Update: The Apple Watch is now official, it's out in 2015
Essential reading: Apple Watch hands-on review
As September 9 – the date of Apple’s global event in Cupertino – draws nearer, the incessant rumour mill turns faster.
A host of new reports over the weekend have suggested that Apple’s wearable, should it be announced next Tuesday, could feature a hefty $400 price tag, and may not be on-sale in time for Christmas.
Re/code reporter John Paczkowski attributed anonymous sources to the claim, which would normally mean that such reports should be taken with a very large pinch of salt. At Wareable we avoid baseless speculation, but given that Paczkowski has correctly reported a number of Apple stories, including that the Cupertino company would hold its event on 9 September, it seems his sources are up to scratch.
Paczkowski also revealed that the iWatch could come with a range of models and price points:
“Pricing has yet to be finalised for the forthcoming product, which is expected to begin shipping next year. Sources say consumers should expect a range of prices for different models including lower priced versions,” he wrote.
“Sources in position to know tell me it won’t arrive at market for a few months,” he continued. “We’re unlikely to see it at retail until after the holiday season — think early 2015.”
Missing the opportunity to make their wearable device the Christmas must-have is a blow to Apple, but it did the same with the original iPhone, delivering it six months after its announcement – and look how that worked out.
Check out our iWatch rumours round-up for an in-depth look at what we're expecting.
How we test
James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.