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Apple has reportedly expanded the reach of its first smartwatch to India seven months after the initial launch.
The watch went on sale Friday via Apple’s retail markets throughout the country, just ahead of the Diwali holiday shopping season, The Times of India and other local news sources reported. The device will be available in its three usual variations — the lower-cost Apple Watch Sport, the mid-range Apple Watch and the expensive Apple Watch Edition, and in both 38mm and 42mm sizes.
With a premium price tag even for the least expensive model, the Apple Watch faces challenges in India. Industry observers say Apple delayed the Apple Watch launch in India and that the product may be overpriced for a budget-sensitive market, according to the Times of India. The Apple Watch also faces competition from other devices already selling in or headed for India, such as Samsung’s Gear 2, the LG Watch Urbane, the upcoming Samsung Gear S2 and the new Motorola Moto 360 .
The starting price for the Apple Watch Sport in India is 30,900 rupees ($468) for the 38mm version and 34,900 rupees for the 42mm edition. From there, the price shoots all the way up to 8.2 lakh ($12,400) and as high as 14.2 lakh ($21,480) for the Apple Watch Edition.
Still, the Apple Watch may be able to find a niche in India as it has around the world. The device has dominated the smartwatch market, research firm Canalys said on Wednesday, snagging worldwide shipments of almost 7 million units since its April 24 launch. For just two quarters, that figure was higher than shipments of all other vendors combined over the previous five quarters, according to Canalys.
The Apple Watch is already available outside the US in such countries as the UK, France, Germany, China and Japan. Apple has been rolling out the watch to other markets on a regular basis and last month expanded to Brazil, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
