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Pre-orders for the new Apple Watch Series 7 open in less than 24 hours. Despite that, Apple has still not shared basic information that customers would logically need ahead of pre-ordering any product, including information as fundamental as pricing.

Apple_watch-series7_lineup-01_09142021.jpg

The Apple Watch Series 7 has been shrouded in a cloud of mystery ever since its announcement at Apple's event last month. At its announcement, Apple didn't provide any dates for availability for the new watch, simply stating it will be available "later this fall" before announcing Friday, October 8 for pre-orders and Friday, October 15 for availability.

Lineup Pricing

Even after Apple shared Series 7 availability dates, the company continues to withhold basic pricing information from the public about the watch. Apple says the Series 7 starts at $399, which includes the lowest possible configuration of the watch: a 41mm aluminum case with only GPS, no cellular connectivity, and a fluoroelastomer sport band.

No other information, including for Series 7 configurations with cellular functionality, larger case size, or different finishes such as stainless steel, has been made available by Apple. The Series 7 features larger displays and larger case sizes as a result, so it's not clear if beyond the starting price which it shares with the Series 6, Apple has increased the cost of the Series 7.

Apple Watch Studio

Even three days after Series 7 pre-order and availability dates were made public, Apple has not yet updated its Apple Watch Studio, a section on its online store that allows customers to choose different combination options to find their perfect Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Studio lists the Apple Watch Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 3, and the Apple Watch SE, with no Series 7. An update to the Apple Watch Studio would provide customers with information on pricing for their preferred case, size, and band configuration.

Apple didn't respond to our request for comment on whether the Apple Watch Studio will be updated with the Series 7 before pre-orders go live, leaving us to believe it will only go live once pre-orders start tomorrow.

Technical Specifications

Beyond flashy marketing material on its website, Apple has not provided technical specifications for the Series 7. A document intended for retail employee use obtained by MacRumors earlier last month offered us the only known list of technical specifications for the Series 7, including revealing that while it uses an "S7" branded chip, it retains the same CPU as last year's Series 6.

Some customers enjoy looking at the specific technical specifications before they purchase a product, and those customers are sadly out of luck for the Apple Watch Series 7 at the time.

Compared to Other Apple Watches

As is logical, Apple lets customers compare older models of its products, such as iPhones, iPad, and Macs, against each other, providing a bird-eye view of the technical differences between different generation products. That, however, can't be said for the Series 7, as for the compare page for the Apple Watch, the Series 7 is not listed.

Trade-in Values

Many customers get the latest Apple Watch by trading in their older Apple Watch for a certain amount of value and then paying whatever is leftover. Customers of the Series 6 looking to trade-in their watch for the new Series 7, are, unfortunately, out of luck, as Apple has not provided a trade-in value for the Series 6, nor has it updated the trade-in value of older models.

Conclusion

The lack of information ultimately leaves customers entirely in the dark about how much their preferred Apple Watch Series 7 configuration will cost and its technical specifications, hours ahead of when Apple hopes customers log on to order its latest and greatest Apple Watch. Pre-orders for the Series 7 open tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. PDT and a full list of when pre-orders go live in different time zones can be found here.

Article Link: With Pre-Orders Open in Less Than 24 Hours, There's Still a Lot We Don't Know About the Apple Watch Series 7
 
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I was shocked this info was not available the day of the announcement last month. The fact that it’s still not available (less than 24 hours before launch) is absolutely insane.

Why did they not just withhold the announcement until the October event ?
 
One thing we do know is that it still has that atrocious red ring on the cellular models... And on topic it's really strange that all of the lineup's pricing hasn't been revealed. Personally I work in spaces where I'm not allowed 2-way comms, so I don't wear my Watch enough to justify upgrading more than every 3-4 years. Hopefully next year is a more substantial upgrade.
 
It’s a mystery! Whoever is in charge of the pre-order, launch process of an Apple Watch needs to be let go. Clearly, they do not care about the customers. That person does not care what people want. That person wants you to place an order all being blindfolded.

Apple: How about I place my order without giving you a single dollar and I promise you to pay you sometime this Fall. I can assure you would not like that. Heck, you won’t even approve my pre-order.

Please stop playing games.
 
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Nevertheless, lots of folks will surely be ordering one, especially those with watches that are 2 or 3 generations old.

Apple's website will also naturally have a more complete description of the Watch 7 tomorrow, so anyone who really wants to study the differences will have the ability to do that before ordering.

I really don't see this as such a big problem or issue. Don't order one until you know enough about it to be sure it is what you want or need!
 
I was shocked this info was not available the day of the announcement last month. The fact that it’s still not available (less than 24 hours before launch) is absolutely insane.
It is insane. I have no idea what game Apple is playing here.
IN saying that, the watch is really growing on me. 20 percent bigger screen area is a pretty big deal. I do like the slightly new design as well.
 
The answer to your questions is probably because Apple doesn't know. These watches are probably going to have multi-month ship times pretty quickly. I'll be ordering first thing but I don't expect to see it until November.
Apple knows what they are doing. They just don’t want to reveal it. They just want you to order all being blindfolded. That 14 days return policy will come in handy for a lot of people here :)
 
I was shocked this info was not available the day of the announcement last month. The fact that it’s still not available (less than 24 hours before launch) is absolutely insane.

Why did they not just withhold the announcement until the October event ?
Welps. I was told to chill (even tho I was just asking nicely) and that it’ll be made available before launch and 24 hrs is plenty of time 😂😂😂.
 
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Some customers enjoy looking at the specific technical specifications before they purchase a product, and those customers are sadly out of luck for the Apple Watch Series 7 at the time.

So now MR is taking the position that the pre-purchase browsing is, itself, part of the utility of the product. Would be an interesting microeconomics paper.
 
Do we even know what non-aluminum (SS/edition) finishes are available for these yet? That wasn't in the announcement and I haven't seen it elsewhere, but maybe I missed. Weird launch for sure
They just reference the fact that it’s available in “three amazing materials” and show one of each (aluminum, ss, titanium). I just assume that the colors for those finishes remain the same that are available for the S6.

Same goes for pricing. The starting price is the same as that of the S6 watches, so logic indicates to me that pricing will remain the same for all other configurations. They haven’t added anything to this year’s watch that warrants a price bump.
 
Apple knows they just don’t want to reveal it. They just want you to order all being blindfolded.

Right, because you have to order it the exact minute it becomes available for pre-order. You are not permitted to wait until everything is revealed, review all the information, and then make an informed purchasing decision. It’s the law, really. If you wait even an hour after pre-orders go live, you’re technically committing treason.
 
I think they have just started production of the aluminium Watch not long ago and therefore they really can’t share when will the other finishes be available. They don’t give us the price of the other configurations because they may not even be able to let us order them tomorrow.
 
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