Undeniably, the Most Appealing Smartwatch Ever Created

The production version of the Apple Watch, finally here, was finished exactly as specified six months ago and shown on Apple's website. It was a smartwatch that lived up to its promise, or rather, was more beautiful and appealing than expected.

While numerous smartwatches have been released by various companies,Samsung, LG, Sonyto name a few, I can confidently state that this is the "most appealing smartwatch ever," in a different league from existing smartwatches in terms of design, functionality, and quality.

The seamless and beautiful fusion of the case, made from different materials for each of the three grades—18K solid gold, stainless steel, and aluminum—with the protective crystal (sapphire crystal or Ion-X glass), and the bracelets and straps made from various materials like fluoroelastomer, stainless steel, and leather, all exhibit a level of craftsmanship that would make luxury watchmakers pale. The ease of use of the magnetic buckle, a specialty of Apple, especially on the Milanese loop, is truly impressive.

The wealth of features realized through pairing with an iPhone running the latest iOS 8.2, available for download simultaneously with the March 9 announcement, is also overwhelming. These features can be broadly categorized into three main areas.

A watch function with millions of customizable watch faces, always accurate to the second, both aesthetically and functionally. Making and receiving phone calls. Sending and receiving emails. Sending sketches and taps to specific contacts, and transmitting heart rhythms. Web searches via voice input using Siri. Navigation to destinations with haptic feedback utilizing the iPhone's GPS sensor. Displaying various information such as weather forecasts, and searching and displaying text and images stored on the iPhone. Controlling the iPhone's camera. A rich set of communication and information features, including airline tickets and hotel door key functions using Passbook.

And a health and exercise function that supports various activities like walking, running, and cycling using the accelerometer, heart rate sensor, and the iPhone's GPS function, constantly measuring and recording your activity to provide support.

The ability to smartly control and enjoy most of these basic iPhone functions from your wrist, combined with new personal, appealing, and fun features unique to a wearable device worn on the body, is a significant addition. Furthermore, the new feature where the sensor automatically detects your wrist and activates the screen when you look at the watch face, without needing to explicitly turn on or lock the device, is also innovative.

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Priced from ¥42,800 to ¥2,180,000, on sale April 24

The Full Picture of the Highly Anticipated Apple Watch (Part 2)

An Undeniable Sense of Fun & Excitement

So, beyond its sophisticated functions and design, what is the greatest feature and appeal of the Apple Watch, something that previous smartwatches lacked? It is the "fun and excitement" that anyone can immediately feel.

It's the confidence that "wearing this will enable you to do fun things you couldn't before. Your daily life will become more enjoyable. You'll achieve a more stylish and new lifestyle."

It inspires a positive mindset, encouraging you to communicate more with loved ones or start exercising. And it can be used without any instruction manual.

There is no other wearable device as smart and stylish as this. Moreover, the fun and excitement will only grow. Even now, there are many apps that make "every day more fun and exciting," such as the function to exchange sketches and taps with friends. In the future, software developers are expected to release a steady stream of similar apps for Apple Watch.

The lack of this "fun and excitement" was precisely the biggest reason why smartwatches had failed until now. The Apple Watch has finally, and effortlessly, brilliantly overcome this hurdle.

The Only Major Issue: A "Short Battery Life" of Approximately 18 Hours

However, as a pioneering, proposal-driven product, a "dream-chasing" product like Sony's early concept-driven devices, there is one issue. It is the "18-hour" battery life, officially announced for the first time at the production version's unveiling, which is significantly shorter than that of the host iPhone. In other words, like the iPhone itself, it requires frequent charging every day.

Considering the constant communication with the iPhone via Bluetooth 4.0 and the driving of the beautiful Retina display, this is unavoidable with current battery technology. However, it is designed for easy charging, unlike the iPhone's cable connection. Therefore, charging it alongside your iPhone at the end of the day should pose no problem. Some might complain from the perspective of traditional watches. But the Apple Watch is not a traditional watch. It is a wrist-worn, the most fun and user-friendly wearable computer and information communication tool ever created, surpassing the concept of a watch.

Our Recommendation: The Two Accessible Grades

By now, some iPhone users may have decided to purchase one after reading this. So, which collection is the right fit for you?

If you have a casual style for everyday life, then the "Apple Watch Sports" with its aluminum case and fluoroelastomer sport band, priced at ¥42,800 (38mm case) and ¥48,800 (42mm case), is the clear choice.


For those who always wear business suits, we recommend the "Apple Watch," with a price range of ¥66,800 to ¥126,800, offering a moderate and high-quality formal feel with its stainless steel case. And if you want a distinctive taste that sets you apart, the choice would be the "Apple Watch Edition" with its 18K gold case (38mm size only).

Regarding the price of the Apple Watch Edition, the fluoroelastomer sport band specification starts at ¥1,280,000. The price setting of ¥2,180,000 for the leather strap with a gold classic buckle is exceptional, even by the standards of luxury watches.

We encourage you to see and feel the appeal of the actual product, which will be on display at Apple Stores from April 10. We are sure you will be excited.