The High Price of an Apple Watch
We have a date, people.
Finally, after months of teases and speculation, Apple’s entry into the smartwatch market is finished and ready for sale. Following its debut late last year, Apple have kept quiet on most of the details, but at a press conference today, the company finally spilled the beans on the most important details of its “most personal product ever.”
Let’s get the important facts out of the way: this isn’t going to be cheap. No one thought it would be, but Apple has finally talked money — and we’re looking at fashion watch prices, not smartwatch prices (which have hovered around the $200-$300 mark).
The base Apple Watch Sport starts at $349 for the smaller, 38mm model, while the bigger, 42mm watch will cost $399. It’s made from anodized aluminum, which has been blended into an alloy that’s 60 percent stronger than similar alloys, and coated to help prevent scratches to the metal. It’ll come with a variety of colorful, rubber bands, befitting of its sporty status.
The Apple Watch collection, as CEO Tim Cook described them, will start at $549 for a 38mm device, stretching to $599 for the 42mm model. Available in silver or space black, its metal has been subjected to alloying and processing to make it up to 80 percent harder and less likely to pick up cosmetic damage with daily use.
Apple is selling a variety of bands, including leather, metal links, and Milanese loop. Adding on some of the more intricate bands, however, will vastly inflate the price. Want the full-size, 42mm watch with the most expensive band? You’ll be looking at a sticker price of $1,099. And if that shocked you, perhaps have a stiff drink before hitting the next paragraph.
Perhaps the most talked about version, the Apple Watch Edition finally has a price. It was never going to be anything less than “if you have to ask, you can’t really afford,” but exactly how much will Apple be demanding? If you’d like to wrap the 18-karat gold watch around your wrist, it’ll cost $10,000. Yes, you read that correctly. The Watch Edition will be limited availability and only sold in select retail stores.
Preorders for the Apple Watch start April 10. Apple stores will carry the watches in unique display tables, with customers permitted to try on watches with the help of employees. Actual units will start shipping on April 24, with availability limited to nine countries for now.
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