Apple is planning to launch its iWatch and iPhone 6 devices by 2015 and the end of 2014 respectively. The iWatch might cost $399 at retail if nothing changes in Apple's thinking. The pricing is not yet laid in stone, as the company is still contemplating the cost.
Come September 9, the Cupertino tech company is expected to highlight the iPhone 6 and the iWatch, but it is not certain if pricing will be made clear to media houses in attendance. Furthermore, bear in mind that iWatch might not be the name of the device, it could be called the iTime or something entirely different.
We also come to understand that Apple might launch several versions of the iWatch at different price points; some might even be sold for less than $400, putting them at the mid or lower end range of the spectrum.
If the price is indeed $399, then the Apple iWatch would turn out to be the most expensive smart watch on the market. The most expensive Android Wear smart watch right now is around $300, according to Recode. So now, we have to wonder what could Apple offer that is so tantalizing to force a $400 price-tag, or is it that consumers would be required to pay the Apple tax per usual.
When it comes down to how Apple might differentiate multiple iWatch devices from each other, we can't say for sure how this will be done. Chances are, Apple could remove certain features and tone down the specification from the lower end models.
Screen sizes could also be a big differentiator, but there is just not much one can do when it comes to shaving down screen size on a smart watch. It's easier to release several versions of a tablet, smartphone and laptop, but the same can't be said for smart watch devices.
With the coming launch of several Android Wear smart watches later in the year, IDC researchers are expecting the market to triple by the end of the year. Shipments could surpass 19 million in 2014, more so in 2015 as that is the year Apple is expected to drop the iWatch on store shelves.
We're quite interested to see what Apple has in store for consumers with its iWatch device. There's a high chance this little gadget could open the floodgates to the smart watch market in 2015, but it would all depend on how Apple executes its plans.
