Steel Apple Watch collection pricing will range from $549 to $1099 depending on band selection
Apple's mid-range Apple Watch, featuring a stainless steel body, will start at $549 for the entry-level 38-millimeter size, while the larger 42-millimeter will start at $599.
Prices will max out at $1,049 for the 38-millimeter model, and $1,099 for the 48-millimeter version. Apple CEO Tim Cook made the pricing announcement during the company's "Spring Forward" event earlier Monday.
That slots the stainless steel Apple Watch in between the lower-cost Apple Watch Sport and the much more expensive Apple Watch Edition. The Sport model costs just $349 -- $399 for the space gray variant -- while the gold Edition starts at $10,000.
$549 will buy a 38-millimeter stainless steel model with a sport band. Stepping up to the classic buckle or milanese loop will move the needle to $649, while the modern buckle and milanese loop come in at $749.
The link bracelet will pop the price to $949, and $1,049 in space black. Add $50 to those prices for the 42-millimeter models.
Apple is using a custom stainless steel concoction for the Apple Watch. The company says its stainless steel is up to 80 percent harder thanks to a cold-forging process.
Design chief Jony Ive said during the event that Apple has "given a traditional material a new expression."
Prices will max out at $1,049 for the 38-millimeter model, and $1,099 for the 48-millimeter version. Apple CEO Tim Cook made the pricing announcement during the company's "Spring Forward" event earlier Monday.
That slots the stainless steel Apple Watch in between the lower-cost Apple Watch Sport and the much more expensive Apple Watch Edition. The Sport model costs just $349 -- $399 for the space gray variant -- while the gold Edition starts at $10,000.
$549 will buy a 38-millimeter stainless steel model with a sport band. Stepping up to the classic buckle or milanese loop will move the needle to $649, while the modern buckle and milanese loop come in at $749.
The link bracelet will pop the price to $949, and $1,049 in space black. Add $50 to those prices for the 42-millimeter models.
Apple is using a custom stainless steel concoction for the Apple Watch. The company says its stainless steel is up to 80 percent harder thanks to a cold-forging process.
Design chief Jony Ive said during the event that Apple has "given a traditional material a new expression."
Comments
The stainless-steel versions (my personal favourite) starting price is quite a lot higher than I was expecting, if I buy I'll have to go with the aluminium.
yep, they not interested in selling a lot that is for sure. all my watched today have sapphire crystals so the sport one will not hold up I know that much.
I guess I have to save up to get what I want
The stainless-steel versions (my personal favourite) starting price is quite a lot higher than I was expecting, if I buy I'll have to go with the aluminium.
Damn, me too. But I don't know if I can go with only those sport bands.
Way too expensive
and the price hike from Aluminium to Steel just plain sucks
If they'd started them at $199 then people would want them, as it is the new Pebble Time will be the one to get (10 days use)
The stainless-steel versions (my personal favourite) starting price is quite a lot higher than I was expecting, if I buy I'll have to go with the aluminium.
Not sure why you think $550 starting point is a lot higher than your expectations, given that the entry level as $350. Did you think going from aluminum and glass to stainless steel and sapphire would be $50 bucks? That doesn't provide any tiering of products, when Apple was clear they were doing that.
yep, they not interested in selling a lot that is for sure. all my watched today have sapphire crystals so the sport one will not hold up I know that much.
I guess I have to save up to get what I want
If you've no experience with their glass choice you've no idea whether it will hold up or not.
I'm a big believer in Apple Watch, and a Big Fan of Tim and company. But this is disappointing. Sure, research kit looks cool. 10 minutes of tech into? Supermodel saying how she loves half marathons in Africa wearing a "rubber" band? Comparatively, Tim's discussion of the pricing seemed dismissive; the metallurgy videos somehow showing the value. Yes, you worked hard. Yes, they're nice. Yes, they can do a lot. But...you need to show value to *me* not value to your shareholders (of which I am one.)
Sorry, but I expected better at this event. When iPad came out I was so excited; even the pricing seemed reasonable and competitive. I saw immediate value and got one on launch day.
Wish I was more excited right now. Been looking forward to this for 6 months. *sigh*
If this was a generation 2 or 3 device, I'd jump on it. For a first generation product at this price, I think I'm going to pass sadly.
Way too expensive
and the price hike from Aluminium to Steel just plain sucks
If they'd started them at $199 then people would want them, as it is the new Pebble Time will be the one to get (10 days use)
Everyone is free to get one or not, or get a different product.
Apple has never priced their products to be in the category of "make it cheap so people can just try it out & not use it if they don't like it". Apple has always priced their products (especially new product categories) to be what people are willing to pay, not what they want to pay.
Pretty pleased with the price of this one. I'd read some rumors that it was going to be ~$1500, which would have been far too much for me, but I'll happily spend up to $1000.
I think, considering this is a jewelry-grade product, that $600-$1100 is about right.
How is it too expensive? My Luminox I work out with daily doesn't even do a fraction of the things the Apple Watch does and cost me $400 at Costco. The Apple Watch is great value if you ask me.
Way too expensive
and the price hike from Aluminium to Steel just plain sucks
If they'd started them at $199 then people would want them, as it is the new Pebble Time will be the one to get (10 days use)
Since the Pebble doesn't offer the same functionality that's a false choice and I've watches that last infinitely longer than that mere 10 days btw....
OTOH if you've no desire for the functions it offers the Apple watch, at any price, is the wrong choice for you.
If this was a generation 2 or 3 device, I'd jump on it. For a first generation product at this price, I think I'm going to pass sadly.
If this were a generation 2 or 3 device it would have been out for a couple of years by now.
My question is how will it work to purchase separate bands? Apple didn't promote buying separate bands at all, other than what your watch came with. Of course it will be possible, but leaving out pricing for band options was pretty weak. They'll spend the next month on focus groups and massaging their marketing to get people ready for bands that'll cost up to $549, the same as the base watch. No word on internal memory either, its hard to imagine both the $349 sport and the $10k edition will get the same 8gb, or 16gb, or whatever it ends up being, but who knows, with the iPhone being required to run the watch, that'll be the main place for storage.
I have decided not to buy it. It is very expensive. My wait turned into a disappointment
You must be new to the Internet to show such 'surprise,' since we've known the base price for months, and much of the full range prices have been pretty closely estimated for weeks.
The stainless-steel versions (my personal favourite) starting price is quite a lot higher than I was expecting, if I buy I'll have to go with the aluminium.
how can $549 be "quite a lot" higher than you were expecting? the sport is only 200 less!
Way too expensive
and the price hike from Aluminium to Steel just plain sucks
If they'd started them at $199 then people would want them, as it is the new Pebble Time will be the one to get (10 days use)
what are you talking about? its a 200 increase from sport to steel/sapphire/ceramic -- how can that suck or be more than you hoped?!