Final Price Predictions

[campingsk8er]

Because they use Apple Watch as a generic term to cover all models. So for instance, when they say "Apple Watch is first and foremost an incredibly accurate timepiece," that means that all models of Apple Watch is accurate. They certainly don't mean that only the regular Watch is accurate and the Sport and Edition aren't. So when they said Apple Watch starts at $349, it has to mean that that is the lowest price across all three models.

Okay, well the post asked for my prediction and that's it. We shall see.

 

[ButteryScrollin]

If they charge $500 for watch bracelets, they'll struggle to sell them. It's a small subset of people that have that kind of money, paired with the desire to spend it on tech.

These aren't tech. They're not aiming these at the people who have a have an iPhone, a gaming PC, maybe an Xbox and an iPad, tech nerd people. The cheaper 'sport' model is for those people.


These are high quality fashion items and will likely be priced as such.

 

[TheDeviceUser]

These aren't tech. They're not aiming these at the people who have a have an iPhone, a gaming PC, maybe an Xbox and an iPad, tech nerd people. The cheaper 'sport' model is for those people.


These are high quality fashion items and will likely be priced as such.

But I can't see how they can get away with charging well over the industry average for them. I think $200 will be the most people will pay for straps.

 

[Night Spring]

But I can't see how they can get away with charging well over the industry average for them. I think $200 will be the most people will pay for straps.

It's over industry average for tech products and medium range watches. But in the luxury watch industry, $200 is the minimum people will pay for a steel bracelet. Anything cheaper will be viewed with suspicion of being too low quality to be worth consideration.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

And you know this for sure how? They said Apple Watch starts at 349 so why can't I assume that that means Apple Watch and not Apple Watch sport?

Let's revisit:

"Apple Watch (the range of watches) will be available in three collections. Apple Watch (the model), with a polished or space black stainless steel case and a choice of straps; Apple Watch Sport, with a space gray or silver anodized aluminum case and Sport Band; and Apple Watch Edition, with an 18-karat rose or yellow gold case and a choice of straps exclusive to this collection. Apple Watch (the range of watches) straps include the Sport Band in black, blue, green, pink and white; the Classic Buckle in black and midnight blue; the Leather Loop in bright blue, light brown and stone; the Modern Buckle in midnight blue, brown, soft pink, rose gray and bright red; the Milanese Loop in stainless steel; and the Link Bracelet in brushed stainless steel and polished space black. Apple Watch (the range of watches) will be available in early 2015 starting at $349 (US)."

The only other possible interpretation is that the Apple Watch stainless steel models will debut first, with the other two collections arriving at a later date, which makes absolutely no sense.

 

[Bigserver1]

These aren't tech. They're not aiming these at the people who have a have an iPhone, a gaming PC, maybe an Xbox and an iPad, tech nerd people. The cheaper 'sport' model is for those people.


These are high quality fashion items and will likely be priced as such.

That's exactly my point. These prices are looking to be aimed at people who want high quality fashion items, but these watches won't last 50 years, or likely even five years. That's why I feel if these price projections are accurate, Apple will struggle to sell the Edition.

If you were going to spend $10k on a watch, would it be a Rolex that lasts a lifetime, or a smart watch that will be obsolete in 3-5 years max? Anyone who is into "high quality fashion" will take the Rolex 100 times out of 100.

 

[The Doctor11]

Alright here's mine

Watch 38mm - $449
Watch 42mm - $499

Watch Sport 38mm - $349
Watch Sport 42mm -$399

Watch Edition 38mm - lots
Watch Edition 42mm - slight more then lots

Fingers crossed the sport will actually be $349 for the 38mm and the 42mm

 

[redrog]

Sport $349 - $399
Watch $599 - $999
Edition $2499 - $4999

 

[jabingla2810]

I'll have a go in UK money.

Apple Watch Sport - £329-£349

Apple Watch with Sport Band - £699
Apple Watch with Leather Loop - £799
Apple Watch with Milanese Loop - £999
Apple Watch with Link Bracelet - £1299

Apple Watch Edition - £8000 +

 

[rossy100]

I'll have a go in UK money.

Apple Watch Sport - £329-£349

Apple Watch with Sport Band - £699
Apple Watch with Leather Loop - £799
Apple Watch with Milanese Loop - £999
Apple Watch with Link Bracelet - £1299

Apple Watch Edition - £8000 +

In UK money the Sport will be very close to £279. This is what other products (e.g. 32GB iPad Mini 2) which sell for in US at $349, retail for in UK. There is no reason for the Watch to be any different (unless Apple are going to change exchange on prices across their entire catalogue).

 

[BvizioN]

I'll have a go in UK money.

Apple Watch Sport - £329-£349

Why on earth should it be much more expensive in UK? I understand taxes etc, but you still have it much higher compare to other Apple products in UK.

$349= £226.68 currently.

So I don't think it will be a penny more then £299 maximum for the cheapest Apple Watch.

 

[jabingla2810]

Why on earth should it be much more expensive in UK? I understand taxes etc, but you still have it much higher compare to other Apple products in UK.

$349= £226.68 currently.

So I don't think it will be a penny more then £299 maximum for the cheapest Apple Watch.

I just think they might add a bit more.

It's my opinion, and that's what I think.

----------

In UK money the Sport will be very close to £279. This is what other products (e.g. 32GB iPad Mini 2) which sell for in US at $349, retail for in UK. There is no reason for the Watch to be any different (unless Apple are going to change exchange on prices across their entire catalogue).

Hopefully we'll find out next week

 

[BvizioN]

It's my opinion, and that's what I think.

I figured that bit but reasons behind opinions are sometime questioned and that's what online forums are for.

 

[jabingla2810]

I figured that bit but reasons behind opinions are sometime questioned and that's what online forums are for.

My thought behind it was that Apple did something similar when the first iPad was released, and that's what came to mind.

It was announced as $499 in the US, and everyone on these boards were working out the UK price. £350 - £375 were the popular figures.

Apple announced the price as £429.

This changed with the iPad 2, when base model iPads were £399.

Perhaps the market changed? Or perhaps Apple added a bit because it was a new product, and people would pay it?

We shall see!

 

[dctid]

Why on earth should it be much more expensive in UK? I understand taxes etc, but you still have it much higher compare to other Apple products in UK.

$349= £226.68 currently.

So I don't think it will be a penny more then £299 maximum for the cheapest Apple Watch.

I can't see above £300 GBP for the entry sport but i do think that the price will escalate quickly, i do believe that different sizes will cost differently so i can easily see a 42mm sport being £319, why because they can and they will because if we have learned anything here in the UK there is always an element of apple tax.

 

[rossy100]

My thought behind it was that Apple did something similar when the first iPad was released, and that's what came to mind.

It was announced as $499 in the US, and everyone on these boards were working out the UK price. £350 - £375 were the popular figures.

Apple announced the price as £429.

This changed with the iPad 2, when base model iPads were £399.

Perhaps the market changed? Or perhaps Apple added a bit because it was a new product, and people would pay it?

We shall see!

I did a comparison of various Apple devices and the $:£ ratio averaged at 1.23. The range was 1.2 - 1.27, which would equate to £275 - £290 for the $349 Sport. This suggests therefore that Apple have a pretty consistent exchange rate model.

BTW - please no-one moan about these rates being far lower than a typical bank exchange rate - as much of the difference is accounted for by the fact that US prices exclude taxes (whereas Uk prices are inclusive of VAT).

Interestingly the spread of the exchange was highest at the extremes ($349 - $699, and $1299+), with the middle having a lower rate.

 

[gibbz]

Watch 38mm - $549
Watch 42mm - $599

Watch Sport 38mm - $349
Watch Sport 42mm - $349

Watch Edition 38mm - $7499
Watch Edition 42mm - $7999

 

[Reason077]

I'll have a go in UK money.

Apple Watch Sport - £329-£349

Apple Watch with Sport Band - £699

Wow! Is there really going to be a 2X price premium just to go from Aluminium/Glass to Stainless Steel/Sapphire, with the same band?

Do enough people value shininess that much? I would have thought a ~£100 difference would be more likely. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

[cmChimera]

Wow! Is there really going to be a 2X price premium just to go from Aluminium/Glass to Stainless Steel/Sapphire, with the same band?

Do enough people value shininess that much? I would have thought a ~£100 difference would be more likely. Maybe I'm wrong?

It's not just shinier though....

 

[jabingla2810]

Wow! Is there really going to be a 2X price premium just to go from Aluminium/Glass to Stainless Steel/Sapphire, with the same band?

Do enough people value shininess that much? I would have thought a ~£100 difference would be more likely. Maybe I'm wrong?

I think, more than any other Apple product, the watch is about image.

Why buy a gold Apple Watch? To show you can.

Of course, you might like the look of gold more, but £5000 more? No.

I think the mark up between the Aluminium and Stainless Steel has to be substantial enough to make it a much more desirable object. To give it that certain exclusivity.

And £100 more doesn't make the Stainless Steel Watch substantially more desirable or exclusive.

Of course, all that is nonsense and vanity... but it is a real.

 

[Night Spring]

Wow! Is there really going to be a 2X price premium just to go from Aluminium/Glass to Stainless Steel/Sapphire, with the same band?

Do enough people value shininess that much? I would have thought a ~£100 difference would be more likely. Maybe I'm wrong?

It's not just more shiny, Stainless steel is more study than aluminum. Also, the SS watch has sapphire screen and ceramic back, while aluminum watch has gorilla glass screen with composite back. Both these components are cheaper on the aluminum watch than the SS, justifying a larger price difference than just the relative value of steel vs aluminum.

 

[Sodner]

Watch 38mm - $649
Watch 42mm - $699

Watch Sport 38mm - $349
Watch Sport 42mm - $399

Watch Edition 38mm - $4999
Watch Edition 42mm - $5499

 

[ButteryScrollin]

Gene Munster's take:

The stainless steel Apple Watch model, which also features a more expensive sapphire glass cover, is expected to start at $499 to $549, again depending on customizable features. Munster sees an overall ASP at around $650 for the mid-tier Watch series.

On the high end, the analyst forecasts base model Apple Watch Edition devices to start at $4,999, but classifies segment ASP closer to $7,500 after adding in straps made from precious metals.

Based on current pricing for Apple's silicon iPhone 6 cases, which come in at $35, Munster sees elastomer Apple Watch straps to start in a similar $29 to $35 range, while leather bands could be priced between $49 to $59. Pricing for metal bands like the link bracelet and Milanese loop are more difficult to determine, but the analyst believes steel versions will come in at $99, while gold bands could be priced into the thousands of dollars.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...at-4999?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[949011]

My Apple Watch Predictions

Here is a layout I created with a little mix of inspiration of John Gruber and some other Macrumors forum user.

The only thing I might regret is pricing the stainless steel links too low. But then again, I am just guessing with no intel whatsoever

 

[i0Nic]

Base prices for each model below.

Watch 38mm - $749
Watch 42mm - $849
Watch 38mm - $1299 (link metal band)
Watch 42mm - $1499 (link metal band)

Watch Sport 38mm - $349
Watch Sport 42mm - $399

Watch Edition 38mm - $4999
Watch Edition 42mm - $5499
Watch Edition 38mm - $12999 (gold metal band)
Watch Edition 42mm - $14499 (gold metal band)

As you can see I think the bands are going to be expensive, and will help differentiate the models for those that want luxury.