Why Are Apple Watches so Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

By Moses Johnson - Managing Editor
7 Min Read

Apple Watches are undoubtedly the most expensive smartwatchs on the market.

From their sleek design to the user-friendly interface, there are so many reasons Apple Watchs are so expensive.

Apple Watch was launched in 2016 and since then it has been ruling the smartwatch category for about 6 years now.

There are multiple reasons why Apple Watch is quite expensive than other options available in the market.

Top 10 reasons why Apple Watches are so expensive

1. Accurate Fitness tracking

An Apple Watch can help you meet your sleep goals, track important information related to your heart, log your medications, encourage you to wash your hands, and track your menstrual cycle.

When it comes to the smartwatch users look for fitness-tracking features. There are a number of brands available in the market that are equipped with these features but the problem is accuracy. The accuracy is not up to the mark that gives you false data.

It can be disappointing to have such smartwatches that cannot track the activities for which you have bought them. But Apple fitness watches are upto the mark because they come with insane fitness and health tracking sensors and algorithms.

The overall reliability of an Apple Watch also adds to the overall watch pricing.

See also: Can the Apple Watch Series 8 measure blood pressure?

2. Durable material

One of the most apparent reasons why an Apple Watch is so expensive takes us to the physical materials it is made from. Just like any other Apple Products, an Apple Watches must be of a certain build quality to command their hefty ‘premium’ price tag. As such, Apple cannot skimp on their materials.

The main difference between other smartwatches and Apple Watches is the lifetime use of the watch.

After purchasing an Android smartwatch, it may function quickly and efficiently with performance comparable to that of an Apple Watch.

However, the performance quickly starts to decrease, usually within six to seven months.

Users can reset the watch to bring back some of its performance capability, but it will never be able to function as it did when it was first purchased.

Apple Watches, on the other hand, retain their performance capability for years.

They can still function as fast as they did when they were first purchased.

The main reason for this is that Apple uses extremely high-quality materials to make an Apple Watch, which ensures a lifetime use capacity much longer than that of Android smartwatches.

While Apple has secured the first position among fitness smart watches it is also best when it comes to durability and build quality. Apple Watch 7 is made from 100% recycled aluminum polished stainless steel that gives it a premium look. These are some of the features that make it a bit more expensive than any other brand available in the market. Even if you go to the market you will find that it’s only Apple watches that are made up of premium material.

To afford these great materials, Apple needs to charge a hefty price.

Even though Apple Watches have a hefty price point, it pays off in the end because the watches last much longer than the several $200 Androids that you would have to buy in the same period as owning a single Apple Watch that could last you many years.

3. Levels of finishing

Feeding off of the point about the materials, the materials that make up an Apple Watch will also usually be finished to a high standard. This means the watch surface has been expertly polished, brushed, and constructed so that it looks immaculate and fits together correctly.

You might notice that an Apple Watch just looks different from afar than a less expensive watch; this is usually due to the higher level of finishing that make up an Apple Watch.

4. User-Friendly Interface

One of the trademark features of Apple devices is the easy-to-use interface that anyone can pick up and learn quickly.

While smartwatches made by other companies can be challenging to figure out and are often riddled with bugs and viruses, Apple Watch has intuitive software that is easy to learn.

For people who need more help in learning how to work an Apple Watch, the Apple store runs several free classes for learning things from beginner to advanced technology levels.

Since the brand’s inception, Apple has sought to erase the need for an instruction manual by making all of the products intuitive.

iTunes made music so easy that it ushered in the extinction of the CD.

Steve Jobs himself said, “Any product that needs a manual is broken.”

One of the reasons Apple Watches are so expensive is that you can buy yourself a lot of time that you would have otherwise spent trying to learn how to use the device.

Apple Watchs are so easy to use that there is no need for an instruction manual.

5. Compatibility With Other Apple Devices

One benefit of the iCloud technology is that it automatically syncs with all your Apple products. An Apple Watch has no exception.

For example, as soon as you receive a message on your iPhone, you can access it on your Apple Watch.

Similarly, when you send a message on your Apple Watch, it will appear automatically in Messages app on your iPhone.

In addition, an Apple Watch can unlock an iPhone, an iPhone a Watch, and a Watch a Mac.

When you buy an Apple Watch, you are buying the seamless technology that allows you to connect your watch to your and others’ Apple products.

6. Exclusive Features

Another primary reason why Apple Watches are so expensive is the exclusive features on Apple smartwatches.

The features on Apple Watches are very impressive.

The company focuses well on retaining the features Apple Watchs already provide with the addition of the latest features.

There are quite a few unique features that are worth looking at and considering as you look at the advantages of an Apple Watch.

For example, Crash Detection feature on Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra can detect impacts and automatically call emergency services and contacts.

Unusually high or low heart rates and irregular heart rhythms (known as arrhythmias) could be signs of a serious condition.

But many people don’t recognize the symptoms, so the underlying causes often go undiagnosed. Notifications in the Heart Rate app will alert you to these irregularities so you can take action and consult your doctor.

These exclusive features add real value to the Apple Watches.

Of course, the problem with all of these great features is the pricing.

See also: Can the Apple Watch Series 8 detect heart attacks?

7. Sophisticated Appearance

When looking at an Apple Watch, you can usually tell it came from Apple by its design alone.

Besides the tell-tale Apple logo, the brand has a specific look that it tends to lean towards.

They focus on making their products look sophisticated and minimalist.

That sort of design makes products look expensive.

When something looks sophisticated, people often think that it’s probably valuable or was expensive to make.

They’re able to forgive an expensive price tag because the design of the product looks like it matches the price tag.

A lot of people who love the design and look of Apple products are more willing to spend money on a watch that follows that design and look.

While there are other smartwatches out there, since they’re not produced by Apple, they don’t always have that signature look of sophistication.

As such, they may not want to buy them because they doesn’t match the rest of their aesthetic.

They’d rather pay more money to get the right look for their watch.

Apple Watches are expensive because they look expensive.

8. Brand Name

One of the main reasons Apple Watches are expensive is that you’re paying the Apple price.

Apple has a reputation for providing high-quality products.

However, they also have a reputation for selling those high-quality products at expensive prices.

Because Apple has built up its reputation over time, its customers have come to expect high prices.

This allows them to put an expensive price tag on the Apple Watches because people tend to already expect them to be on the expensive side.

A brand name is more expensive than a third party brand because of the trust it has built with its customers.

It markets itself in such a way as to make it look as though it sells superior products.

When people buy those products and find satisfaction with them, it reinforces the marketing and reputation.

The customer is more willing to pay higher prices on brand names because of marketing.

9. Research And Development Costs

Apple doesn’t push out new Watches out of thin air.

A lot of thought goes into the design of each new watch.

Apple spends a lot of money on its research and development team.

Those who are part of the team are responsible for introducing new and innovative features of keeping an Apple Watch useful.

This usually means they need a certain amount of money to start researching and testing new features.

They then thoroughly test the features to see if it gives the kind of results that they want.

If it doesn’t, then that entire project gets scrapped.

That means monetary resources have gone to waste.

Once the team has a features that they think will work, they do more testing.

That requires more money because they need to buy things to test the new features.

The engineers themselves also need to get paid.

Throughout this testing, Apple isn’t earning any money from the sale of that specific product.

They’re in the hole with that item.

Once the engineers approve the new feature, it gets put through development.

Then they’re back to the drawing board for the next big thing.

Apple is able to stay as competitive as it does because it focuses on innovation.

Innovation is expensive.

Apple Watches, thus, are expensive because Apple spends a lot of money on its research and development teams.

10. Associated Costs

There’s a lot that goes into the manufacture and sale of Apple Watches than people might first think.

All those associated costs are also why Apple Watches are expensive.

One of the biggest costs is shipping and transporting.

While Apple Watches aren’t that heavy or large, Apple still needs to ship them in bulk.

Even if the shipping costs are low, those are still costs that Apple needs to cover to earn a profit.

Shipping costs can also vary due to factors outside of Apple’s control.

High gas prices, driver shortages, and even distances to the buyer’s location can all impact the price.

Then there are also markup prices from whatever store is selling the Apple Watch.

If people aren’t buying directly from the Apple store, then they might be buying an Apple Watch from another electronics store or general store.

Those stores need to earn a profit, too, so they mark up the prices of the product.

That adds a few dollars to the price tag as well.

There’s also the cost of marketing the product.

No one is going to buy the Apple Watch if no one knows about it.

Apple has to spend a lot of money to market the Apple Watches.

The company is aware that people have a lot of choices when it comes to getting smartwatches.

As such, it needs to prove through its marketing why its latest Apple Watches are worth it.

That costs money as well.

All these costs add up for Apple which means it needs to sell its Apple Watches at higher prices.

Conclusion

Now you know the main reasons Apple Watches are so expensive. Apple Watch includes great features, durable materials, easy to use interface and more.

You are also making it a lot easier for yourself by purchasing a product that is compatible with other Apple products.

Though Apple Watches include a high price tag, you are investing in a fitness tracker and a watch all in one.

Additionally, you are investing in your own convenience.

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By Moses Johnson Managing Editor
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Moses Johnson is the Editorial Director of GeeksModo.com, who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. Moses is commonly referred to online as The Professor, with decades of experience in tech under his belt.
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