The Apple Watch vs. Everyone Else

What separates the Apple watch from the many smart watch competitors? We’re going to take a look at the Apple Watch and some others and break down what makes the Apple Watch king of the hill and who is a threat.    

Apple Watch    
As you all probably know, the Apple Watch quickly gained acceptance in a very crowded market with the release of its Apple Watch. In fact, it became so popular that it rocketed Apple to second in sales among wearable manufacturers. 

Part of that success was fostered by the huge amount of Apple fans that can’t help but buy their latest gadget. The other part of the Apple Watch’s success has been based on the fact that as a first gen wearable it did things better than 90% of its peers.    

You see, the Apple Watch is a sum of its parts and those parts give the Apple Watch a luxurious flair. Things like sapphire crystal, 316 stainless steel, Milanese bands, and various leather bands not to mention specially formulated gold and aluminum case options set it apart.    

Samsung Gear S2    
The competition is taking notes, however, and Samsung is one of them that’s been working overtime. The company’s previous efforts in this market have fallen short and the sheer amount of products they offer make it seem like they’re just trying to see what sticks. 

The Gear 2 has the air to it that Samsung really wants to compete in this market and not just be an “also ran”. It features a new round AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass and a rotating bezel. The crystal is very un-watch-like but the rotating bezel will make watch aficionados feel at home. One thing the Gear 2 does better than the Apple watch is the time is always shown. Another neat feature is the integrated 3G for cellular connectivity without being tethered to a phone.  

Huawei Watch     
Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei is looking to compete with an upcoming luxury smart watch of its own. It too will sport a sapphire crystal display and stainless steel case. Following the trend of some other manufacturers, Huawei has chosen to go with a circular display for a more traditional look and feel.   

LG Watch Urbane
LG’s Urbane is an upscale smart watch that now comes in an LTE flavor as well as featuring a circular display which is fast becoming “de rigueur”. The LTE version comes packed with 1GB of RAM and a 700mAh battery for the power user. If the looks of the regular Urbane aren’t enough there is a new Luxe version for your eyes to feast on. Plated in 23 karat gold and sporting a clasp designed by Cartier, this is aimed squarely at the Apple Watch buyer. Be prepared to pay, though — this watch comes with a $1000 price tag.    

So what does all of this mean for the Apple Watch and their competitors?
The Apple Watch took a bite out of the competition when it came to market. While the competition has been taking notes and doing their homework, they haven’t caught up to Apple yet. And many of them won’t, but there are a couple contenders that look to give the Apple Watch a run for its money. 

By Aaron LaBarbera