Apple Watch priced from $499 to $14,000 in Australia

APPLE'S much touted smart watch will be available in Australia from $499 on Friday, April 24.

APPLE'S much touted smart watch will be available in Australia from $499 on Friday, April 24, with CEO Tim Cook describing it as the ultimate time piece for technology lovers.

The gold edition will have a recommended retail price of a whopping $14,000.

"Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it," Mr Cook said.

"We can't wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before."

"Conceived, designed and developed as a singular product, Apple Watch merges hardware and software like never before," said Jony Ive, Apple's senior vice president of Design.

Apple Watch introduces new technologies including the Digital Crown, an innovative way to scroll, zoom and navigate fluidly without obstructing the display.

The Retina display with Force Touch on Apple Watch senses the difference between a tap and a press, providing a new way to quickly and easily access relevant controls.

The Taptic Engine™ discreetly delivers a gentle tap on your wrist whenever you receive a notification or message.

Apple Watch keeps time to within 50 milliseconds of UTC, the universal time standard.

Apple Watch can be personalised with watch faces ranging from traditional analog such as the Chronograph face, to the information-rich Modular face, or beautifully animated butterflies and jellyfish on the Motion face.

As well as telling the time, the device can display sunrise/sunset, upcoming calendar events or daily activity level. 

You can send messages, read email and answer calls to your iPhone  from your wrist.

 With Digital Touch, Apple Watch allows you to communicate in all-new ways by sending a sketch, a tap or even the rhythm of your own heartbeat. 

Health & Fitness Companion

Apple says its watch encourages you to sit less, move more and get some exercise every day.

The Activity app provides a simple visual snapshot of your daily activity with three rings that measure active calories burned, brisk activity and how often you've stood up to take a break from sitting during the day.

It provides the detailed metrics you need during dedicated workout sessions for the most popular activities, such as walking, running and cycling through the Workout app.

With an accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone, Apple Watch smartly uses the best sensors for different types of motion and provides a comprehensive picture of your all-day activity and workouts.

The Activity app on iPhone collects your activity and workout data from Apple Watch so you can see your history in greater detail.

It uses this history to suggest personalised activity goals, reward fitness milestones and keep you motivated.

The smartwatch available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, and in three distinct collections-Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition.

Apple Watch Sport features a lightweight anodised aluminium case in silver and space grey with a Retina display protected by strengthened Ion-X glass and matching high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport Band in five colours.

The Apple Watch collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases with a Retina display protected by sapphire crystal.

The Apple Watch collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band.

Apple Watch Edition features cases specially crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-karat gold clasps, buckles or pins.

It delivers up to 18-hour all-day battery life and comes with a charging solution that combines Apple's MagSafe® technology with inductive charging for a quick connection that simply snaps into place.

Apple Watch becomes available for pre-order from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/au) on Friday, 10 April, Apple retail stores and department store shop-in-shops will begin offering customers the chance to preview their choice of Apple Watch and try it on in-store.

Pricing & Availability

Beginning 10 April in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple's retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/au).

On 24 April, Apple Watch will be available online or by reservation in Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorised Resellers in China and Japan. Customers who purchase online or in-store from Apple will be offered Personal Setup to customise and pair Apple Watch with their iPhone.

Apple Watch is available in three collections, Apple Watch Sport, priced at recommended retail price AUD$499 inc. GST and RRP AUD$579 inc. GST; Apple Watch, available from recommended retail price AUD$799 inc. GST to RRP AUD$1,629 inc. GST; and Apple Watch Edition, crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, with a recommended retail price starting from AUD$14,000 inc. GST.

Starting today customers can explore and choose their favourite Apple Watch in the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/au) or through the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad.

Apple Watch requires iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 8.2. or later. iOS 8.2 will be available for download today.