Next low-cost Apple Watch option

[nattK]

What do think will be the next low-cost/budget Apple Watch when the Series 6 comes out? The Series 3 has been the low-cost option alongside the Series 4 and Series 5, but I doubt they will still offer the Series 3 along with the Series 6.

Also, I wonder whether Apple will be increasing the price of the next low-cost Apple Watch. They’re currently selling the Series 3 for as low as $199, but I can’t picture them selling the Series 5 at that price point when they introduce the Series 6. Do you think they will bring back the Series 4?

 

[44267547]

What do think will be the next low-cost/budget Apple Watch when the Series 6 comes out? The Series 3 has been the low-cost option alongside the Series 4 and Series 5, but I doubt they will still offer the Series 3 along with the Series 6.

Also, I wonder whether Apple will be increasing the price of the next low-cost Apple Watch. They’re currently selling the Series 3 for as low as $199, but I can’t picture them selling the Series 5 at that price point when they introduce the Series 6. Do you think they will bring back the Series 4?

What Apple could very well do with the Series 3 is execute exactly what they did with the Series 1 over the first GEN watch, which was add an upgraded S-processor, that’s it. So it’s technically, the Series 3 could still exist, but just with a new ‘S series‘ chip Future watchOS updates, affordable and still include the same technology/materials at the ~$200 price point.

 

[nattK]

What Apple could very well do with the Series 3 is execute exactly what they did with the Series 1 over the first GEN watch, which was add an upgraded S-processor, that’s it. So it’s technically, the Series 3 could still exist, but just with a new ‘S series‘ chip Future watchOS updates, affordable and still include the same technology/materials at the ~$200 price point.

Yeah, I could see that happening. Or they could also re-introduce the Series 4 with a different and cheaper case material a la the iPhone 5c. I think I saw a patent recently in which Apple was exploring a plastic-like material for the Apple Watch case. That way both the low-cost and Series 6 would sport the same 40/44mm design.

 

[the future]

It‘s a very interesting question! I guess the S3 as is would really be too „old tech“ to keep selling for another year. I don‘t think the S4 would come back, Apple never re-introduced a formerly discontinued model of any product, did they? Maybe they will just introduce a new tier below the aluminium Watches for the S6, made of plastic and without cellular option?

 

[satchmo]

If the new S6 comes with a new form factor, I can see Apple not wanting to have 3 different designs at the same time.

At which point the S3 gets removed. The S5 with a lower spec than the current S5 gets slotted in as the low cost option. Remove always on feature. They would rebrand it and simply call it Apple Watch. Perhaps at $249?

At least this would not piss off current S5 owners.

 

[44267547]

If the new S6 comes with a new form factor, I can see Apple not wanting to have 3 different designs at the same time.

At which point the S3 gets removed. The S5 with a lower spec than the current S5 gets slotted in as the low cost option. Remove always on feature. They would rebrand it and simply call it Apple Watch. Perhaps at $249?

At least this would not piss off current S5 owners.

A new form factor seems unlikely. The S4 was the redesign per se, The trajectory would show the next physical change to the chassis/components would probably be by the S7. Right now, we’re looking about every three years in terms of a design change, which would only make sense, because there’s a watch design really need to change every year? Probably not. It’s more about the watchOS/health features that’s what Apple is selling right now, not any physical changes. Plus, if they make any physical changes, the goal is to keep the ‘band port’ the way it is, which would be highly controversial if that changes as well with a design change.

 

[satchmo]

A new form factor seems unlikely. The S4 was the redesign per se, The trajectory would show the next physical change to the chassis/components would probably be by the S7. Right now, we’re looking about every three years in terms of a design change, which would only make sense, because there’s a watch design really need to change every year? Probably not. It’s more about the watchOS/health features that’s what Apple is selling right now, not any physical changes. Plus, if they make any physical changes, the goal is to keep the ‘band port’ the way it is, which would be highly controversial if that changes as well with a design change.

Fair enough, i just think the 4>5 was so minor that they’d want to make a bit more of a splash with the 6 to entice AW4 owners to upgrade. I suppose they can keep the form factor and simply drop in new sensors.

On a related note, do we think prices across the board will remain similar to the S5 and S3?

 

[44267547]

Fair enough, i just think the 4>5 was so minor that they’d want to make a bit more of a splash with the 6 to entice AW4 owners to upgrade. I suppose they can keep the form factor and simply drop in new sensors.

On a related note, do we think prices across the board will remain similar to the S5 and S3?

I think the prices will probably be in the same realm, I don’t think Apple has any reason to ‘up-charge’. Anyways, when we start seeing an influx of pricing with the Apple Watch, it’s when we start seeing major leaps in technology, which is obviously covering the cost for R&D and new/more expensive metal casings.

On a side note:

Realistically, Where I think the Apple Watch will become expensive, is when they change the band port, which we all know they have a capability of doing, and then purchasing new bands on the side will be an expensive factor.

 

[FenC]

I hadn’t really given it any thought, but now I do I think the S3 with an S4 (or even S6) processor is the likely play.

They need to kill the S3 internals so they don’t have to maintain pre-S4 OS support for another year. I don’t mean they’ll de-support the S3 from OS updates this year, but that they will have to keep it on for another additional year if they don’t kill it this year.

They could well reprise effectively the S4 also. There may be cost benefits in having the chassis the same across all models, and the S6 will presumably have some features in addition to AOD and a compass to differentiate it from a lesser model with the same chassis. Like someone said above it’s not going to be an S4, but it could me effectively the same. Perhaps an S4 with a compass or something.

A plastic chassis is an interesting idea, as is keeping the S5 on in aluminium and GPS only, and all S6 models being SS or Edition and with LTE.

Perhaps it depends what the objective of a low end Watch is for Apple. Is it a “gateway drug” to the higher end models, a way to secure market dominance in smart watches, or easy money from an old design that was good enough it’s still capable among the later models.

 

[G.McGilli]

They should release a version made with a coloured polycarbonate body. Bright colours like Blue, Green, Yellow, pink etc... Like the old iPhone 5c. Cheaper to buy, but will get people (and younger crowd) into the product and they might upgrade to a metal/ceramic model eventually.

 

[44267547]

They should release a version made with a coloured polycarbonate body. Bright colours like Blue, Green, Yellow, pink etc... Like the old iPhone 5c. Cheaper to buy, but will get people (and younger crowd) into the product and they might upgrade to a metal/ceramic model eventually.

So if you’re proposing they produce a ‘polycarbonate mode’l, then what price point are you suggesting? Because the Apple Watch already starts for the entry level at ~$199, I don’t suspect Apple could make a healthy net profit if they offer anything lower than that in terms of what it actually cost to produce/manufacture.

 

[the future]

So if you’re proposing they produce a ‘polycarbonate mode’l, then what price point are you suggesting? Because the Apple Watch already starts for the entry level at ~$199, I don’t suspect Apple could make a healthy net profit if they offer anything lower than that in terms of what it actually cost to produce/manufacture.

This thread is about the question what model Apple will offer as the low-cost option once the S6 is released. No-one thinks that price should/will be lower than those 199 USD, but which model will they sell for that entry price? Because the S3 seems a bit too long in the tooth to keep selling for another year.

 

[44267547]

This thread is about the question what model Apple will offer as the low-cost option once the S6 is released.

I find this really weird that you have to remind me of what this thread is about, when I made the first post of what Apple will likely do in this thread. It’s ok if you don’t want to acknowledge/admit my concept is the most logical solution, I’ll let it slide. 😁

No-one thinks that price should/will be lower than those 199 USD.

Lets recap:

The Member above you Made the comment of a ‘polycarbonate’ variant, which they used the example of the iPhone 5c, followed by Trying to attract a ‘younger demographic‘, everything I said is mutually exclusive if price point is relative in terms of making the Apple Watch affordable as possible at/under ~$299 in order for that to happen.

Because the S3 seems a bit too long in the tooth to keep selling for another year.

For one, you Admitted in another thread you don’t own an Apple Watch, so how would you know that? The S3 is more than capable of surviving another year in Apple‘s lineup if they wanted to retain it, but the reality is, they probably will update the internals, but retain the physical casing to keep it as affordable as possible. It’s simple Production and cost saving measures.

 

[the future]

I find this really weird that you have to remind me of what this thread is about, when I made the first post of what Apple will likely do in this thread.

As this is not a very active thread, I didn‘t remember what you wrote. I wouldn‘t rule it out that this is what Apple may do, but I don‘t think so. You have to remember that the S1 got the chip from the S2, but the body of the watch was still the same, making a 1-for-1 exchange (relatively) simple. The chip from the S5/6 is made for a completely different Watch body than the S3, so it maybe wouldn‘t be so easy.

The Member above you Made the comment of a ‘polycarbonate’ variant, which they used the example of the iPhone 5c, followed by Trying to attract a ‘younger demographic‘, everything I said is mutually exclusive if price point is relative in terms of making the Apple Watch affordable as possible at/under ~$299 in order for that to happen.

Huh? You understood that the poster wanted to make the Watch even cheaper than 199 USD? I didn‘t read it like that. In any case, a polycarbonate body would be a way to make a current Watch model cheaper than the aluminum Watch that has always been the cheapest current model.

For one, you Admitted in another thread you don’t own an Apple Watch, so how would you know that? The S3 is more than capable of surviving another year in Apple‘s lineup if they wanted to retain it, but the reality is, they probably will update the internals, but retain the physical casing to keep it as affordable as possible. It’s simple Production and cost saving measures.

You must be mistaking me for someone else. I have always had an Apple Watch since the S0. Right now, I have the Titanium S5. As to the S3 being good enough as-is for another year, I beg to differ. But actually you seem to differ yourself, as you obviously think they will probably put at least a newer chip in it.

 

[rdy0329]

I’d like to echo that it’s more likely Apple will just up the features of the existing Series 3 Apple Watch and make an “Apple Watch SE” With all the important features minus the newer design.

Important features such as sleep tracking, long battery life and updated wireless and processor can be crammed into the older chassis of the Series 3 lowering the cost.

ECG and AOD brought about by the new design will still be exclusive to newer models S6/S7.

Apple’s not one to waste R&D on older design components & production process.

 

[Zorori]

Since the S4 & S5 are so similar, I wouldn't be surprised if the S5 remained as the cheaper option. Apple would then have just a single chassis to manufacture.

For Apple do that, the S6 would need some significant improvements, perhaps:

* Apple has had a long time to design a new chip for the S6, so it may be significantly better, which could entice S5 users. I am not sure where the power is needed, but perhaps efficiency improvements leading to improved battery life?

* More screen improvements for battery life...

* 5G in the cellular model?

* Maybe the S6 will be the first "No iPhone needed" Apple Watch and will work with iPads.

I like the idea of an S4 in a cheaper material. Could be a way for parents to justify buying their kids a watch.

 

[Falhófnir]

It‘s a very interesting question! I guess the S3 as is would really be too „old tech“ to keep selling for another year. I don‘t think the S4 would come back, Apple never re-introduced a formerly discontinued model of any product, did they? Maybe they will just introduce a new tier below the aluminium Watches for the S6, made of plastic and without cellular option?

They sold the iPad 2 as the cheaper iPad alongside the 3, 4 and Air, eventually replacing it with the revived 4 in the latter half of the iPad Air's time as the latest model. Quite a similar scenario to this, but I'm not sure it really means anything for what to expect with the Watch. They also started making the iPhone 6 again after officially discontinuing it, but only for third world markets where they needed a cheaper option.

 

[44267547]

I’d like to echo that it’s more likely Apple will just up the features of the existing Series 3 Apple Watch and make an “Apple Watch SE” With all the important features minus the newer design.

Important features such as sleep tracking, long battery life and updated wireless and processor can be crammed into the older chassis of the Series 3 lowering the cost.

ECG and AOD brought about by the new design will still be exclusive to newer models S6/S7.

Apple’s not one to waste R&D on older design components & production process.

Absolutely. Software integrated features as you mentioned, can easily be implemented through the most up-to-date chip, it’s the hardware features (Sensors for example) will be reserved for the more expensive/newer Apple Watch models. For Apple to keep the Series 3 watch relevant , they just need to update the S-chip, which supports longer watchOS updates for extending the performance.

It’s all about recycling the model to generate revenue, Apple doesn’t need to invest anymore R&D into an entry-level Apple Watch, and then updates the internals and resells it for XYZ price.

 

[G.McGilli]

However... LOL...

I could see this:

Apple discontinues the S3.

Apple makes S4 entry-level (no AOD)

Apple creates S6 as the top range - and the only watch with AOD, better battery and newest tech.

 

[44267547]

However... LOL...

I could see this:

Apple discontinues the S3.

Apple makes S4 entry-level (no AOD)

Apple creates S6 as the top range - and the only watch with AOD, better battery and newest tech.

Bolded:

I agree with that. I think the Series 4 definitely could be the entry level. And by doing that, it kind of gets rid of the old ‘Series 3’ design per se, and keeps the newer design with the body/display as entry level Of the S4, which probably will draw more attraction, but the price point is the most crucial part.