Stopping the Chinese from making cheap knock offs continues to plague big name companies including Apple. The Apple Watch will be released on April 24 in 9 countries but Chinese manufacturers have already got their versions that look surprisingly authentic. To the untrained eye, only the $40 price would hint at something amiss because original Apple watch has a suggested retail price range of $349 all the way up to $10,000 for the 18 karat model and a whopping $17,000 for the Apple Watch Edition. Of course, with the fake Apple watches, there are no apps, software, and iOS, just a strange-looking Android.

As for the genuine Apple Watch  – the geeks are going crazy. Can Apple really be serious about selling this watch as a status symbol for smart watches because of its iOS and apps? The price of the 18 karat model would be equivalent to that of a 4 year travel holiday, classic 1960 Jaguar, or deposit on a house.

Thus far, what has been released about the details of this product are:

• Will only work with iOS 8.2 or later, and will need the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus
• You can customize the watch, get notification from your iPhone, download and organize the apps using your iPhone. You can also send pre-set messages, animated emoji, or voice messages from the watch
• Battery life is 18 hours, less if you use apps frequently

The watch can also get heart rate, pulse, send GPS location, count calories, help you get fit, track your movements and activities, be used to pay for online purchases, use Siri, and display your mood for all to see.

What the Critics are Saying

Naturally, the world would be a quieter place without critics and they do have a mouthful to say about the Apple Watch.  Needless to say, the majority are reserving judgment yet still contributing their point of view.

First of all, it won’t function as anything more than a timepiece without the iPhone. You don’t get cellular activity or GPS which means you still have to carry around 2 gadgets instead of one since the Apple Watch does not replace the iPhone, rather comes as an attachment.

Second, there is a lot going on with the display. Instead of just swiping to get data, you will have to turn the crown, tap and swipe making it more complicated to use.

On the other hand, the piece is beautiful even if it looks a bit bulky and is still just the start of what Apple can do with a watch. No doubt, the lines will be long and stretched out on April 24 – and the watches will sell out quickly simply because it is Apple and First Edition. Pre-orders start on April 10.