Mac Rumors: Apple Watch to cost $4,000 in Gold, $500 base

[Bateluer]

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/04/apple-watch-steel-500/

French Apple website iGen.fr is reporting [Google Translate] that pricing for the stainless steel Apple Watch may start at $500, while the gold Apple Watches' pricing could start between $4,000 and $5,000. iGen.fr has been reliable in the past, most recently reporting the dimensions of both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

While Apple had announced that the Apple Watch would start at $350, which was widely assumed to be the price of the aluminum model, and estimates pegged the price of the gold Apple Watch at prices as low as $1,000 or as high as $5,000, there has been little information regarding the pricing of the stainless steel option.

The site's sources also indicate that Apple still aims to release the Apple Watch by Valentine's Day 2015, which somewhat echoes an earlier report that said the company would be "lucky" to release the device by that timeframe. iGen.fr also mentions that manufacturers and resellers are preparing as if the Watch would release in mid-February 2015. Previously, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores Angela Ahrendts said the Watch would release in Spring 2015.

I really hope those 4-5K figures were just pulled out of the proverbial buttocks. Not even Apple has enough of a cult following to convince people to spend more on a glorified notification device than they could on a used car.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Maybe it'll be $500 in France (where this story seems to be coming from). But I think that $350 US price Apple mentioned already seems over priced.

Don't think Apple will be selling a actual gold Apple Watch for $4000+. There might be a third party company customizing an Apple Watch with gold platting or band or something for $4000 though.

I still really haven't seen a smart watch I'd spend money on yet.

 

[Zaap]

Don't think Apple will be selling a actual gold Apple Watch for $4000+. There might be a third party company customizing an Apple Watch with gold platting or band or something for $4000 though.

Yeah, that's third party gold-plated nonsense for knucklehead oil sheiks and such. There's a market for pretty much anything gold-plated for idiots with more money than sense. If Apple really started catering directly to that tacky crowd I think it would be the start of a death-spiral.

 

[luv2liv]

for $4000, i rather get a real watch, a Rolex!
but thats just me.

 

[Brian Stirling]

for $4000, i rather get a real watch, a Rolex!
but thats just me.

I have no interest in a Rolex or any other watch that feels like an anvil on your wrist. Then again, I have no interest in the iWatch either...


Brian

 

[PowerYoga]

I still don't get why people want one of those watches. Do you really need another electronic device strapped around your wrist telling you when your meetings are and who is tweeting@you outside of the one that's already in your pocket?

 

[Red Storm]

I still don't get why people want one of those watches. Do you really need another electronic device strapped around your wrist telling you when your meetings are and who is tweeting@you outside of the one that's already in your pocket?

Don't knock it till you've tried it. I really miss the Moto 360 even though I only had it for two days. It was great, Google Now and voice commands on my wrist and the ease with which notifications were handled decreased the amount of the time I spent on my phone, which also ended up extending my phone's battery life to boot.

 

[PowerYoga]

Well, what do you really use it for? Not trying to be a wiseass, the only thing I can think of outside of time + notifications is using it as a sports tracker and GPS locator. What are you doing with the voice commands, for example? And is there really enough real estate on the watch for you to look at google now? (for example, tracking deliveries, traffic, your boarding pass etc)

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, what do you really use it for? Not trying to be a wiseass, the only thing I can think of outside of time + notifications is using it as a sports tracker and GPS locator. What are you doing with the voice commands, for example? And is there really enough real estate on the watch for you to look at google now? (for example, tracking deliveries, traffic, your boarding pass etc)

Google now works in your notification bar on the phone and that is about as much space as the face of a watch. It can also do turn by turn navigation without taking your phone out of your pocket and turning on the screen. I find it very useful and want one myself but I'm waiting for a more mature version of the watches.

 

[Red Storm]

Well, what do you really use it for? Not trying to be a wiseass, the only thing I can think of outside of time + notifications is using it as a sports tracker and GPS locator. What are you doing with the voice commands, for example? And is there really enough real estate on the watch for you to look at google now? (for example, tracking deliveries, traffic, your boarding pass etc)

Among other things, checking the usual sports scores, searching for places, sending texts and emails, screening calls from my wrist (very useful while driving).

 

[shabby]

for $4000, i rather get a real watch, a Rolex!
but thats just me.

No kidding, the iwatch will lose its value quickly unlike a rolex. Who in their right mind would buy a 4k smartwatch that is obsolete after 6-12 months?

 

[Red Storm]

No kidding, the iwatch will lose its value quickly unlike a rolex. Who in their right mind would buy a 4k smartwatch that is obsolete after 6-12 months?

The same people who buy watches for $4k. They don't care about the tech like we do, it's the fashion aspect.

 

[poofyhairguy]

very useful while driving).

I am going to buy a Android Wear watch this week and that will be the big reason I do it.

 

[Lyfer]

Imagine the pros tho, not having to look on your iPhone to check time!

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I have no interest in a Rolex or any other watch that feels like an anvil on your wrist. Then again, I have no interest in the iWatch either...


Brian

You have weak arms or something? Rolexes are normal size watches vs. something like a Diesel.

 

[shabby]

The same people who buy watches for $4k. They don't care about the tech like we do, it's the fashion aspect.

But fashion and tech don't mix, the iwatch will be fashionably outdated quickly(it also looks like a joke), a rolex or ap will not.

 

[WelshBloke]

I am going to buy a Android Wear watch this week and that will be the big reason I do it.

I just mount my phone on the dashboard.

 

[zerocool84]

The same people who buy watches for $4k. They don't care about the tech like we do, it's the fashion aspect.

No its totally different, tech products depreciate quickly, a watch like a Rolex doesn't. A Rolex is a fashion statement, an iWatch is ugly and would never be considered beautiful.

 

[master_shake_]

4 grand...

nope.

gj apple how are the hipsters who crave your tech going to scrape together that kind of coin?

how are they going to be original without their apple watch?

apple has forgot it's roots.

 

[OS]

I had galaxy gear briefly and to me it's just a glorified notification bar on your wrist. It also had to be paired with a phone. I didn't find it all that useful or compelling.

I don't think techies that compare the iwatch to rolexes really understand that a nice mechanical watch can last decades and can be passed on as heirlooms.
Mechanical timekeeping is arguably thousands of years old.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism

That the iwatch has to be paired with an iphone by definition means it won't have staying power. Apple hasn't even said if the battery is serviceable yet and everyone knows they wear out.

 

[Commodus]

Keep in mind that this same site also claims that Apple wants to release its watch by Valentine's Day, which has basically been ruled out by Senior VP Angela Ahrendts (she pegged the release for "spring," which means March or later).

As it stands, I think people forget what Apple's aiming at. It's not competing with other smartwatches... it's competing with watches, period. That means materials that you don't normally see in smartwatches, like polished stainless steel, rose gold and Milanese loops. If you want something more upscale than the Moto 360 or G Watch R (as solid as they are), it's going to carry a premium.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Google now works in your notification bar on the phone and that is about as much space as the face of a watch. It can also do turn by turn navigation without taking your phone out of your pocket and turning on the screen. I find it very useful and want one myself but I'm waiting for a more mature version of the watches.

I will be honest and say that its not THAT impressive. I have a Moto 360 and a LG G Watch.

Notifications on my watch? I guess so. But in this world where we keep talking about disconnecting and not being absorbed in our devices, this doesn't really help.

Ok, so navigation? I tried that. "Navigate to Starbucks" shows me 3 results that aren't even useful. I can't differentiate between the addresses because all it shows is "Starbucks + street #" I can't figure which street it is, and which Starbucks it is. For the one where it can show me the street, even that's meaningless when there's like 6 Starbucks on Market Street in San Francisco that I know off the top of my head within a mile stretch. But yeah, if you can figure out where you're going with a street address, its marginally useful. But I know how to get around my city for the most part anyway. If I'm driving its likely I'll be using the phone anyway because its a bigger display.

I think its nice to have but not a must.

Well, what do you really use it for? Not trying to be a wiseass, the only thing I can think of outside of time + notifications is using it as a sports tracker and GPS locator. What are you doing with the voice commands, for example? And is there really enough real estate on the watch for you to look at google now? (for example, tracking deliveries, traffic, your boarding pass etc)

I think the GPS tracking would be useful for running, but the 360 doesn't have that. As for voice commands, its not that useful. I'm not gonna use it at work or with my friends or look like an idiot in public. It's like how we used to bash Siri on being overrated. Yeah, its good when I'm in the car and need hands free, but its not going to be my go-to use method of a phone. Nor is voice dictation.

I would hope Google adds some more features like quick canned responses for texts or Hangouts messages, or even an overall easier navigation. Even setting an alarm without voice navigation is a pain in the ass currently.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/04/apple-watch-steel-500/



I really hope those 4-5K figures were just pulled out of the proverbial buttocks. Not even Apple has enough of a cult following to convince people to spend more on a glorified notification device than they could on a used car.

I like how you post these articles and then pretend to take a stab at how this might be fake and then throw in a jab at Apple fans. Seriously? Is this news at all? Do you really believe this?

Maybe it'll be $500 in France (where this story seems to be coming from). But I think that $350 US price Apple mentioned already seems over priced.

Don't think Apple will be selling a actual gold Apple Watch for $4000+. There might be a third party company customizing an Apple Watch with gold platting or band or something for $4000 though.

I still really haven't seen a smart watch I'd spend money on yet.

Sounds more realistic, but clearly OP wasn't interested in doing that thinking himself.

 

[Red Storm]

I will be honest and say that its not THAT impressive. I have a Moto 360 and a LG G Watch.

Notifications on my watch? I guess so. But in this world where we keep talking about disconnecting and not being absorbed in our devices, this doesn't really help.

Gonna have to disagree. When I had the Moto 360 I ended up spending less time on my phone because I could quickly screen and dismiss notifications from my wrist. This also ended up extending my phone's battery life because the screen on time decreased as well thanks to the watch.