A couple of days ago, we unboxed the Apple Watch Sport. And despite ordering them at the same time, it took a few more days for the stainless model to arrive. But now that it’s here, I decided to unbox that too. To add a little more value to the video, I wanted to compare the Watch and the unboxing experience with that of the Watch Sport.
Right from the outset, the Sport and Watch models are different. While the Sport comes in a long, rectangular box, the stainless steel Watch comes in a much squarer package.
Under the lid is the plastic, square box with rounded corners. Underneath that is the booklet containing paperwork, which in this case is a quick start guide. Inside the box you’ll find the power adapter sat right in the center, surrounded by the magnetic charging disk and its extra long cable. And here’s where you notice the first subtle difference.
Unlike the all-plastic charging disk from the Apple Watch Sport, the stainless model’s charging disk has a brushed metal covering with incredibly shiny edges. And it you look closely, you’ll notice that it’s also thinner than the plastic one. It’s a small touch of added luxury and premium design.
This same flare and quality is shown inside the plastic box. When we open it up, the box itself is lined with a soft, textured material. Both the lid and the base are coated in it, as is the rounded insert used to hold the watch strap’s shape. There’s also a precise groove in the lid and base to ensure the watch stays in position during transit. This is a far cry from the simple plastic tray used to hold the cheaper Apple Watch Sport.
And once we’ve removed the plastic insert, peeled off the film and taken a quick look around, we can power up the Apple Watch and pair it, the same way we paired the Sport model. Like all Apple Watches, it has the same internal components, controls, user interface and display. It’s when you look at materials that you notice the real differences.
On the back we have a heart rate monitor built in to a ceramic disk, which itself is encased in a lump of custom stainless steel. A really shiny metal is matched by the fixing points and the clasp on the classic, black leather strap.
The Sport model is different in that it is a duller, anodized aluminum finish. Its display is covered in ION-X glass rather than the more expensive sapphire crystal used in the steel one. And the heart rate sensor is built in to a composite disk. All these differences in material make the Sport model lighter, and less durable. I noticed fine scratches in my Sport Watch after just one day.
For those who want to use the stainless model for both exercise tracking and formal occasions, you can easily fit the Sport band to the steel case. It fits nicely and ensures you don’t ruin your soft natural leather strap when you’re getting your sweat on. The shiny stainless steel looks just as suited to the sporty strap as it does to the leather.
