Quickly ticks: 10 years with the Apple Watch

Apple boss Tim Cook reached deep into the Steve Jobs trick box when the Apple Watch was introduced. Like Jobs’ at the legendary presentation of the first iPhone, Cook focused on three simple cornerstones 10 years ago to illustrate the meaning of the new device – time display, communication as well as health and fitness.

It was not a routine keynote, but the first completely new Apple product category that Cook launched after Steve Jobs’s death. Apple presented the watch at two events, first in autumn 2014, then again before the start of sales in April 2015. The uncertainty at the time was covered with Hybris: The crown of the Apple Watch was an as revolutionary input device as the mouse and multi -touch, Cook said without further ado. It was then presented how Apple Watch users send each other their heartbeat and knock on the wrist-such “digital touch” later buried Apple deeply in Watchos. The icing on the cake was the Apple Watch in real gold, which cost up to around 18,000 euros.

Tough start, consistent further development

On April 24, 2015, the Apple Watch came to the market and immediately came across the harsh reality: The first generation was practically overwhelmed by practically everything that went beyond the display of the time and messages. The user interface was complex, many functions hidden. Apps started incredibly slowly, if at all. Without an iPhone dragged along, the watch could only have a little, basic functionality such as GPS, mobile phone connection and apps from third-party providers had to contribute the Apple smartphone.

But Apple improved briskly and persistently – for software such as hardware. With Series 1 and Series 2, more power came in 2016, a GPS module plus swimming suitability. The 18-carat variant, however proudly presented, also steadily threw Apple out of the portfolio. Mobile communications followed with the Series 3. Crucial jumps then brought the Series 4 and Series 5: With a solid 1-channel ECG and the warning of cardiac arrhythmias, the clock became a serious health companion. This was followed by the Always-on display, so that the watch has shown the time since then-and not just briefly when lifting the arm.

Always smaller steps

After the turbulent first five years, however, the air seemed to be out: the watches have been manageable since then, including more or less important sensors for temperature and blood oxygen measurement. With the Apple Watch SE, Apple expanded the line-up with a slimmed down, somewhat cheaper entry-level model that has not been updated for almost three years. In the meantime, the Apple Watch Ultra brought a fresh wind with its significantly larger display and a longer battery life. Since the subsequent S9 chip, the watch can be controlled with a double tip gesture. The current Series 10 reached a clock milestone: it is able to permanently display the ticking second hand for the first time-just like an analog wristwatch. Disappointing that Apple only supports this display in three dials.

The Apple Watch has remained surprisingly loyal over the years. The time display, communication as well as health and fitness are the focus unchanged. A round of smartwatch can be searched in vain at Apple, hardly anything has changed in the basic design. But the display got bigger and larger and the housing flatter. Pleasing: The bracelets of the Series 0 also fit the Series 10. It is less pleasant that the battery life is still lean. The non-Ultra variant hardly creates two full days in normal operation without refueling. A shortcoming, especially if it is worn for sleep tracking overnight, which Apple requires more and more health functions-including a warning function for sleep apnea.

The fact that the watch can be a lifesaver likes to depend on the big marketing bell – and not wrong: in fact, the watch can motivate more movement and has undoubtedly drawn attention to serious health problems at an early stage.

No more growth in Apple Wearables

Initial discussions about whether the watch is a flop, quickly fell silent. Even if Apple never called specific sales figures, the smartwatch has long been considered a business success story. However, this recently stuttered: In the past two financial years, Apple’s sales with wearables have been declining for the first time. So far, Apple has hardly needed serious competition at Watch, because iOS contains a number of special curls that are withheld from other manufacturers. In the EU, the manufacturer has to change this for the forced: In combination with the iPhone from iOS 19, other smartwatches could offer similarly convenient functions – and thus also spur the Apple Watch into larger jumps.