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| The Apple Watch is sleek, but pricey. Credit: Apple |
The Apple Watch could be your next business companion, but it won't come cheap. This week Apple revealed release details about its upcoming wearable device. Among the revelations is the starting price of the Apple Watch, which comes with a steel or leather band: a whopping $550. And that's for the smaller 38mm version; the full-size Apple Watch starts at $600.
That's significantly pricier than the Apple Watch Sport model, which starts at $350 and comes with a sporty plastic band in a range of neon colors, plus black and white. Apple didn't explicitly say that the bands can't be switched out for something that will look more at home in a conference room, but the design of the band indicates it can't be swapped.
Sure, it's easy to find high-quality watches with price tags that far exceed the asking price for the Apple Watch, but the pricing structure makes it one of the priciest smartwatches we've seen. If you're in the market for a smartwatch, does the Apple Watch do enough to warrant a purchase over scrappy competitors like Pebble? More important, do professionals need a smartwatch in the first place? Here's a rundown of what we know about the Apple Watch, with a focus on how it might help you do your job.
How does it work?
Like other smartwatches, the Apple Watch is a companion device for your smartphone. It only pairs with iPhones (specifically, the iPhone 5 and newer models), so Android users need not apply. Without a Bluetooth connection, the watch will be able to tell time and run basic apps — say, a calculator — but not much else.
At its core, the Apple Watch — like other smartwatches — is about taking smartphone functionality and putting it in a more convenient spot: right on your wrist. It lets you view notifications at a glance, without digging your smartphone out of your pocket, and ensures you won't miss important alerts — pretty handy for a busy business user. And it can do a lot more with the right apps, like hail a cab or unlock your hotel room, which could make your life easier on your next business trip. Then again, your smartphone can accomplish those same tasks.
Availability
The Apple Watch launches April 14. It is available in three versions: the Apple Watch Sport, which has an aluminum casing and plastic band; the basic Apple Watch, which has a stainless steel casing and comes with metal or leather bands in a range of styles; and the Apple Watch Edition, a luxury model with an 18-karat gold casing that starts at a whopping $10,000. Each version comes in two different sizes: a 48mm model, and a cheaper 38mm model that might look better on people with smaller wrists.
App support
Which Apple Watch apps will help you do your job? Only a handful of apps have been announced so far. Here are a few that should interest business users.
- Passbook: In addition to storing event tickets and loyalty cards, Passbook can keep track of your boarding passes for upcoming business flights.
- Calendar: Apple Watch can pull events and appointments from your iPhone, then alert you when the time comes.
- Stocks: This app can alert you to stock market updates.
- Uber: Summon a cab using this app to quickly get where you need to go.
- American Airlines: Notifies you about flight delays, provides connecting gate information and more.
- OpenTable: Make lunch reservations for a client meeting.
Phone calls
Taking a phone call on your wristwatch isn't exactly practical in a lot of situations, but the Apple Watch can do it. When a call arrives on your iPhone, you can tap a button on the watch to take it using the device's built-in speaker and microphone. It might come in handy as a safe way to take a call while you're driving, for example. Apple hasn't said whether you'll be able to place outgoing calls on the watch, but it's likely.
Voice commands
Siri, Apple's voice-controlled digital assistant, comes baked into the Apple Watch. You can summon the app just by saying "Hey Siri," then use your voice to quickly save a note, set a reminder or perform a Web search, among other functionality. Voice commands are excellent productivity boosters, since they let you perform cumbersome tasks more quickly. Saving a note to your smartphone's touch-screen keyboard, for example, is almost more trouble than its worth, but doing the same thing with voice commands takes mere seconds. And while Siri will provide the same functionality on your iPhone, putting the app on your wrist makes it easier to access.
Battery life
You smartwatch can't make you more productive if it's out of juice. Apple says to expect about 18 hours of mixed use from the Apple Watch, so you'll have to charge it every night. On the bright side, the watch comes with a magnetic connector that snaps onto the back to make charging a bit easier.
The competition
The Apple Watch is just one of dozens of other smartwatches that offer similar functionality — and usually at a cheaper price point.
Android Wear smartwatches run a minimalist operating system developed by Google. Their primary purpose is to push alerts and notifications to you, just like the Google Now feature on newer Android smartphones. You can also read incoming email and send messages, but there's no way to go back and check alerts or messages that have been swiped away. App functionality is also limited. Top contenders include the Motorola Moto 360 ($250) and the LG G Watch R ($300), both of which have slick, round faces. They're only compatible with Android smartphones, though.
The Pebble smartwatch is another good option, especially if you're on a budget. The basic Pebble Watch costs just $100, with a stainless steel version available for $200. You can also pre-order the brand-new Pebble Time, which has a color display. All Pebble watches have week-long battery life, thanks to their e-paper screens. They also offer better app support than Android Wear. The best part is that they're compatible with just about every smartphone out there.
Outlook
The Apple Watch isn't a game-changer, but it is one of the best smartwatches we've seen. The hardware is attractive, and the operating system looks to strike a pretty good balance between simplicity and functionality. And based on our experience with other smartwatches, we feel confident saying that they're good tools to help business users stay on top of daily tasks.
Still, it's yet to be seen if the Apple Watch is useful enough to warrant its hefty price tag — especially since the technology inside is likely to be outdated within a year or two. Stay tuned for our full review to find out.
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