Apple Watch – Coming Soon To India
There is a sweeping trend of smart watches entering the market. And Apple leads the market frontier here putting a dent in the sales revenues of Swiss watches. Apple continues to spread its influence in the smart watch category (the new Apple watch ads are simple awesome and chic) and is soon to enter India.
Official declaration
Apple has announced its plan to enter India with its new Apple Watch. Apple plans to launch the chic Apple watch category in India on 6th November 2015 as listed on its website. The official price in India is yet to be revealed and we will be the first ones to inform you the accurate numbers.
Being said that, if we look at its pricing in the US, it is being sold at $349 (roughly Rs. 23,000) for the base Apple Watch Sport model. So one can expect the Indian price range for the Apple watch to be around Rs.30,000 The Apple Watch model starts at $549 (roughly Rs. 35,600), while the Apple Watch Edition can go up to $17,000 (roughly Rs. 11 lakhs!- Ooh that may hurt!)
Launch
The Apple Watch made its foray initially in selected countries which are France, US, UK, Japan in April 2015. Since then Apple Watch is making a phased rollout in other countries.
Is it worth buying?
Apple Watch seems yet another add on for all Apple lovers. So if you have an iPhone, Mac, and iPod, this will be your next eye candy. Also if you want to own a smartwatch, Apple Watch is perhaps the best option. There is Android Wear from Google. However, to experience the same kind of functionality on Android Wear like that of Apple Watch seems a little low for now. You also have Pebble Time and Fitbit Surge, however featuring limited interactivity with Apple Phones thanks to Apple’s software limitations.
Nevertheless, Apple Watch seems to be a quite sophisticated first generation device. It does trade-off on functionalities like battery life. However, for Apple lovers these would seem minor impediments from buying the Apple Watch. Additionally, Apple launched watchOS 2 (updated software for Apple Watch) that added features like activation lock.
Pricing
If we talk about numbers, Apple Watch is obviously high on the pocket specifically its high-end variants like the Apple Watch Edition which is priced at a whopping 11 lakhs in US. Don’t mistake Apple Watch as tech devices as they are more of luxury products. For the rest of the people, the base variant with the sport band should be financially appealing.
Apple Watch affecting sales of Swiss-watches, will that happen in India too?
Swiss watch exports have decreased in 2015 around Asia and US. The value of Swiss-company watches have sunk 8% thanks to Apple’s launch of Apple Watch which is appealing the high-end market.
The demand for lower-end Swiss watches also dwindled especially watches that are priced below 500 Swiss francs ($520).
Technology again plays a crucial role for manufactures of products to survive in this modern market not leaving even the watch manufactures. Retailers are now nervous to stock cheaper Swiss watches that lack the lack technological verve. The feeling of become obsolete is breeding fear in the lower-end watch manufactures and retailers in advanced markets.
Nevertheless, Apple is all set to enter India with its chic Apple watch product line on 6th November 2015 as declared on its website. The official price of Apple Watch in India is yet to be revealed and we will be the first one to inform you about the accurate numbers.