Design and Art news, reviews, comments and original features

Apple Watch Features Two Storage Options: Rumor

The unveiling of the Apple Watch, while exciting, did not reveal all of the technology that will power the tech giant's upcoming smarwatch.

One of those unknowns may have been revealed, however, Apple Insider reports.

In a recent investors note obtained by the website, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri claimed that the Apple Watch will come with two different storage options: 4GB and 8GB. Arcuri believes the 4GB variant will serve as "the mainstream model" with the 8GB option serving as another way to stand out from the competitors, including the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and Sony Smartwatch 3, which only come with 4GB.

Arcuri cites supply chain sources, which also informed him that the device's wireless chip could come with a GPS radio.

The Edition version of the Apple Watch, meanwhile, may run consumers $1,200, TechCrunch reports.

The publication sources "jewelers familiar with the material" used for the smartwatch based on its weight and size:

"Chad Rickicki, a watch expert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said that a case the size and shape of the Apple Watch in 18 carat gold would cost about $600 to make. The rest -- the electronics and markup could double that price.

See Also: Apple Watch's Battery Life May Be An Issue  

That doesn't mean that all of the Apple Watches will rest in the rarified air of haute horlogerie. The lower end sport versions will start at $349 and presumably the standard versions, simply called Apple Watch, will receive a premium over that. The Edition watches, however, are expensive because gold is expensive, even at 18K and intermixed with Apple's alloys."

The 18-karat gold used in the Edition model, which also packs a sapphire crystal display, was dubbed "twice as hard as standard gold" at Apple's unveiling of the device last week.

MacRumors notes that the Edition version could also come with boxes that double as chargers.

The Apple Watch, which starts at $349, will come in two sizes and three collections, allowing users to customize the device to their unique needs for function and style. It is expected to release in early 2015.