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Apple Watch Sport includes a plastic magnetic charger, not metal like the more expensive models

As users unbox their new Apple Watch units today, customers who bought the Sport version are receiving a bit of a surprise. The inductive charging cable bundled with Apple Watch Sport is actually made of plastic rather than the nice metal finishes of the more expensive stainless steel and gold watches.

The material is very similar to other Apple accessories which have white gloss exteriors. It’s unclear why the Sport does not get the fancier cable: it may be simply for cost-saving purposes to maximize Apple’s bottom line or it may be a design choice to better match the materials of the Watch itself.

The Sport charger was actually spotted in an Apple environment video earlier this week although at the time it was unidentifiable. Apple’s public messaging did not make this distinction clear between the variants of Apple Watch, so some customers unwrapping their Apple Watch Sport purchases may be disappointed by this revelation.

Customers wanting the fancier metal charger can buy it from Apple online separately for $29 (1m) or $39 (2m), as an additional accessory.

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Comments

  1. rogifan - 9 years ago

    You don’t know but post this article anyways because you know it will get clicks with people complaining. God I hate click bait journalism.

    • Benjamin Mayo - 9 years ago

      I honestly don’t see this as clickbait. You don’t have to click — I gave the story away in the headline. It’s just a fact that needs reporting, that is all.

      • OneOkami (@OneOkami) - 9 years ago

        I agree Ben, I don’t see what you did as clickbait. Your headline and furthermore the excerpt was informative about the article and not a “tease” to bait you in. And as someone who did not buy an Apple Watch I’m grateful because this is news to me.

        Apple never showed off this variant as far as I know. It’s available on the store but I never saw it in marketing material.

      • Dafty Punk - 9 years ago

        Actually a click bait title would have been something more along the lines of: “You won’t BELIEVE what Apple is doing to Sport owners! The answer will SHOCK you!”

        For more examples, look at the weather channel homepage. How far they have fallen.

      • 1sugomac - 9 years ago

        “I thought the Apple Watch was amazing until I discovered something shocking inside the box!”
        “Apple Watch buyers are left in shock. See what made their jaws drop!”
        That’s click bait.

    • This is basically the opposite of clickbait, the headline gives you the story and the article just expounds on it. If it was clickbait it would be something like “You’ll never believe this difference in the Apple Watch Sport charger!”

    • Go to BGR and see what click bait journalism is. This is not.

  2. Bryan Hough - 9 years ago

    And this is a 400 dollar watch!! No thank you. This seals the deal that I will be purchasing a Moto 360 and waiting for Google to make it compatible with iOS. Apple Watch is bulky, square, ugly, overpriced, and has no killer feature that makes it any better than the nicer Android Wear devices.

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      Let’s be honest, you obviously never were really planning on getting an Apple Watch. Btw my iPad was more expensive than the Sport watch and it comes with a plastic charger.

    • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

      That’s good for you, because now, with the Apple Watch released, the Moto 360 will be like $50. Granted $50 for that is $50 overpriced, but hey.. at least I won’t be the one seen wearing it.

      By the way, if you think the Moto 360 is pretty, or good design, well, your taste…. it’s not good.

    • houstonche - 9 years ago

      I was wondering how long it would take for someone to lose it over this.

    • secdj - 9 years ago

      Lmaooo too funny. They can charge 400 dollars for a watch with a plastic charger. Plastic Apple is a LOT better than Gold Motorola. But hey, go ahead, you will be the only one regretting it. By the way, this proves my point: Android people like android not because is good, just because is cheap.

    • vasilios300 - 9 years ago

      Hahaha funniest post I’ve heard in a while. “This seals the deal..” Wait, what???

    • jrox16 - 9 years ago

      Really? THAT’S where you draw the line, the plastic housing on the charger? LOL. I’m pretending you’re not an Apple hating troll who is simply using this as a poorly veiled way to just bash an Apple product, because it’s so weak that it’ll be fun to rip apart.

      1) The Apple Watch is “bulky”?? Compared to the Moto360? LOL, you have obviously not seen either. I have tried both on and the Moto360 is much larger and bulkier than the bigger Apple Watch, and everyone knows this.
      2) No killer features? Well, there might not be a single “killer” feature, but it can do plenty more than any Android Wear device. It can pay at NFC terminals using Apple Pay, can the Moto360 do that? It has the digital crown so you can actually see the list of notifications you are scrolling through without covering them up with your finger. Can the Moto360 do that? In a pinch, you can answer and speak to phone calls on the Apple Watch, can the 360 do that? It can just answer but then you have to use your phone, which makes zero sense to do.
      3) It has dozens of band and case color combinations. The Moto360, much fewer.
      4) It has a better higher resolution screen with better pixel density than the 360.
      5) It’s square, which means you can read the text on the screen as if it was a real smartwatch, not having it cut off at the edges like a strange product that can’t decide whether it’s a traditional watch or a smartwatch.
      6) And this is the best one….. The Moto360’s charger is also PLASTIC.

      And yeah, it’s $400 because you get more for your money. Again, NFC payment ability, taptic feedback, better quality higher pixel density screen, tighter less bulky design, and the digital crown which means you can scroll lists without covering the screen with your finger.

      I still think the Moto360 is a nice device and for the money a great option, but the rant above is simply playing devil’s advocate to your extremely weak argument against the Apple Watch.

    • 1sugomac - 9 years ago

      This seals the deal because the Moto 320 also comes with a PLASTIC CHARGER!

    • 1sugomac - 9 years ago

      Apple successfully made a square watch.
      Motorola tried to make a round watch and failed…hence the correct name Moto 320.

    • roguedog - 9 years ago

      Well… I guess that covers the, “which is uglier and bulkier debate”. I’m just speechless. But, on the subject at hand, IT’S A FREEKING CHARGER, WHO CARES! if you want a metal one chunk up the 29 bux and buy 1.

  3. bullgodmomma07 - 9 years ago

    Works the same. Why does it matter if it’s plastic or metal as long as it does not break.

    • OneOkami (@OneOkami) - 9 years ago

      Given Apple has been marketing this as a fashion accessory I do think it’s fair to argue aesthetics matter.

      • rogifan - 9 years ago

        You don’t wear the charger. I don’t see people complaining about the rubber bands, and those you do wear. Sheesh.

      • Are you going to walk about with the charger hanging out of your pocket to shown off like?

      • OneOkami (@OneOkami) - 9 years ago

        No, i’m not going to wear the charger or walk around with it hanging out of my pocket. But I wouldn’t expect people to wear designer ring catches and walk around with custom-made jewelry armories, either. It certainly doesn’t stop them from existing nor people placing aesthetic value in them to accent their fashion accessories.

  4. voondebah - 9 years ago

    May not look as nice but it seems more practical. Less chance of scratching the watch body while trying to attach the charger.

  5. Oflife (@oflife) - 9 years ago

    Which begs the question, does Apple use a wireless charging standard, such as Qi, so users can lay their Apple Watch on any other charging pads laying around? If not, this is evidence they are intentionally garden walling their technology for no other reason that profit. (I have a Moto 360, and it charges on any one of my pads in under 90 minutes – not just the clever Moto one supplied.)

    • 1sugomac - 9 years ago

      There is no wireless charging standard if hardly anyone uses it.
      But don’t worry I’m sure when Apple develops a good wireless charging solution, they will sell millions and it will be available in coffee shops and hotel rooms everywhere.

    • galley99 - 9 years ago

      From what I’ve read, it is compatible.

    • roguedog - 9 years ago

      Oh! I thought you knew, Apple is in the business to MAKE PROFIT. That’s why it’s called a BUSINESS, the really nice thing though, is, you aren’t forced to buy it. Every company you deal with is in business to MAKE MONEY, PROFIT, FRANKLINS, DOUGH, MOOLAH, DOLLARS, … it just makes CENTS!

  6. htisch76 - 9 years ago

    That’s bs!

  7. JoeyNice - 9 years ago

    I wonder if Apple will eventually sell that one cheaper than the current available $29 charging cable, also I can’t wait to see if the 12W USB Power Adapter recharges the  Watch quicker than the standard 5W.

  8. theaccidental - 9 years ago

    Ya get what you pay for. I understand some concern in that the plastic charger hasn’t shown up in any marketing materials, ads, etc. that I know of. While not necessarily deceptive, it should maybe be stated in the “What’s in the box” that it’s plastic. Having ordered a steel watch it’s nice to know that there are subtle differences between the Sport Watch and Watch that justify the additional cost such as ceramic back vs. plastic, sapphire covers over the sensors, sapphire crystal, and now the metal charger.

  9. Oh, you mean I was right the other day, when I said it [the white charger] was not a “new” unreleased base station for the Apple Watch, and caught flack by Jeremy Horwitz for calling out 9 to 5 Mac for posting an erroneous article that was way too similar to click bait?

    Jeremy, Gurman, I’ll accept that apology now.

  10. jkruehne - 9 years ago

    ? I don’t see a point here – all other Apple charger/connectors were made from the same “Plastic-Aesthetics” …
    anyhow.
    I would more like to see a transparent-plastic cover for the package the watch was in …
    (but in the end you were wearing it on your wrist – and its not bulky (my point ; – )

  11. rtdunham (@rtdunham) - 9 years ago

    Which charger comes if you order the one meter $29 “Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable”? Metal or plastic? Mine’s been delivered but I won’t be home to check it out for another ten days.

    • chasem13 - 9 years ago

      The extra one meter charger is metal

  12. acslater017 - 9 years ago

    I wish Apple would have detailed all of these little differences in the boxing and charger. To me, there’s no single difference worth the $200. But educate me about the nicer charger, the nicer felt box (for storage/transport), the stainless steel, the sapphire crystal, and maybe they’d have sold me.

  13. David Ross - 9 years ago

    I am 99% sure they did specify the Sport shipped with a plastic charger in the Keynote. I remember thinking i would much rather have the stainless charger.. Then i realized they do the same thing and it doesn’t really matter.

  14. Emilio Estevez - 9 years ago

    And what’s wrong with a plastic charger? Personally, I’m getting the stainless steel and the nicer charger further helps a little to justify the $200 premium. I wouldn’t expect the cheaper item to have all of the bells and whistles of the more expensive item anyway. As long as both chargers work with both watches I’m sure we’ll be able to buy a variety of chargers in the future made out of a variety of materials. This is just the beginning.

  15. James Wilson - 9 years ago

    The should’ve purchased the SS version

  16. Well, this solves the ‘Apple Watch Charging Dock’ rumours.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.