Mascots
macrumors 68000
Hey now! Just because I upgrade my phone every year doesn't mean that I think it is disposable technology!
Evidence that Apple Watch might be upgradeable
- Thread starter k3ith
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Hey now! Just because I upgrade my phone every year doesn't mean that I think it is disposable technology!
Piggie
macrumors G3
Indeed, if you look after your watch and after a year or two it's still in immaculate or as new condition then you may indeed be happy with just the internals being changed.
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I know it's silly talk, just Apple fans getting carried away with themselves
Can you imagine Apple having so little imagination that, 2 or more years on the watch looks exactly the same.
And we all know, if there was an option to have "Old Fatty" upgraded, or actually own the full brand new one is the nicer case, they'd all want to be seen with the new one
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Good quality watches with 18K Gold or Stainless Steel cases and sapphire crystals are very durable and hard wearing and will last for years as long as long as they are not abused. The aluminium SportWatch probably won't be so durable but I would doubt that upgrades would be offered for that model.
Here's one of my watches I bought new 18 years ago. It's been worn regularly and hasn't been wrapped in cotton wool but is totally unmarked and would look like new with a replacement strap.
[url=http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a554/OllyW64/Photo09-01-2015145653_zpsd49aba32.jpg]Image[/URL]
Well gold is way softer than stainless steel
Nice watch BTW.
Wonder how many will be showing off the Apple watch in 18 years
And indeed, it all depends on the person.
I look after things amazingly well.
Others will do more damage to say their iPhone or iPad after one day than I would do after 5 years.
Some women just chuck them in their handbags, damaged after one mornings ownership.
Not everyone cares.
Apple have demonstrated with the Mac pro and iMac 27" that when spending a lot of money people expect some level of upgradability. But the main things the first gen apple watch is probably lacking - gps, waterproof to submersion and a backup renewable energy source (solar, fuel cell or whatever) - are not really upgradable by a system chip. The ability to replace the S1 is probably to make it easier for a jeweller to repair/refurb the watch and not so much to do with "upgradability". Also as pointed out previously - the iPhone does all the graphical processing for the watch.
Cashmonee
macrumors 65832
If it is upgradeable, they would say so at the announcement. It would be a selling point, and you don't announce a selling point after you have stopped selling the item.
matrix07
macrumors G3
Good points. One thing worth mentioning though is the rumour of upgradable watch wasn't generated by deluded Apple fans here but started from John Gruber, a guy who knows about Apple culture as good as anyone you could claim.
I don't hold my hope up though. I prefer to be pessimistic in this kind of situation.
FischerBlack
macrumors newbie
I think it is a mistake to compare the watch with the iPhone. Apple want you to think about the aWatch like a fine swiss timepiece (with more functions) rather than quickly aging computing device like the iPhone. They put so much emphasis on the timepiece aspect that I dont think they can ignore the fact that a "jewlelry" watch is espected to last for decades.
If its upgradeble I think people would rather have their watch upgraded than get a new one since they will be attached to it like people get attached to jewelry, which is not the case with phones.
Julien
macrumors G4
And obviously has some high up inside sources. His info has been so good some have 'accused' him of being an 'official' rumor spreader.
Piggie
macrumors G3
So, do you then think Apple will not be changing the look/style of the watch for some time then?
They will keep the same case for the foreseeable future, so new models and old upgraded models will look identical ?
maflynn
macrumors Haswell
Its so out of character for apple, I'll have to wait and see, otherwise my opinion is that its going to be like every other apple product - not upgradeable.
FischerBlack
macrumors newbie
Since it doesnt have the same incentive to get thinner and lighter like the phone it could have the same design for decades. If the design change however it could make the old model MORE attractive since it cant be bought anymore while its internals are on par with the newer design model since it can be internally upgraded.
Many 20 year old watches today doesnt look outdated, so why would the aWatch look outdated in 20 years from now?
Knowimagination
macrumors 68020
If it is the S1 chipset that makes it upgradeable I don't see why apple couldn't change the design around as long as it was still built around the same chipset.
Rogifan
macrumors Penryn
One could argue lots of things about this product are out of character for Apple. All the choices out of the gate for instance. Let's not forget too that Apple's most expensive Macs are the most upgradable. So maybe there's no upgrade or trade in path for the sport watch but I bet Apple will do something with the more expensive models.
dacreativeguy
macrumors 68020
Have any of you seen this? - http://loumiranda.com/2015/01/10/is-the-apple-watch-s1-chip-replaceable/
It is actually pretty suspect the way everything lines up... and yes this would really put Apple Watch far ahead of any of the competition. Why buy a Moto 360 once that you'll eventually have to upgrade when you can but an Apple Watch and only upgrade it's internals at a fraction of the price.
I think Fitbit, Android Wear, and Jawbone would have a lot more to worry about if this was true.
Makes a lot of sense for the high end gold models. If those cost $Thousands, people will be very leary of buying something that will be obsolete in a year or two. Rolexes last a lifetime. But someone who pays $5000 for a watch wouldn't blink at spending a few hundred to upgrade it every few years.
The sport is nearly guaranteed to not be upgradeable. Think of it as your iPhone/ipad 16GB model, priced low enough to get people in the door.
goobot
macrumors 604
Why would anyone upgrade the sport for 300$ when u can get a brand new one for 350$
RodDavies
macrumors regular
I have no problem believing that Apple Watch will not be upgradeable. Apple is the world's leading marketing company, well known for extracting lots of cash from their fiercely loyal customers.
Built like appliances, most new Apple products are cleverly designed with a built-in, yet secret obsolescence plan. Apple's no dummy, even if by some remote chance they're somewhat upgradeable, very few customers will care.
Not everyone is obsessed with having the latest up to minute software. Even if it added additional features Apple's mainstream buyers just dont care.
Mr. Buzzcut
macrumors 65816
Don't you think if one is upgradeable then all are? It's the same internals with different case and band options.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the Edition won't be as much as people believe. 10 - 15x the cost of the base model just for a fancy case? Doubtful.
We will know soon enough!
Julien
macrumors G4
Exactly, this way the Sport is considered as replaceable and only the SS and Editions will be upgraded.
kdarling
macrumors P6
It could also fit Apple's history of selling refurbished devices, where the same electronics is fitted into a new unscratched case with a new battery.
Tanegashima
macrumors 6502
All prices are all rumored, except the base price that's at 349.
The gold model is rumored to be expensive because it's rumored made of 18K gold, and not even just gold plated steel.
What do you want? Gold for free?
Julien
macrumors G4
Piggie
macrumors G3
Indeed, Apple have said 18ct Yellow and Rose gold options.
The only thing we have no idea on is the wall thickness of the case (or shell) of the watch.
I have speculated, due to scale, and needing as much internal space as possible for the Electronics, Screen, Battery, Sensors etc, that a wall thickness of 1mm would not be unrealistic.
1mm does not sound a lot I know, but at the scale of the entire device, it does not visually look bad.
If it was to be 1mm wall thickness, and we just don't know until one is stripped down and measured/weighed.
Then we are (with a little bit of educated guessing in internal areas) looking at approx. $1200 in material value of the actual gold case.
As the internals are the same as the $349 watch, then lets say we add $200 for just the internals.
And, just for the hell of it, let's add on another $100 for the ceramic and sapphire front and backs (though given their size, they won't be THAT more expensive than the sports model) but we'll round it to $100 anyway.
That would (and it's an educated guess I know) place the Gold edition models at $1500 plus the cost of whatever strap you wish to select.
How much more than this figure they cost to the customer, is going to depend on how much "Fashion Profit / Mark-up" Apple wish to place on them to elevate them to a position where they are SEEN to be expensive and unattainable to the mass public, and something to look up to, or feel special about if you do own one (show off with basically)
Given the numbers I have shown here, I struggle with the $3000 to $5000 speculation, unless the gold case is MUCH thicker than my guestimated 1mm wall thickness.
If anyone thinks 1mm is crazy thin I can supply cross sections showing how that would look like to scale.
The only thing we have no idea on is the wall thickness of the case (or shell) of the watch.
I have speculated, due to scale, and needing as much internal space as possible for the Electronics, Screen, Battery, Sensors etc, that a wall thickness of 1mm would not be unrealistic.
1mm does not sound a lot I know, but at the scale of the entire device, it does not visually look bad.
If it was to be 1mm wall thickness, and we just don't know until one is stripped down and measured/weighed.
Then we are (with a little bit of educated guessing in internal areas) looking at approx. $1200 in material value of the actual gold case.
As the internals are the same as the $349 watch, then lets say we add $200 for just the internals.
And, just for the hell of it, let's add on another $100 for the ceramic and sapphire front and backs (though given their size, they won't be THAT more expensive than the sports model) but we'll round it to $100 anyway.
That would (and it's an educated guess I know) place the Gold edition models at $1500 plus the cost of whatever strap you wish to select.
How much more than this figure they cost to the customer, is going to depend on how much "Fashion Profit / Mark-up" Apple wish to place on them to elevate them to a position where they are SEEN to be expensive and unattainable to the mass public, and something to look up to, or feel special about if you do own one (show off with basically)
Given the numbers I have shown here, I struggle with the $3000 to $5000 speculation, unless the gold case is MUCH thicker than my guestimated 1mm wall thickness.
If anyone thinks 1mm is crazy thin I can supply cross sections showing how that would look like to scale.
Mr. Buzzcut
macrumors 65816
Of course not but the price rumors are everywhere with no discussion of how that would be poor product planning on Apple's part. It is the same product with a fancy case. I'm guessing they will use much less material than people think and will therefore surprise everyone with the price. We'll see soon.
I do see there is a small minority of Apple users that long for exclusivity. It would be very interesting if Apple starts catering to them. That would possibly alienate many more who always buy "the best."
But my main point was simply that the Edition isn't going to be upgradeable and the sport not due to one being more expensive. It is the same product.