A Look Back at the First Apple Watch: Apple’s Entry into Wearables

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, Apple’s foray into the wearable tech space. Announced on September 9, 2014, the Apple Watch introduced innovative features like the Digital Crown and Force Touch, changing the smartwatch landscape.

Conceptualization and Launch

Codenamed “Gizmo”, Apple began developing the watch in 2011 under Jony Ive’s leadership. The goal? Create a device that revolutionized communication, health tracking, and user interface. After extensive R&D, Apple finally revealed its first wearable in 2014, with its release on April 24, 2015.

First Apple Watch Features and Specifications

The first Apple Watch came in 38mm and 42mm sizes and three collections: Sport, Stainless Steel, and the high-end Edition with an 18-karat gold case. Its Retina display featured Force Touch, and the Digital Crown allowed users to scroll and navigate without touching the screen.

Powered by the Apple S1 chip, it had 512 MB RAM and 8 GB storage. The watch tracked heart rate, steps, and calories, syncing with iPhone GPS for better accuracy.

Health and Connectivity

Although it offered basic health monitoring—heart rate, steps, and calories—the watch required an iPhone 5 or later for most functions. It featured Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, and an 18-hour battery life charged via MagSafe.