Apple could charge an upwards of $400 for its highest end iWatch, according to Recode. Apple executives have reportedly “discussed charging around $400 for the company’s new wearable device,” although there will also be different models set at lower prices.
Does that mean the top-of-the-line iWatch will actually cost $400? Not necessarily.
Invites for Apple’s September 9th media event have already gone out, and with it being this late in the rumor mill cycle, Apple itself could be intentionally floating a $400 price tag around to gauge expectations.
There’s also the chance Apple hasn’t decided because it still has a few months before shipping actually begins in 2015.
Before the original iPad launch, it was reported that the tablet could cost $1,000, and Apple ended up selling the base model for $499.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of there being multiple iWatches at different prices. Top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was one of the first to say that Apple is planning a lineup of wearables with some models that could cost as much as $1,000.
Charging $400 would certainly make the iWatch the most premium wearable on the consumer market right now. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smart watch costs $300, while most Android-powered watches cost around $200.
The original iPhone was incredibly expensive at $499 with a carrier contract. So $400 for a first-gen Apple wearable that connects to an iPhone and utilizes iOS 8’s HealthKit and HomeKit APIs isn’t exactly outlandish.
The good news is that the wait is almost over. Cult of Mac will be at Apple’s September 9th event for the rumored iPhone 6 and iWatch unveiling. Stay tuned.
Source: Recode
