Will the first generation Apple Watch become collectible? Or will your shiny new Apple Watch go the way of old iPhones and iPads in a year or two when the upgrade to a newer, likely more feature-filled model proves too hard to resist?
If Apple follows the release cycles of its other products, the Apple Watch could see at least a minor refresh every year and perhaps even a larger overhaul every other year, much like we see with Apple’s iPhones and iPads.
What might Apple’s second and third-generation Apple Watch collections look like? And what will that mean for owners of the current collection?
With a lot of help from our friend Antonio De Rosa of ADR Studios, we’ve envisioned what future versions of Apple Watch might look like based on supply chain chatter, watch trends, and our own intel on what Apple has in the works.
New materials.
One of the most likely possibilities for a next-generation Apple Watch is new case materials. A report from The Wall Street Journal claimed Apple was experimenting with platinum versions of the Watch, which was later corroborated by info from usually reliable supply chain sources.
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Other possibilities, if trends from the watch industry are any indication, could include titanium, ceramics, white gold or even Liquidmetal. A less expensive polycarbonate material like the plastic iPhone 5c or rubber-like fluoroelastomer material (like the Apple Watch Sport bands) is another option that could even lead to a lower price point for the entry-level collection.
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So that’s what we’ve imagined in our Apple Watch 2 renders:
- A platinum Watch Edition model with brown alligator strap
- A titanium Apple Watch model with military style material strap
- And a polycarbonate and fluoroelastomer Apple Watch Sport collection in a range of new colors
A new price.
The second generation Apple Watches we’ve imagined could allow Apple to hit new price points and reach new customers.
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The colorful polycarbonate models (ab0ve) could let Apple hit a lower price point and reach new customers that view the entry-level $349 Apple Watch as a pricey iPhone accessory. The titanium model (below) could provide a new option in the Apple Watch collection, and the platinum model (also below) could be a new high-end Watch Edition collection that appeals to those that aren’t into gold but still want the luxury experience.
New sensors/hardware.
On top of updating the usual internals like the processor and other chips, Apple will likely look to include new sensors in the second-gen Apple Watch that will open up new possibilities for features.
Apple’s Health app provides some clues to the health and fitness data that Apple might be interested in tracking with new sensors. Oxygen saturation data, for example, is something noninvasive products from accessory makers like Whitings already provide to the Health app. GPS features still require a connected iPhone.
And if Apple manages to dramatically increase battery life with the upgraded device, sleep tracking features are almost certainly in the works. We’ve reported extensively on Apple’s research into sleep tracking, including hires of some of the world’s foremost experts in the field, and it’s something a number of third-party accessory makers already offer via wrist-worn wearables, beside sensors, and other products that sync with Apple’s Health app.
Other accessories track blood pressure, blood glucose, and much more, so there are many possibilities to bring these features to the Apple Watch via new sensors. It’s likely not every sensor will be built into the Apple Watch itself, however, as sensors will almost certainly also start to get embedded into straps and other accessories…
More bands/Third-party accessories/Smart straps.
While more bands from Apple is a given as the company introduces new designs for Apple Watch, it’s possible Apple could open up an official third-party program, potentially through its MFi licensing program for accessories, giving companies access to specs for Apple’s proprietary slide-in mechanism for the straps.
For now, straps will require companies to build an adapter to work with Apple’s strap mechanism. One called Click, for example, is already taking preorders for an adapter that allows any traditional watch strap to work with the device.
Smart straps as a platform is also a possibility — straps with embedded sensors like blood pressure monitors or batteries that add new functionality to Apple Watch. Imagine a strap accessory that turns Apple Watch into a blood pressure monitor, for example.
But at this point it’s unclear what the third-party strap market will look like or if the big accessory makers will invest in these types of accessories before official support from Apple.
For now most already announced Apple accessories are docks, stands, cases and other non-strap products, and that market will likely remain a bit of a wild west for now. An official accessory program for straps, however, could be a standout feature for the second-generation Apple Watch.
Camera/FaceTime.
The small green light you see on the display in the renders is a FaceTime camera embedded into the display. A smart watch might not be ideal for snapping photos apart from acting as a remote shutter for your smartphone camera, but a front-facing camera for video chat is one of the promises of the Dick Tracy-style smart watch experience that companies have yet to completely deliver.
It’s not a sure thing for a second-generation Apple Watch, but the addition of a camera would certainly be a big selling point for owners of the original Apple Watch.
Apps will improve.
The big thing developers want from the next-generation Apple Watch (and possibly before) is a fully native SDK for developing standalone Watch apps; currently developers can only build WatchKit apps, glances, and send notifications, all of which require a connected iPhone to function. Apple already confirmed, however, that full-native Apple Watch apps will arrive later in 2015.
With the ability to build native Apple Watch apps, developers hope to gain more access to the device’s sensors and in the process develop apps that would ideally run without the need for a connected iPhone. For now, you can listen to up to 2GBs of music, track some fitness stats with the device’s heart rate sensor and accelerometer, and access a few built-in apps and Apple Watch functions. All third-party apps anything and requiring GPS needs a connected iPhone.
It’s likely that with the SDK Apple will start allowing third-party watch faces, something that is a standard feature on competing platforms like Pebble and Android Wear, but it’s possible Apple will look to improve battery life via hardware and software upgrades before doing so, meaning a full Watch SDK might arrive alongside a second-gen Apple Watch and not before.
Collectibility?
Will Apple’s first collection of Apple Watches benefit from the collectibility that traditional high-end watches typically enjoy? That might depend a lot on what Apple plans to do with the next-generation Apple Watch collections. What remains to be seen is exactly how the pricier $10,000+ models will sell from year to year and if the first collection of Apple Watches might hold their value, or even increase for higher-end models, if next year’s designs are completely different.
While the device itself might become obsolete in a few years as Apple introduces new models with the latest hardware and software, Apple’s bands at the very least could benefit from collectibility. Unlike old iPhone cases, which usually don’t fit new iPhones as design changes are introduced, straps could if Apple maintains the same connection mechanism which is likely.
Apple’s bands could conceivably work with new Apple Watches for years to come, allowing bands from past collections to hold their value longer than current iPhone and iPad accessories.
Head below for a gallery of more Apple Watch 2 renders:
The Apple Watch renders in this post were created by ADR Studios for 9to5Mac. Antonio De Rosa, CEO of Socialmatic LLC, was the first designer to introduce the concept of iWatch (2010). With his design studio, ADR Studio, he’s created many Apple product concepts over the years.
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What about Liquidmetal?
Good point. Added a mention. Thanks.
I think we are going to see this. Apple won’t use the Liquidmetal brand name, they will call it ‘bulk metalic glass’ that’s how it’s known in industry.
I think we’ll also see a Marc Newson signature collection.
Liquid Metal has a problem in that it’s a material that needs to be CAST and not shaped by C&C tools. that’s a giant hurdle to get over.
I’m pretty certain that the little metal rings, around the sensors on the ceramic sensor pack are actually liquid metal already though.
I don’t think requiring casting is the issue, I think that it’s probably very hard to machine since it’s supposed to be harder than Titanium and Stainless Steel, which require lengthy machining process. But Gold is casted before they machine it..
Bulk Metalic glass can be easily cast into complex shapes so long as the part is small. There is no need for machining! A watch case is a perfect application. I believe an iPhone is too large – we will never see a ‘Liquidmetal’ iPhone – besides it is extremely dense and would make for a heavy phone.
Swatch group has a exclusive contract with Liquid Metal for watches. I’m not sure when it expires, but unless Apple’s lawyers are good at loop holes there won’t be a liquid metal version for awhile.
Link to contract PR piece: http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/services/archive/2011/swatch_group_signs_exclusive_license_agreement_with_liquidmetal_technologies
If true, that’s a conundrum because Apple has had an exclusive world-wide patent for the use of Liquid Metal on “mobile electronic devices” for many years, and Apple’s arrangement was first.
Probably this just means that both parties are okay using the stuff, but if they wanted to, Apple would probably prevail in court if Swatch tried to use this on anything other than a “dumb” watch.
Apple could claim the Apple Watch isn’t really a watch, but a mobile electronic device that happens to be worn on the wrist.
I believe Apple has the exclusive contract for ‘consumer electronics’. They could argue that Apple Watch is a consumer electronic product.
Gazzo Bee is right. A smart watch should be considered a mobile device rather than just a watch. :-)
what about GPS tracking without the iphone and full water proof so you can swim with it.
Definitely good points. I mentioned GPS. Thanks.
Apple just filed a new patent application for waterproof buttons. Combined with other water-proofing patents in the last few years, it’s probably a safe bet they will start incorporating these technologies in the Watch and other products… (if they haven’t already.)
GPS is energy intensive. If the goal is to increase battery life they might hold off on GPS.
A device this small is going to have to carefully choose it’s compromises.
The only time I envision using the watch without the phone is when I go for a run. A GPS generated map of my run is of little value to me personally. I’d rather have the longer battery life! I believe it’s the right compromise to hold off on GPS. If developers were to make GPS intensive apps the little watch battery would not last long and this is a bad user experience that Apple wants to avoid
So how do other fitness devices incorporate GPS without killing their batteries?
Thumbs up for FaceTime!
If I am going to look like an idiot talking to my watch, I may as well be seen too.
:)
I doubt it will ever do FaceTime, as it’s an awful idea on a watch. Sorry few realize this. The watch is specifically designed for 5-10 second interactions, and holding your wrist up in a certain angle trying to line your face up in the tiny display so that others can see you and talk for 10 seconds is a horrifically bad idea. Thankfully Apple knows this, and I doubt they plan to ever add a camera to it. What it needs instead of a camera is zero bezel.
This is why I am determined to stick with the Sport model for v1. Upgrading will be inevitable in two years (I strongly believe next year will be v1S with a little battery battery life, better price points, etc). The additional sensors (which I think are there for blood oxygen levels, just not enabled) would be great, but what is needed more than anything else is a rapid charge battery (80% in 5-10 minutes) and/or embedded solar supplemental charging to make this more functional.
Actually, there are no sensors on the Apple Watch as it now exists, that “aren’t being used.” Two are the lights that shine into your skin and two are the sensors that detect that light bouncing back and thus determine your heartbeat.
Additional software tricks could possibly accomplished with these same sensors and thus different utilities *may* be added, but there are no dormant or unused sensors.
Where would you wear the solar panels? How much of the day is the average person out in sunlight? To get any meaningful charge into the watch from solar is impractical with current technologies.
I’m thinking of trickle charging – my Seiko Solar does it with ease and works indoors under artificial light as well. I believe Casio has one as well. Apple has a patent on that as well:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-patent-on-solar-panel-in-touchscreen/
I don’t know who did these renders but I have to say they are all uniformly dark, poorly lit, and just generally awful. I have very limited experience with 3D tools myself, and I could easily do better.
Secondly, this is a tech site right? So maybe we can call a moratorium on reporting on the “Edition” Watches, which are really a fashion thing and not related to technology at all?
All these stories of “different materials” are irrelevant garbage. Who cares if there is going to be a platinum version? No one who isn’t a multi-millionaire is ever going to buy one anyway and those people ARE NOT YOUR READING AUDIENCE. Try reporting just on the Apple Watch itself, and the TECHNOLOGY involved and leave all that shiny, shiny, garbage to the fashion magazines.
Lastly, … “sleep tracking” is a totally new, totally niche thing and that niche is incredibly small. Real actual customers don’t care about sleep tracking much at all. The fact that the first place you go after “improved battery” is “sleep tracking” is just ridiculous and reflects more the bias of the author than the real concerns or hopes of customers in general.
On top of that, what is needed for sleep tracking ISN’T actually “longer battery life” but quicker charging. You still have to have some designated time for charging the watch, and overnight is the obvious choice. The only way this can be avoided is if you could possibly charge the Watch in twenty minutes while you are in the shower.
Even if battery tech improves, it’s more likely that Apple will turn this into “more processing power” or use it up by adding cell radios and GPS, than it is that they will try to make the battery last longer than the one day. The very idea that a better battery will lead to longer times between charges, goes against everything Apple has ever done on that front. It’s just a ridiculous idea.
Do you ever not complain about anything? all I read in your comments is how much you don’t like other people’s work. if it is so bad and you can do better, please do that and stop complaining all the time.
Thank you.
Thank you for complaining about my complaints (see the irony?).
I don’t think I’m particularly any more negative than the next person though. A comments section is basically opinions and such opinions tend to be more negative than positive across the board. This is human nature to a large degree.
Colby’s statement is not actually ironic.
If Colby himself constantly complained, and then complained about you constantly complaining, then THAT would be irony. However, if someone suggests demonstrating your skill more and complaining less, that’s not ironic, that’s encouraging advice. Heck, he even puts a cherry on it with a “thank you” and for the Internet, that’s about as polite as it gets.
Kudos for being a nice guy, Colby! :)
Do you have the slightest idea how prevalent sleep apnea is? Insomnia is also a significant demographic you’re obviously unaware of. Sleep Tracking is a very good feature.
Different materials for a watch is of huge interest to people buying a tech watch.
Battery, any smart watch with a decent display will have to charge every day to day and a half.
Those renders are horrid though. A few of them have overlapping textures, mismatching coloring, disproportionate sizing. I’m actually surprised these were used.
Any CPU cycles picked up by the phone will help the watches battery, however the constant pull on the battery from Bluetooth may offset the savings somewhat. Right now I’d assume that GPS is better off left on the phone, but I don’t know enough about it to say for sure. (GPS size, how much drain, etc)
Well I respectfully disagree about sleep apnea, and also (especially) about the materials. All the “new materials” mentioned are Edition Watch materials. None of them have any prospect of being used in the base Apple Watch, or in the “cheap” Sports model.
In other words, they are *fashion* choices for a group of people that will literally never read the articles on this site. They have no real bearing on the Apple Watch or the technology involved, and no relevance to the majority of the audience of this site.
You’re right, Gazoo is clueless if he/she thinks sleep isn’t a good thing to track. OF COURSE it’s niche right now… Possibly because all wearables are niche right now??? My god… Sensors tracking everything about our physiology will be everywhere and extremely pervasive in technology soon. Sleep is insanely important to health, and waking people at optimal times could be profoundly great.
I’m just waiting for the Space Black Stainless Steel model to be sold with a black fluoroelastomer band. I’ll pay $599 for that but I can’t be spending $1100 for the watch with the stainless steel link bracelet. No chance.
I’m so tired of hearing this same comment. Either get the black Sport version, or wait till next year. Those are your choices.
Oh shut up.
That is just what I said. “Im waiting…” See that?
Oh! I never noticed that wasn’t an option. Wow, that kinda sucks!
As for me, I prefer the Space Gray Aluminum Case with the Black Sport Band. It looks almost the same as the stainless steel anyway. The high-strength aluminum material is virtually as durable as the stainless, but with ⅓ less weight. (If you whack either one hard, I’ll bet they both scratch!) As for the sapphire crystal, there is little point in putting that on a watch. The hardened glass on the Sport is almost as scratch-resistant, and is actually more impact resistant than the sapphire. But again, if you whack either one hard, you’re probably screwed. To me, sapphire makes sense on an iPhone you keep in your pocket/purse with your keys and stuff—not nearly as much on a watch. Also, few people are complaining that their iPhones, iPods, iPads, and MacBooks are made of aluminum. I might have preferred titanium for the watch, but the aluminum alloy Apple is using is comparable without the higher price tag. The only other difference is that the back on the Sport isn’t ceramic. That doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the rich guy who buys the Edition, but is stuck with a ceramic back, too. I mean, ten thousand bucks and you don’t get a gold back? WOW!!!
So when I noticed that the Sport came in a dark gray/blackish color, it made my day! Right color, light weight, best price. What’s not to like?
I don’t know if Apple’s going to sell the black SS model with a fuoroelastomer band. That would kind of be a little ugly. I think Apple should sell the black SS model with a black leather band for $600+, I think that would be better than the fluoro band. Just my opinion.
I think what it is, is that the SS model is a $200 premium over the Aluminum model. That said, the only way to get the Space Black SS model is to pay a $700 premium since your limited to the one and only band. I too like the darker colors and would prefer the SS model, but that’s one huge leap. The $700 premium is enough to purchase 2 other Watches. I think Apple would be better off letting the consumer pick out a Watch ($300 for the 38mm Aluminum and $349 for the 42mm, 500-549 for the SS with possibly another $50 premium for the Space Black SS, etc.) Then pick a band. Apple does it with everything else they sell. You pick a starting point and add features you want, I don’t know why they wouldn’t for the Watch.
Honestly, you gotta give Apple credit here. Even after knowing exactly what Apple watch looks like, people still cannot make a concept of the next gen apple watch that doesn’t look like crap. That goes to show you how difficult it is to make a smart watch that is desirable.
Could this have waited until AFTER the first watch was launched. My god, it just feels we can not never be happy in the moment. We are always wanting the next thing. Can we just grow some patience and let the watch at least go up for pre-orders?? Maybe?
Thank you! I was just thinking the same thing in the first paragraph, lol.
The more the droid haters troll Apple watch articles the more web traffic these articles get. The more traffic the more articles. The best way to make something go away is to ignore it. ( unless it’s your wife, when I tried ignoring here I paid for it dearly.)
I appreciate the effort put into this but those mockups are pretty ugly, especially the colored ones. Apple would never choose those colors. And what were you thinking with that brown leather strap? It looks like my 14 yr old nephews frankensteined Nano/Watch. Apple has made it pretty clear they will not be making traditional/generic bands like that.
I definitely think they’ll be collectable. I don’t don’t think absolescence will deter people from wearing them as fashion. That will add to a certain charm.
As far as plastic ones, I don’t see that. Previous years models will cover the lower price points.
Yes!
The design will be iconic, some people will wear it for the look even after the technology is dated – even if it’s only function is – a watch.
I think Apple will make a separate sleeping wearable device. You were the watch during the day…. then you wear the sleeping bracelet at night. Both will integrate in the Health app.
You don’t see people with expensive watches/bulky/heavy watches sleeping with them at night. They take them off. I take them off.
That’s my guess.
-DB
Yeah Apple isn’t going to make a product just for that. Plenty of people will wear the watch solely as a silent alarm.
There’s merit to this comment. Most people will take the watch off at night. The best user experience for a sleep monitor would be a soft and flexible band… But I can’t see Apple doing that.
I dont think so. The best sleep tracker would be built directly into your typical sleep clothing or underwear. In the future, most if not all will come with this feature.
Alligator bands? Olive colors? Horrible.
You guys don’t deserve Apple products!
Some truly terrible looking mock ups. Good thing Apple’s will never look like these.
Apple Watch needs to become cheaper (obviously) and more importantly slimmer. As a non-watch wearer the bulk of the first edition is the main reason I won’t be buying one: I don’t want a big fugly weight on my wrist.
Also sleep tracking is not new and IS important. The Sleep Cycle app (by Northcube) is easily the best health-related app on my iPhone.
+1 on the next one being thinner. Maybe not Movado thin, but in that direction would be nice.
You might be surprised to see how much smaller Apple Watch is than most other ‘smart watches’. It’s really no bigger than a regular watch.
I don’t think that they can make it slimmer without sacrificing function. A significantly slimmer version would probably take a giant leap in battery technology!
The straps in the renderings are way too short. They make the watch face look gigantic! These rendering are very poor in several respects.
Realistic enhancements:
Gen 1.5 (holiday 2015): 1 or 2 new case materials and straps. Platinum? New colors for Sport, leather bands.
Gen 2: Waterproof, suitable for swimming. 1 or 2 mm thinner. $299 Sport, $449 Watch. Cheaper Link Bracelet.
Gen 3: Integrated TouchID. Blood glucose? Battery cell straps enable GPS, LTE.
Cameras seem unlikely, as these things will be taken into locker rooms and Apple is positioning this for quick interactions and to help escape from intrusive technology.
Gen 3:
i want one now …. but since i swim daily for exercise due to a disability, i will wait till the waterproof version comes out. hope it is sooner than later………….
This is one of the ugliest mockups I have ever seen in my life.
I think a plastic shell will happen once the price of other watches drops (which they will). Camera is a little silly I think, takes up too much space that could be used for other sensors or battery.
Please don’t put the word “point” after the word “price”. I’ve never seen a sentence where you couldn’t remove the word “point” and still have a grammatically correct sentence. It is completely unnecessary and makes you sound pretentious.
Have you owned a smartwatch? A camera is not good. The interaction just takes too long… And it doesn’t really make sense on such a small display anyway… It’s almost a sure that this is not going to be in any generation, especially as apple will most likely make the borders thinner on this device…
I can imagine a lap that would include some sort of flexible battery technology. I’m pretty sure Apple has thought of that already, but perhaps the required technology is not mature yet. Also, I wonder about catching the residual electricity that lives at the surface of the skin, which is used by prosthesis. Might not be alot, but enough to extend battery life by some percentages. And what about gravity actuated battery charging?
i still think the battery life will be the most important thing in any future wearable
What about less bezels and edge sensors for scrolling instead of Digital Crown?
Yeah I thought of that right after seeing the crown. Thought capacitive touch on the sides would have been much better to just swipe your fingers up and down the sides of the device.
I’d like a hypothetical Apple Watch 2 to have built-in GPS and for it to be waterproof enough for swimming. Battery life with GPS in its highest accuracy mode of 16-20 hours should be entirely doable since there’s a whole bunch of sports watches that already do this. ANT+ sensor support might be asking too much though.
Also, I’d like it if the optical HR sensor could be switched off when the watch is paired with a chest strap (optical HR can’t provide R-R/HR Variability and having tried the Mio Link optical HR strap I have my doubts about the accuracy of Apple’s sensor). This will also improve battery life.
The Apple Watch has a lot of potential in becoming a perfectly good multisport watch with comparatively little work. This could also be an opportunity for Apple to differentiate the Sport version a bit more – simply give it more sports features. If the Sport had GPS, better waterproofing and ANT+ and also was the most rugged version it would be able to compete with the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Polar.
I don’t think Apple goes for cheaper, plastic-like, materials. $349 is expensive, but aspirational. I see them replacing aluminum with titanium, given that the Sport model is meant to be light. Depending upon how Liquidmetal evolves, perhaps it eventually replaces titanium, or possibly steel.
What if they were able to built the battery into the watch bands somehow? Then the watch could be much thinner, plus you could have a spare set of bands charging which you could just switch out and voila, fully charged watch.
Those mockups look absolutely hideous.