Imagine having your entire phone (and more) on your wrist. Making and receiving phone calls, sending text messages, reading emails and Tweets and even checking your heart beat. All of these features are what makes the Apple Watch a brand new step in personal electronics.
By combining the simplicity of a wristwatch and incorporating the functionality of a cell phone, Apple has crafted what is said to be a revolution. I have been wearing an Apple Watch for one month and the most asked questions I get when someone sees the device are simply “Why did you buy that?” and “Why did you spend so much money on that?”
I’ll admit, I’ve never owned a watch before. I’ve never found the practicality of wearing one when I can simply pull out my iPhone and check the time. After one month, I can safely say my Apple Watch has changed the way I use my phone. I rarely ever check my iPhone for the time, along with emails, due to the fact that I can easily lift my wrist and read the exact same thing. Having the watch has allowed me to save small chunks of time.
Checking different apps that I use on a regular basis, such as Twitter and Instagram, is surprisingly better than I originally imagined before purchasing the device. Seeing photos on a small screen is not always the best option, but in this case, it’s the most convenient.
With the positives, there are always negatives as well. The Apple Watch itself doesn’t have the capability to connect to WiFi on its own, which makes having an iPhone a requirement when purchasing the watch. All apps, notifications, phone calls and text messages are received on the iPhone and transmitted to the watch via Bluetooth. By doing this, the iPhone will basically be doubling the amount of power that is used to open an individual app or receive a notification. This causes the iPhone’s battery to decrease faster.
Another downside to the watch is the price. Sure you are basically paying for an extra phone that fits onto your wrist, but the device is just a companion to the iPhone. When you pay between $350 and $17,000 (that is if you want an 18-karat gold model) you would hope to get a device that is able to work on its own without the use of an iPhone.
There are two sizes that you must consider when you are purchasing your watch, the 38 millimeter and the 42 millimeter models. These two sizes account for a $50 price difference when discussing the Apple Watch Sport. Due to the high price of the device, I opted for the 38 millimeter Sport model, the smallest and cheapest, due to the fact that the 42 millimeter model was too big for my wrist. By going with the smaller option I saved $50 and instead purchased AppleCare for two years, which will cover my watch in case of any accidents.
And if you wish to change the color of the watch band, Apple prices the accessory range from $49 for a sport band all the way to $449 for a stainless steel link bracelet. Obviously in the coming months there will be third-party bands for the watch that will be substantially cheaper, but for now the primary option is to buy them directly from Apple.
With the watch being a new product, few people have actually purchased the product. In the coming years, Apple will most likely release the second generation of the Apple Watch, which will most likely attract new users (the same has happened for the second generation iPad and iPhone). Once it becomes shown as a necessity rather than a cool new gadget, the market for smartwatches will increase dramatically.
Apple has truly created a device that virtually everyone uses and added its own modern twist, by incorporating everything you love about your iPhone onto your wrist.