2014 is certainly shaping up to be the year that wearable technology finally comes to the mainstream. With Google’s recent announcement of its smartwatch operating system, Android Wear, taking the wearable tech world by the throat, and Samsung’s Gear watches livening up consumers’ fitness routines, the time is now perfect for Apple to swan in and heat up the competition with its own smartwatch – the iWatch. Only rumours are circulating at the moment and with no actual announcement, we’re not yet sure what the iWatch will look like. But thanks to some dedicated designers and excited Apple fans, here are five of the most stunning iWatch concept designs.
Tomas Moyano
No buttons? Interchangeable strap?
The first concept comes courtesy of Tomas Moyano. It shows a smooth, round face, and the watch has no buttons or holes – so it could be IP67 water and dustproof. Moyano also points out the lack of a speaker, with notifcations alerting the wearer through vibrations that will be in contact with the user’s wrist.
Yrving Torrealba
A minimalist, transparent concept here from Venestudio. The interface looks like it heavily borrowed from Apple’s iOS phone operating system, with the time, battery, and swipe unlock all akin to the iWatch’s iPhone sibling. But what would the transparent material be made out of? Would it be flexible enough?
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Ciccarese Design
Designed by an Italian team of IT engineers, this concept looks basically like an iPhone on your wrist, but is still gorgeous to look at. The strap has a flexible design, more like a bracelet than a traditional watch strap, and there are no buttons – only touchscreen.
Tolga Tuncer
A very slim design, this one from Yanko Design used a solar cell to keep charged and flexible material to snap around your wrist. The designers emphasise that this design is NON touchscreen, keeping size to a minimum. The watch is actually controlled by a touchpad sensor beneath the watch face.
Esben Oxholm
A sleek, slim, and sexy black iWatch concept design from Danish design engineer Esben Oxholm. The only physical button is the much-recognised home button, found on iPhones, and the strap can be altered by adding in removable sections that make it bigger or smaller. A slick idea!
