What makes you think Apple won't make it as a peripheral device to the iPhone? Do you have some secret insider information that leads you to this? Apple could choose to release any bad device when they chose to, but that is very unlike them. Apple generally either completely makes a new market, or enters a market when it is more mature, but not in it's middle stages. This gives them enough time to see what works and what doesn't, and based on most smart watches they are a accessory device to a phone. If you wanted a device that just told time, get a watch, but most wanted information (things wanted on the go) will require an internet connection and unless these are getting a SIM card slot, a LTE chip, a 802.11 ac wifi chip, and a number of other things it won't be a standalone device.