Demand for Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular stronger than expected, taking 80%+ of preor...
With a starting price just $70 more than the non-cellular option, the new Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular accounts for the lion's share of preorders ahead of this Friday's launch.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities revealed on Monday he estimates that the LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3 has accounted for between 80 and 90 percent of preorders. Apple began accepting orders last Friday, and the first shipments will arrive later this week, on Sept. 22.
As of Monday, new orders for the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular are estimated to ship in 3 to 4 weeks. The non-cellular models, however, arrive as soon as Oct. 2.
Kuo believes this year's Apple Watch refresh has primed the wearable device for "significant marked shipment growth."
The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular starts at $399 for the 38-millimeter size, and $429 for 42 millimeters. Models without cellular are priced $70 cheaper, at $329 and $359 price points for the aluminum sport models.
Apple also continues to sell the Apple Watch Series 1 model for $249, but it is unchanged from the version that debuted in 2016.
With respect to iPhone 8 preorders, Kuo unsurprisingly believes that the upcoming iPhone X has cannibalized some iPhone 8 orders. Going forward, he expects investors will have a conservative outlook for the iPhone 8, while consumers await the debut of the iPhone X in early November.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities revealed on Monday he estimates that the LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3 has accounted for between 80 and 90 percent of preorders. Apple began accepting orders last Friday, and the first shipments will arrive later this week, on Sept. 22.
As of Monday, new orders for the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular are estimated to ship in 3 to 4 weeks. The non-cellular models, however, arrive as soon as Oct. 2.
Kuo believes this year's Apple Watch refresh has primed the wearable device for "significant marked shipment growth."
The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular starts at $399 for the 38-millimeter size, and $429 for 42 millimeters. Models without cellular are priced $70 cheaper, at $329 and $359 price points for the aluminum sport models.
Apple also continues to sell the Apple Watch Series 1 model for $249, but it is unchanged from the version that debuted in 2016.
With respect to iPhone 8 preorders, Kuo unsurprisingly believes that the upcoming iPhone X has cannibalized some iPhone 8 orders. Going forward, he expects investors will have a conservative outlook for the iPhone 8, while consumers await the debut of the iPhone X in early November.
Comments
Moreover, it's not really a choice if you want the stainless steel (like I did).
It could eventually be covered outside the country if standards get hammered and carriers get their head of their asses.
It's meant to be more of a backup for the times when I forget my phone, rather than a replacement. So it will be used more for notifications and the occasional GPS function, and maybe Siri, than making phone calls.
I have somewhat infrequent to use my Watch to answer phone calls and am not really impressed although others are so there's that. LOL There's no privacy unless I'm using my AirPods and the Watch requires me to speak louder than my phone. I find it annoying and anybody else near me would, too. People who use talk too loudly on their phone or use the speakerphone really annoy me (even though cellphones themselves are partly responsible) and I really don't want to be One of Them.
What I would like is to connect the Apple Watch to the Bluetooth in my car so that I can take calls and listen to music, like I do with my iPhone.
Looking forward to seeing how it can help me with my job as a postie. A watch makes more sense than a phone when your all dressed up in motorcycle gear.
- Smart band interface. Perhaps something along the lines of the iPad smart connector, which allows power and data. Support different sensor type bands, or even an extended battery band. Health is a major focus for Apple, and smart bands are certainly a way to address that process without putting functionality which requires FDA approval (and similar in other countries) onto the AW itself.
- Always on watch face (optional). IMO the last piece to making the AW truly take on the traditional watch industry - when instead of a black face most of the time, you can see the beautifully designed watch faces. This also really customizes it for many people. I believe this will bring onboard a number of those currently on the fence.
- BT 5.0
- Camera (of some sort) for FaceTime calling
- Future miniaturized FaceID
- Updated sensors which are more accurate
Wearables are an area which will undergo a lot of change as new use cases materialize. Lots of room for Apple to improve and differentiate.
... Or perhaps sales of the red dot cover up are booming?
While I agree it's not meant to be a replacement for the phone, I would like to do the experiment of leaving my phone at home for a day, and seeing how I went with just the watch. I might be an outlier, but I suspect I could get by OK with the watch for the things I use my phone for on most days - including the two or three phone calls I make and receive each week.
Unfortunately, I missed the start of pre-orders on Friday, and haven't seen them available before next month since. (Although a work colleague managed to organise pickup for Friday morning when he checked online at about 5pm Saturday.
Even with the AW2, I have answered calls on my watch when my phone was at the other end of the house. It's a lot easier to give a quick answer to a question either by vox or text than have to explain how come I missed a call.