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Almost 1-in-5 iPhone 6 owners plan to buy an Apple Watch

Much is still unknown about the Apple Watch, but it seems that a good proportion of iPhone 6 owners have already made their minds up about getting one.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer

Much is still unknown about the Apple Watch, but it seems that a good proportion of iPhone 6 owners have already made their minds up about getting one.

According to a survey carried out by Credit Suisse, 18 percent of iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus polled said that they would "definitely" be buying one.

A further 11 percent said "probably," while 27 percent came in with a more hesitant "maybe."

One the "no" side, 27 percent offered up a "probably not," while 18 percent offered a firm "no, definitely."

So, if this poll is to be believed, demand for the Apple Watch isn't going to be a problem, but supply might. Credit Suisse estimates that Apple will only make approximately 20 million Apple Watches over 2015, so getting your hands on one might be tricky. And that could be exacerbated by the fact that Apple will be offering the smartwatch in a number of models and finishes.

What we know of the Apple Watch so far seems to suggest it is a strong product:

  • Starting price: $349 is a great starting price. That's not going to scare people.
  • Design: It's an innovative design, combining some of the paradigms of a traditional wristwatch and of the iPhone, and adding a few new ones.
  • Embeds well into the iPhone ecosystem: iPhones ranging from the iPhone 5 to the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus can play. That's a massive ecosystem of some 200 million devices.
  • Innovative: Not only do we have an innovative design, an innovative way to change and fasten the straps, the Digital Crown, the Taptic Engine, but also innovative - and intimate - new ways for people to communicate.
  • Closely tied to health and fitness: Like having a small, benevolent drill sergeant on your wrist.
  • Doesn't look like a smartwatch: Looks more like a wristwatch than a smartwatch.
  • In fact, it isn't a smartwatch: People haven't been asking for smartwatches, and are, as pointed out by James Kendrick, "downright indifferent to them." At no point did Apple refer to this as a "smartwatch," and that's both telling and a very clever move.
  • Plenty of hype: Did the Apple unveiling generate a lot of excitement? Yes it did.

However, there are a raft of unknowns.

  • Price: While $349 is a good starting price, this will be for the base model. It will be interesting to discover the price ceiling for this product (which, given that the high-end models are made using 18k gold, could be eye-watering).
  • Battery life: Seems like it is a "charge daily" piece of kit, which might rule out certain functionalities, such as acting as a sleep monitor.
  • Storage: How much storage will there be on the Apple Watch? How much space for apps?
  • Developer interest: Can Apple convince developers to support the new platform?
  • What's the lifespan? Are people going to have to buy a new watch every few years as the battery wears out from daily recharges? If you're into 18k gold timepieces, this could get pricey.
  • How durable? Apple products aren't renowned for their durability. Can the Apple Watch - especially the Sports variant - take bashes, bumps, and exposure to water and sweat?
  • Comfort: How does it feel to wear, especially day in, day out?
  • How much can it do without an iPhone? We don't know.

What's right (and wrong) with Apple Watch

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