This is not a typical 1st Gen, don't expect early upgrade

[jafingi]

First iteration of a product will always take longer to develop. But after that, it's just a matter of small redesigns, new components and features etc.

Competitors are adding new features every month, so Apple will have to make a new version every year to keep being in the game.

So I expect a new version in 2016. Maybe not a redesign, but new sensors and maybe better battery life due to newer tech.

 

[WiseAJ]

For example, a barometer, altimeter, temperature/humidity... all could come on a phone to enhance the watch to show how high up you are, what the humidity or temperature is where you actually are, will it rain is imminent where you actually are (and not rely on the internet connection)

The iPhone 6/6 Plus already has a barometer.

 

[SCOfoshO]

This thread might have talked me out of buying one. Or at least waiting a bit. I was already on the fence. But I think I'll wait a bit.

 

[KauaiBruce]

If sales were lower than expected and it persuades Apple to lower the price before I get one, I would welcome it with open arms.

WOW. Reminds me of the people who were hoping Kauai got another hurricane so the house prices would drop. Yes, they dropped after Iniki but that was because our economy here was in the toilet for 10 years. No one could even afford the lower prices.

If the watch does THAT bad there may not BE a second gen.

 

[KPOM]

Can't see it happening myself, that would really upset the early adopters.

It may not be a radical change. It could be as simple as some additional band choices, or a minor update to an S2 that brings some modest power and battery life improvements. Remember, Apple released the iPad 4 a few months after the original retina iPad.

Watch makers and Android OEMs will be coming out with competing products the rest of the year. Plus, by the time the holidays come around, a new iPhone will be out, and the Watch will be 8 months old. I think Apple will want the Watch line to receive updates of some kind every year in the fall to sell along with all of their other new products.

 

[OllyW]

If the watch does THAT bad there may not BE a second gen.

The iPhone didn't do too bad after a slow start and a substantial price reduction.

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It may not be a radical change. It could be as simple as some additional band choices, or a minor update to an S2 that brings some power improvements. Remember, Apple released the iPad 4 a few months after the original retina iPad.

I don't recall anyone paying $17,000 for their iPad 3.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I agree with majority of the posters here. ALL 1st gen products are outdated quickly. Apple or otherwise. It has nothing to do with the company not spending a lot of time and effort on the product. It's just that any new area will have a significantly ramping improvement at the beginning with relative improvments diminishing over time. iPhone and iPad 1 were both amazing products when they shipped, but they were quickly obsoleted. The very nature of the Apple Watch makes it much more suseptible to rapid technology improvments.

It's a tiny computer with lots of sensors and mediocre to poor battery life. It can have battery improvments, minituration of parts, processing improvement, power consumption reduction (both screen and processor), addition of sensors, increasing reliability of sensors, decreasing the thickness, charging improvements, and many many more.

Of course this isn't to say that it will be a paperweight in a year, but Gen 2 and 3 will almost definitely each have significant jumps with each subsequent gen's improvments marginally decreasing as the technology matures.

It shipped with iOS 3.2 so it only got 2 years of OS updates.

I hate to be a pedant (actually I kind of love it), but technically this is untrue. iPad shipped with iPhone OS 3.2

 

[KPOM]

The iPhone didn't do too bad after a slow start and a substantial price reduction.

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I don't recall anyone paying $17,000 for their iPad 3.

I don't think the people paying $17,000 for an Apple Watch will care.

 

[KauaiBruce]

The iPhone didn't do too bad after a slow start and a substantial price reduction.

Yes, but the market did prove we want smartphones with true internet access. If the first gen watch fails it may show that there is not enough demand for a smart watch. Wrist Watches are dying off thank mostly to phones having the time on them.

I'm not saying I expect this to happen. I am sure Apple did some market studies first. However, if this thing is a major disaster, then it will hurt general smart watch growth.

Wasn't a big part of the original price reduction something to do with suddenly lower memory prices due to increased production?

 

[jrswizzle]

Does anyone really think they will update this thing that quickly? What would there be to update? The processor won't need to be more powerful, the display can only be so dense at that size, no camera to improve....what can't be fixed with software updates?

I think these things will have much longer upgrade cycles than the iPhone/iPad. We need to stop thinking of the Apple Watch in those terms. It's a different product.

I actually concur with the OP. I don't think we see a rush to the second gen. I think Apple has taken their time with this first gen (as evidenced by the very ethereal and general release date for the last year) and this will be as polished a first gen product as they have ever released.

Any big improvements that come over the next few years will come on the software side - both from Apple and from developers.

 

[Phil A.]

There is no doubt in my mind that Apple will release a significantly updated version 2 of the watch next year, which is why I'm buying a sport one this time: Once things have settled down with it, I may get one of the more expensive ones, but until then I'll stick to a purchase price I don't mind making every year

 

[OllyW]

Wasn't a big part of the original price reduction something to do with suddenly lower memory prices due to increased production?

No, it was an attempt to boost sales in the upcoming holiday season.

 

[kdarling]

Then again, if the demand does drop, then I'd bet we could see some deals for the holidays. So everyone, please, hold off and don't buy it right away

Please don't hope for product failure just so you can get it cheaper.

Apparently you missed the in your rush to respond.

However, now that you mention it, there's nothing wrong with Apple experiencing a little humility in price versus demand once in a while.

Dropping prices is not failure. It's market adjustment.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I don't think the demand will drop. Every time one of us answers our phone with the watch and talks at it someone will be converted.

I can't wait to see people at coffee shops getting a call and spilling coffee on themselves trying to answer it using their apple watch.

 

[KauaiBruce]

I can't wait to see people at coffee shops getting a call and spilling coffee on themselves trying to answer it using their apple watch.

You will see that if they just looking at a notification.

 

[jrswizzle]

There is no doubt in my mind that Apple will release a significantly updated version 2 of the watch next year, which is why I'm buying a sport one this time: Once things have settled down with it, I may get one of the more expensive ones, but until then I'll stick to a purchase price I don't mind making every year

How will this second generation be "significantly upgraded"?

 

[KPOM]

Apparently you missed the in your rush to respond.

However, now that you mention it, there's nothing wrong with Apple experiencing a little humility in price versus demand once in a while.

Dropping prices is not failure. It's market adjustment.

With the iPhone, the first year was more of an experiment on whether to go with an unsubsidized price with a revenue share to the carrier (the initial model), or a traditional subsidized model. Interestingly, now that the market is mature, carriers are starting to push an unsubsidized model.

With the Watch, there is a bit more pricing flexibility. On the whole, the pricing of the Sport and Watch lines seems pretty reasonable when viewed in the context of the watch industry. I can see the Sport eventually becoming a $299 or even $249 product. I can see the Watch line expanding in both directions price-wise. Apple could release a special premium collection, perhaps with gold plating, around $3,000 (look to my favorite example of Burberry). They might offer more band styles in leather and metal at various price ranges.

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How will this second generation be "significantly upgraded"?

More sensors, better battery life. I don't expect major changes to the design of the watch body until at least the third generation, maybe longer. Look how long the MacBook Air design has remained unchanged.

 

[kdarling]

How will this second generation be "significantly upgraded"?

I agree that it has a pretty good list of features now. Still...

A few features available on some other watches, that could be added later on:

• GPS so don't need the phone while running.
• Front camera for Facetime.
• Barometric sensor for indoor elevation change sensing.
• 3G/4G data access, so can be tethered to phone from anywhere.

 

[ninethirty]

I'm always amazed at how people think those with wealth have no regard whatsoever for it.

I don't think the people paying $17,000 for an Apple Watch will care.

 

[FrankySavvy]

It might get an update this fall for 2015 gift giving. Remember, it looks like Apple was initially preparing for a 2014 launch.

The only upgrade they would do in the Fall 2015 would be additional bands and perhaps different casing materials. Design will stay the same, internals will stay the same. Remember, the worldwide rollout will take the majority of the summer and go into the fall. No way they release an Apple Watch 2nd Gen this fall.

My guess is we will see a new Apple Watch second generation at the Fall 2016 iPhone event. They may do updates every 12-18 months, so like April 2015 (1st Gen) Fall 2016 (2nd Gen), Early Spring 2018 (3rd Gen). Every Holiday season they could release new bands and limited edition cases to spruce it up a bit, more customization to make it feel new again. I do not think we will see a design change until the 3rd generation. When they do update, Same overall look, just thinner case. I think second gen wll just add new sensors, built in GPS, better battery. S2 chip and perhaps standalone LTE, but thats pushing it.

 

[KPOM]

My guess is we will see a new Apple Watch second generation at the Fall 2016 iPhone event. They may do updates every 12-18 months, so like April 2015 (1st Gen) Fall 2016 (2nd Gen), Early Spring 2018 (3rd Gen). Every Holiday season they could release new bands and limited edition cases to spruce it up a bit, more customization to make it feel new again. I do not think we will see a design change until the 3rd generation. When they do update, Same overall look, just thinner case. I think second gen wll just add new sensors, built in GPS, better battery. S2 chip and perhaps standalone LTE, but thats pushing it.

While the rumor is that standalone LTE will make it to the 2nd generation, I wouldn't be so sure. LTE uses a lot of battery, and requires a separate data plan, SIM card, etc. Plus it introduces carriers into the equation. I think Apple may take its merry time before integrating it into the Watch. Apple can make the Watch more "independent" without adding LTE.

 

[KauaiBruce]

With the iPhone, the first year was more of an experiment on whether to go with an unsubsidized price with a revenue share to the carrier (the initial model), or a traditional subsidized model. Interestingly, now that the market is mature, carriers are starting to push an unsubsidized model.

With the Watch, there is a bit more pricing flexibility. On the whole, the pricing of the Sport and Watch lines seems pretty reasonable when viewed in the context of the watch industry. I can see the Sport eventually becoming a $299 or even $249 product. I can see the Watch line expanding in both directions price-wise. Apple could release a special premium collection, perhaps with gold plating, around $3,000 (look to my favorite example of Burberry). They might offer more band styles in leather and metal at various price ranges.

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More sensors, better battery life. I don't expect major changes to the design of the watch body until at least the third generation, maybe longer. Look how long the MacBook Air design has remained unchanged.

totally agree

 

[jrswizzle]

I agree that it has a pretty good list of features now. Still...

A few features available on some other watches, that could be added later on:

• GPS so don't need the phone while running.
• Front camera for Facetime.
• Barometric sensor for indoor elevation change sensing.
• 3G/4G data access, so can be tethered to phone from anywhere.

Perhaps. Though I don't see these as things that will be implemented "soon".

That being said, I'm going to buy the cheaper Sport version just in case lol.

 

[EnderTW]

lol Apple will not hold back in updating the watch.

However, I don't think that dismisses owning first-gen. This is truly a revolutionary product, and will continue to be a great product after they release Apple Watch 2.

I won't get one, I'm happy with my rolex but Apple Watch will be a very successful product.

 

[KPOM]

I'm always amazed at how people think those with wealth have no regard whatsoever for it.

I'm not saying that they have no regard for wealth. What I'm saying is that they obviously aren't spending $17,000 first and foremost for the functionality that's in a $349 aluminum equivalent. They have other motivations and won't be upgrading every year.