Thought you knew everything there was to know about the Apple Watch? Think again.
Apple fans worldwide began posting their unboxing videos and first-impressions on Friday. While reviewshave been out for weeks, we did learn a couple of new things about Apple's first wearable.
1. You can use the charger with other gadgets.
The Apple Watch uses a MagSafe charger that magnetically attaches to the underside of the device. Apple Insiderreader Albert C. Lee was able to get a MagSafe charger early and discovered it could be used to charge his Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch.
In theory, if the Apple Watch's MagSafe charger is compatible with Qi-based wireless chargers, you could use your own charger, or even buy a cheaper one (Apple's MagSafe charger sells for $29).Mashable tested the MagSafe charger on a Moto 360 and it worked, but we weren't able to get the Apple Watch to charge on two different Qi wireless chargers, so cheap alternate chargers for your Apple Watch probably aren't a thing.
2. It's more waterproof than you think.
The Apple Watch is water-resistant, not waterproof. FoneFox decided to test that claim by using the Apple Watch in the shower and lathering it up with shampoo and soap, submerging it in a bucket for five minutes, and swimming with it for 15 minutes. (Of course: We don't recommend you try any of this yourself.)
The Watch survived all of the tests. Here's one interesting tidbit: Although the touchscreen doesn't work underwater, the digital crown does.
3. It has a secret blood oxygen monitor.
IMAGE: IFXIT
The folks at iFixit flew to Australia to be among the first to get an Apple Watch and as with all new gadgets, they immediately got to cracking the thing open.
According to their teardown on a 38mm Apple Watch Sport, the heart-rate monitor is actually more powerful: It can measure blood oxygen levels. The strange thing is, Apple doesn't advertise this feature nor has it activated it in the Watch. Maybe it'll be activated in a future software update?
4. Worn off band? No returns for you!
Apple will reportedly not be accepting any returns or replacements for Apple Watch bands that show signs of discoloration, deformation or scratches and marks, according to an internal support document obtained by 9to5Mac.
Everyday wear and tear is to be expected. The document shows images of a leather band grossly discolored from sweat and lotions, as well as deformed leather bands and scratched stainless steel link bracelets.
5. The Apple Watch Sport has a plastic MagSafe charger, not a metallic one.
IMAGE: 9TO5MAC
As if getting the Watch Sport wasn't enough of an announcement to the world that you got the cheapest model, the MagSafe charger that comes with it is also cheaper. First spotted by 9to5Mac, the Sport's MagSafe charger is made from plastic, not metal like the ones that come with the Watch and Watch Edition.
6. The Apple Watch charges fast.
The Apple Watch has a tiny, tiny battery. The 38mm Apple Watch has a 205 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery. The Verge's Tom Warren says his 42mm Apple Watch can go from 50% to 100% in one hour. Maybe you won't need those battery bands after all. Just keep your MagSafe charger and a battery pack handy on those long days.
7. The packaging differs depending on what model you get.
Everybody knows that Apple takes extreme pride in designing delightful packaging for its products. People love watching "unboxing" videos, where other people film themselves opening up new products and showing off the box's contents.
Naturally, since there are three different tiers of Apple Watch — Sport, "regular" and Edition — there are three different types of packaging. The Watch Sport model (above) comes with a rectangular-shaped box with the wearable laid flat.
The regular Watch (above) comes in a plastic square-shaped box. Of course, the holy grail Watch Edition (below) comes in the nicest packaging of them all: A premium box with leather lining that doubles as a charging dock.
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