A new Apple Watch is coming. Should you buy a deal now or wait?
If you've been debating whether or not to get an Apple Watch, for yourself or as a Christmas present for a special someone, that decision isn't going to get any easier.
Although the deals we've seen in the past couple of weeks have made Apple's pricey smartwatch more affordable, recent rumors are now suggesting that it may be outdated before you've even mastered all of its features. (Or as a recent study suggests, know what it does.)
According to 9to5Mac, Apple is rumored to unveil the Apple Watch 2 at an event in March, alongside an iPhone 6c. The first Apple Watch became available in April of this year, which would put this announcement at about the 1-year mark since the watch debuted.
Should You Wait for the Apple Watch 2?
There are of course advantages to waiting for the new model, and many tech sites are boldly declaring that it's pointless to buy the current Apple Watch if it will be updated in March. While exact specs on the new watch are still unknown, Apple has reportedly been working on a new FaceTime video camera, iPhone-free WiFi, and improved sleep and activity tracking.
Whether such features materialize in March remains to be seen, however, and you must also decide for yourself if they will be worth the cost. The Apple Watch 2 will, at the very least, debut at the current Apple Watch's $349 starting list price (if not higher), and it will be several months before we see prices drop.
For example, the first discount we saw on the current Apple Watch came three months after it debuted, and the deal only shaved $9 off the retail price. A few more small discounts trickled in, but shoppers had to wait seven months overall in order to save $50 to $100. So you won't see a deal on the next Apple Watch until at least the summer of 2016.
Or Should You Save $100 Now on a Current Apple Watch Deal?
If price is a concern for you, then it's hard to argue with the Apple Watch deals we're seeing of late. Possibly fueled by these recent rumors, Best Buy has a $100 discount on all Apple Watch models, with prices starting at $249 for the 38mm Sport. Meanwhile, Target sells the same watch for $349 with a $100 gift card and B&H Photo and Video has it for $299 with a $50 gift card.
Prices Could Continue to Drop, Even if You Wait
Of course, there's always the option of waiting for the announcement, and hoping for even betterdiscounts on the previous generation once the next model is made public. If the old model is tossed aside by Apple, then stores will start clearing out any remaining inventory. There's also a chance that Apple will keep the original watch around but at a lower retail price, like it has typically done with the iPad.
You could also forgo an Apple Watch altogether and opt for a less expensive smartwatch, a fitness tracker, or if you simply want to wear something on your wrist, an old-fashioned timepiece.
What do you think? Will you buy an Apple Watch now, later, or not at all? Let us know in the comments.
