Downside of the Apple Watch (Sport Model)

[rossy100]

I think there may be a subtle point being missed here........

There is a difference between a band being incompatible vs being not available to purchase.

I think it would make a lot of sense for the metal bands to be purchasable only with the watch (i.e. not sold separately)....... and as much as I respect the different opinions of the mixed metal debate earlier in the thread..... I can see Jony Ive having kittens at the thought of someone matching a space grey band with an Aluminium face!!

Given the leather and sport bands are more watch agnostic then I can see these being the only bands available to purchase separately. Also, as these are likely to be the cheaper to manufacture, this will help Apple manage inventory (as opposed to having to stock the metal bands on their own).

Apple have always said that there would be many many options for the watch configuration, but have never said that those options will remain post the initial purchase.

 

[Night Spring]

I think there may be a subtle point being missed here........

There is a difference between a band being incompatible vs being not available to purchase.

I think it would make a lot of sense for the metal bands to be purchasable only with the watch (i.e. not sold separately)....... and as much as I respect the different opinions of the mixed metal debate earlier in the thread..... I can see Jony Ive having kittens at the thought of someone matching a space grey band with an Aluminium face!!

Given the leather and sport bands are more watch agnostic then I can see these being the only bands available to purchase separately. Also, as these are likely to be the cheaper to manufacture, this will help Apple manage inventory (as opposed to having to stock the metal bands on their own).

Apple have always said that there would be many many options for the watch configuration, but have never said that those options will remain post the initial purchase.

But this would mean somebody could buy either a steel link bracelet or a Milanese loop, but not both.

I don't think that is likely.

And what if somebody buys a watch with a metal band, then loses the band? He has to go through Apple Care or customer service to replace it? It just seems simpler if he could just walk into a store and buy another one.

 

[Julien]

I think there may be a subtle point being missed here........I think it would make a lot of sense for the metal bands to be purchasable only with the watch (i.e. not sold separately)....... and as much as I respect the different opinions of the mixed metal debate earlier in the thread......

Apple must have made the user friendly, easy to change system for a reason. The reason is simply to sell more straps. What other reasons could there be? Accessories are super high profit items and Apple would love to sell you every strap available after you purchase the Watch.

Apple is not about to let all this money go to 3ed party strap sells. They want to get you to buy several straps when you buy the Watch

 

[rossy100]

But this would mean somebody could buy either a steel link bracelet or a Milanese loop, but not both.

I don't think that is likely.

And what if somebody buys a watch with a metal band, then loses the band? He has to go through Apple Care or customer service to replace it? It just seems simpler if he could just walk into a store and buy another one.

Again - I am speculating, but it is noticeable that if you look at the different sections on Apple.com, the Watch section talks about all of the different straps (including sport strap), yet the Sport section talks only of the Sport straps. It is also noticeable that the only the sport band and leather loop have connectors which are not made of stainless steel/space grey.

I am therefore beginning to think the OP was correct. It could be that the choice of straps is specific to watch units and only the sport/leather loop can be purchased separately. In terms of buying multiple bands (e.g. milanese and link), maybe you will be able to do this (in set combinations - so couldn't buy a space grey link bracelet with a stainless steel watch) but only at the time of order online. Obviously this is open to abuse, but I think Apple would still be happier that this minimises compromise to their style combinations.

In relation to replacing damaged bands - this could be offered on an 'approved' basis - i.e. can purchase a replacement through Genius bar if damage proven. This would be same model as with iPhone repairs (I can't buy a new camera part separately, but can get genius bar to install me one if proven damaged).

 

[DravenGSX]

Apple must have made the user friendly, easy to change system for a reason. The reason is simply to sell more straps. What other reasons could there be? Accessories are super high profit items and Apple would love to sell you every strap available after you purchase the Watch.

Apple is not about to let all this money go to 3ed party strap sells. They want to get you to buy several straps when you buy the Watch

Agree. Just like every other product they sell. Reference the back half of the retail stores.

 

[Julien]

...It is also noticeable that the only the sport band and leather loop have connectors which are not made of stainless steel/space grey.

I am therefore beginning to think the OP was correct....

The OP claims they will physically not fit. As in different latching mechanisms for each watch line. While I can debate your point about non matching straps (SS, aluminum or gold) being sold, I feel this "different latching mechanisms" is way out of left field.

 

[rossy100]

Agree. Just like every other product they sell. Reference the back half of the retail stores.

I agree and disagree. Apple will of course want to maximise accessory sales........ however they will also want to maximise their inventory efficiency and also keep some 'exclusivity' between the different watches in the range. Given the sport band and leather loop seem to be watch agnostic in terms of metal colour, and are likely to be the cheapest to keep in stock, I can see them only offering these as aftersales available.

I imagine also that most people who want the more expensive bands (e.g link/milanese) will more likely buy with watch purchase, so selling them separately won't be overly popular. If someone who has bought a sport wants a link bracelet..... then they will have to buy the more expensive Watch......... just like someone with a 16GB iPad who wants more storage needs to buy a new iPad.

I know that Apple have gone to town to make the bracelets interchangeable - and they still are..... just with a different number of options for each model. Don't believe the hype either about this being for customer benefit........ this is as much (if not more) about Apple having an easily configurable product to sell in high volume with different options (click in and despatch!).

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The OP claims they will physically not fit. As in different latching mechanisms for each watch line. While I can debate your point about non matching straps (SS, aluminum or gold) being sold, I feel this "different latching mechanisms" is way out of left field.

I agree - but perhaps this was simply mis-quoted/mis-communicated. That would be understandable given the context of the discussion.

 

[DravenGSX]

I imagine also that most people who want the more expensive bands (e.g link/milanese) will more likely buy with watch purchase, so selling them separately won't be overly popular. If someone who has bought a sport wants a link bracelet..... then they will have to buy the more expensive Watch......... just like someone with a 16GB iPad who wants more storage needs to buy a new iPad.

This is an apples to oranges comparison. With the storage in an iPad, you're talking about internal parts that aren't designed to be interchangeable. A better comparison would be with iPad cases, which are completely interchangeable and readily available in all of the colors for all of the models of iPad. The exclusivity of the Edition watch comes in the gold case.

If Apple wants to sell as many watches and accessories as possible, then why make it exclusive? Apple doesn't sell exclusive. It doesn't make sense to make the bands interchangeable and then not sell them individually. Why make them interchangeable at all?

 

[rossy100]

This is an apples to oranges comparison. With the storage in an iPad, you're talking about internal parts that aren't designed to be interchangeable. A better comparison would be with iPad cases, which are completely interchangeable and readily available in all of the colors for all of the models of iPad. The exclusivity of the Edition watch comes in the gold case.

If Apple wants to sell as many watches and accessories as possible, then why make it exclusive? Apple doesn't sell exclusive. It doesn't make sense to make the bands interchangeable and then not sell them individually. Why make them interchangeable at all?

But iPad cases are not created for a specific iPad colour. They are by design fit for all iPads. The watch straps ARE created for specific colour watches, and even if I am right with my suggestions (which are mere speculation) they are still interchangeable as all watches would still have multiple watch options (e.g. even if sport was only sold with sport straps - there are still 5 colours available and different sizes).

Two other points to support my speculation.........

1. Excluding Edition (very much doubt these will be sold separately) there are 15 different bands potentially in 3 different sizes........ I really can't see Apple (the masters of simplicity) having a display of 45 different straps for aftersales purchase.

2. I have just noticed that on Apple.com, the Sport section says the strap is available in 5 colours..... yet in the Watch section it says only Black/white. If all straps were available with all watches, then why wouldn't the watch section not say all 5 colours were available?

 

[Night Spring]

1. Excluding Edition (very much doubt these will be sold separately) there are 15 different bands potentially in 3 different sizes........ I really can't see Apple (the masters of simplicity) having a display of 45 different straps for aftersales purchase.

Watch bands don't take that much space to display, plus if space really was a problem, they can just display one of each (which, according to you, is 15 -- I haven't counted myself), and bring out the correct size upon customer request, assuming there really are different sizes.

2. I have just noticed that on Apple.com, the Sport section says the strap is available in 5 colours..... yet in the Watch section it says only Black/white. If all straps were available with all watches, then why wouldn't the watch section not say all 5 colours were available?

That could just be available out of box combinations. There's just no logical reason why someone shouldn't be able to slide a colored sports band onto a steel watch, if they wanted to do that. And there's no rational way Apple will require you to somehow prove you owned an aluminum watch before selling you a colored sports band, and absolutely no conceivable reason why the colored bands won't be sold separately as an add-on accessory.

 

[DravenGSX]

But iPad cases are not created for a specific iPad colour. They are by design fit for all iPads. The watch straps ARE created for specific colour watches, and even if I am right with my suggestions (which are mere speculation) they are still interchangeable as all watches would still have multiple watch options (e.g. even if sport was only sold with sport straps - there are still 5 colours available and different sizes).

Two other points to support my speculation.........

1. Excluding Edition (very much doubt these will be sold separately) there are 15 different bands potentially in 3 different sizes........ I really can't see Apple (the masters of simplicity) having a display of 45 different straps for aftersales purchase.

2. I have just noticed that on Apple.com, the Sport section says the strap is available in 5 colours..... yet in the Watch section it says only Black/white. If all straps were available with all watches, then why wouldn't the watch section not say all 5 colours were available?

Night Spring said exactly what I was thinking here. I think what you're seeing are the out of the box combinations. But, replacement bands will be available and since the mechanism is the same (as outlined by Ive), then it stands to reason that any band (even the fancy 18k gold band if you wanted) should fit on any case. Taste is subjective, but that doesn't mean it won't be possible. The only way it's not possible is if they make the mechanism different for each type of watch, which doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

I feel confident that all of the bands will be hanging on the wall right next to the 6 million iPhone cases.

 

[Julien]

....I agree - but perhaps this was simply mis-quoted/mis-communicated. That would be understandable given the context of the discussion.

The OP is extremely insistent and clear that he/she has inside information that the Sport, SS and Edition mechanisms are incompatible (different).

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

2. I have just noticed that on Apple.com, the Sport section says the strap is available in 5 colours..... yet in the Watch section it says only Black/white. If all straps were available with all watches, then why wouldn't the watch section not say all 5 colours were available?

Yeah, the Watch (stainless steel)-specific sport bands are different from the Watch Sport-specific sport bands. The page you were looking at (where it says only black and white) is only for the Watch (stainless steel) collection. The stainless steel versions are modeled with black or white sport bands, but not the other colors. It does make a difference because the pins on the sport bands for the Watch and Watch Sport collections are likely different colors (aluminum and stainless steel, respectively). After all, the sport band for the Space Gray model (in the Watch Sport collection) has the pin in Space Gray.

 

[applegeek01]

Yeah, the Watch (stainless steel)-specific sport bands are different from the Watch Sport-specific sport bands. The page you were looking at (where it says only black and white) is only for the Watch (stainless steel) collection. The stainless steel versions are modeled with black or white sport bands, but not the other colors. It does make a difference because the pins on the sport bands for the Watch and Watch Sport collections are likely different colors (aluminum and stainless steel, respectively). After all, the sport band for the Space Gray model (in the Watch Sport collection) has the pin in Space Gray.

The pins of the sport bands for the sport watches are actually stainless steel, aside from the space grey aluminum version which says a space grey stainless steel pin. However, and quite weirded to me, the black sport band for the SS (paired with the black SS casing) says the pin is just regular stainless steel and does not hint towards a different tint.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

The pins of the sport bands for the sport watches are actually stainless steel.

Where did you hear this?

 

[Julien]

Where did you hear this?

However the pins on the Edition are 18K. Also I firmly believe you can buy as an extra and use any Sport strap on the SS. They just will be sold with a white or black strap included.

 

[applegeek01]

Image

Thanks for posting Julien and I agree with your statement! I was slow in responding. All models in detail are on: http://www.apple.com/watch/gallery/

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

However the pins on the Edition are 18K. Also I firmly believe you can buy as an extra and use any Sport strap on the SS. They just will be sold with a white or black strap included.

Image

Interesting. I wonder if they'll be anodized different colors, because the aluminum (Watch Sport) body has a quite different finish from the stainless steel (Watch) body. This is most certainly not obvious from the photos, but then again they're just renders.

 

[applegeek01]

Interesting. I wonder if they'll be anodized different colors, because the aluminum (Watch Sport) body has a quite different finish from the stainless steel (Watch) body. This is most certainly not obvious from the photos, but then again they're just renders.

From the way the website describes the two sport bands (one for sport watch and one for SS) it seems as if they are indent the same, pin wise. However, as you said, it is hard to tell from renderings. That is one of the problems that I have with preparing myself for what I want to purchase. I'm not sure what to expect.

For example, I wanted a blue leather loop because it looks navy from the renderings on the website. I am getting the 42mm so I can't get a modern buckle in midnight blue. My problem with the blue leather loop is that it is described as bright blue, but on the website it looks navy. But from another picture that I've seen posted in a different thread, it indeed does look bright blue. This is all from what I can tell. I'm color blind so it might just be me. The pic I posted is the one I found that I think looks like the description.

 

[applegeek01]

And this is obviously the rendering. A pretty noticeable difference to me

 

[Night Spring]

The pins of the sport bands for the sport watches are actually stainless steel, aside from the space grey aluminum version which says a space grey stainless steel pin. However, and quite weirded to me, the black sport band for the SS (paired with the black SS casing) says the pin is just regular stainless steel and does not hint towards a different tint.

Interesting point, but I don't see it as mattering that much. The pin is on one side of the wrist, and the watch is on the other side. How often are you going to see them both at the same time? If someone wore a space grey aluminum watch with a regular SS pin, I doubt anyone would notice. What is weird to me is that Apple bothered to color match the space grey watch with a dark colored pin.

 

[applegeek01]

Interesting point, but I don't see it as mattering that much. The pin is on one side of the wrist, and the watch is on the other side. How often are you going to see them both at the same time? If someone wore a space grey aluminum watch with a regular SS pin, I doubt anyone would notice. What is weird to me is that Apple bothered to color match the space grey watch with a dark colored pin.

Yea it honestly wouldn't matter to me. But I am with you on wondering what Apple's motives were for the space grey watch and the darker pin

 

[Night Spring]

And this is obviously the rendering. A pretty noticeable difference to me

Those colors do look pretty different to me. However, in addition to being a rendering, it's also leather, which means there may be variation in color depending on the batch, even when they are being dyed the "same" color. I think with leather, you do have to check the actual product in person before you decide on the color you want.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

What is weird to me is that Apple bothered to color match the space grey watch with a dark colored pin.

Not weird at all. Have you ever seen the innards of the iMac, Mac Pro, etc.? They're a work of art even though they're normally hidden from view.

They most certainly don't want the light colored pin to stick out like a sore thumb when removing the Space Gray watch anyway.

 

[applegeek01]

Those colors do look pretty different to me. However, in addition to being a rendering, it's also leather, which means there may be variation in color depending on the batch, even when they are being dyed the "same" color. I think with leather, you do have to check the actual product in person before you decide on the color you want.

Oh for sure. I have pretty much already decided to get the 42 mm stainless steel watch with the black sport band and then drop by the Apple Store after all the madness dies down to buy some other bands. The leather loop is something I would very much like to try on in person as well as see the color