moon and planets. Likewise, the Solar acts as a contemporary sundial.
If you want a moving background, there's the Motion watch face, or a still image, there's the Photo face. Utility, Chronograph, Color, Modular and Simple exhibit more contemporary designs.
Apple Watch has a number of competitors that run on Android Wear, and since their upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop, you can now download a large range of watch faces there already.
Google seeded Watch Face API to developers and a number of striking designs are already available to download. We're guessing that Google will be a bit more relaxed about custom watch faces vs Apple.
This could mean that we'll see the usual quality versus quantity debate when it comes to comparing watch faces on Apple Watch and Android Wear devices.
By the time the Apple Watch launches in April, there will be a variety of faces already available for Android Wear, so Apple might have a fight on its hands when it comes to watch face customization.
Apple Watch battery life
Tim Cook didn't go into great detail about the Apple Watch battery life, but he did hint that the smartwatch is designed to be "worn all day" and is "simple to charge at night."
"We think people are going to use it so much you will wind up charging it daily," Cook later reiterated at a conference in late October.
That had led us to believe that the Apple Watch battery life will be approximately one day, sort of like the Moto 360, LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live we've reviewed.
An Apple spokesperson backs up our theory, more or less confirming that the smartwatch requires a daily charge. The person also reportedly said Apple is working on modifications to eek out more battery life.
Of course, more recent Android Wear watches like the ASUS ZenWatch, Sony SmartWatch 3 and LG G Watch R actually push a day and a half, partly thanks to the Android Wear software update.
Disturbing reports about Apple Watch having as little as 2.5 hours of battery life have also surfaced, but those are just unfounded rumors and seem overblown. A lot of it depends on use time and battery size.
Previously, when it was known as the Apple iWatch, it was rumored to have a 400mAh battery, but Cook is saving that announcement for a later date or when we finally test it out in April.
He did, however, call attention to the unique recharging method. The Apple Watch's back crystal houses a magnetic inductive wireless charging solution similar to the MagSafe design.
Again, it looks as if Apple bucks another trend - this time it's the popular Qi wireless charging method - in favor of its own standard.
Compatibility
Apple Watch compatibility follows the company's strict iPhone 5 or later policy that's reflective of its recent Apple CarPlay initiative. It's lightning or nothing.
Even though the battery-saving Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy technology made its debut in the iPhone 4S, it's time for an upgrade. It may also be time to find space to step up to iOS 8.
Just don't expect any Android phone, new or old, to work with the Apple Watch. Android Wear can't connect to Apple's devices, and we don't expect Apple to return the favor.
The competition
We plan to strap the Apple Watch to our non-dominant wrist, but its got a lot of competition to stay buckled in due to all of the Android Wear and Samsung smartwatches.
In fact, by April, there may be even more Apple Watch competitors at Mobile World Congress. MWC 2015 is where the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9 are expected to launch.
Both smartphones may bring about companion smartwatches with HTC tipped to enter the foray with its own wearable and Samsung always eager to add another dozen watches to its collection.
LG G Watch R
The LG G Watch R is one such competitor which could give Apple a run for its money. Unlike the Apple Watch (and many other smartwatches) the LG G Watch R comes with an attractive round face that gives it a classy, traditional look.
The screen also looks gorgeous thanks to the P-OLED technology, and on the back of the watch is a heart rate monitor for health apps.
Unlike the Apple Watch the LG G Watch R only comes in one size so if you're not a fan of the design then there's little you can do about it.
At $299 (£220, AU$280), the LG G Watch R is one of the more expensive smartwatches on the market, and is around Apple Watch price. By April, however, LG may give it a price cut.
Moto 360
The Moto 360 is another stylish smartwatch with a circular design, and it's one of the best wearables on the market today. Although the LCD screen won't be quite as accomplished as the Apple Watch's display, we feel the round design gives the Moto 360 the edge in the looks department.
It's also around $100 cheaper than the lowest priced Apple Watch will be, and again there's a good chance that it will get even cheaper by the time the Apple Watch makes it way into the world.
The Apple Watch beats the Moto 360 in customization options with the large variety of bands that will be available. Both the Apple Watch and the Moto 360 also allow you to change the style of the watch face, with the recent update to Android 5.0 Lollipop allowing a huge range of new designs to be available to Moto 360.
- Check out who won when we pitted the Apple Watch vs Moto 360
TechRadar is going to keep updating this feature explainer leading up to the release date and cost reveal that goes beyond the vague April and "starting at" $349 (£223, AU$403) price.
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