The rumors, flying for many moons now, have turned out to be true. Meet Apple’s first wearable, the aptly, if uncreatively, named Watch. While the name’s a bit mundane, Apple’s making a big effort to make the thing as customizable as it can, with two sizes, three materials and a slew of different watch bands. We didn’t get to put our fingers on every permutation of the Watch, but we did get to try on a couple of them. Join me after the break, won’t you, and find out what they’re like.
Unfortunately, Apple wouldn’t let me actually interact with the Watch’s UI, as the demo units were simply rolling through screenshots while it was strapped to my wrist. I got to try on both the regular polished steel with a leather loop strap and one of the aluminum Sport versions. As you’d expect, the build quality of each model was impeccable, with a smooth scrolling crown control and a satisfyingly solid snick happening when pressing it or the button situated alongside. Whether gold, steel, or aluminum, its clear that every Watch has been designed and crafted with care — and manufactured to Apple’s usual lofty standards. That said, it’s still a fairly bulky thing to have on your wrist in (both sizes), and no matter how many bands Apple makes for it, we’re not sure that the Watch’s looks will appeal to everyone. It’s not always hip to be a square in the smartwatch game, after all.
The bands were both comfy, though I preferred the look and feel of the leather loop. The magnets inside the leather seem to do the job of clasping well, though without the same magnetic force as those accustomed to the MagSafe connectors found on Apple laptops. As for the rubber sport band, I had some trouble fitting the metal nubbin into its appropriate hole, and I got a little pinch on the underside of my wrist when tucking it into the band. I imagine I’d get the hang of fitting it quickly and painlessly eventually, but my first time strapping it on was not all pleasant.
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