Five reasons not to buy the Apple Watch

Apple delivered much-anticipated final details of its new wearable device this week - the Apple Watch.

Coming in three different editions - the Watch, Sport and Edition - users have the choice of two different screen sizes - 38mm or 42mm - and a choice of six colours. The Watch will go on sale in the UK on 24 April.

But here are five reasons you might not want to queue round the block to get your hands on one:

1. It depends on the iPhone

For much of the Watch's functionality to work, it will need to be paired to an iPhone 5, 6 or 6+. If you don't have an iPhone then there's not much point in having an Apple Watch. And even if you do, well then you're just spending your money on a really expensive iPhone accessory.

2. It has a questionable battery life

Because of the small screen's high resolution, the Watch's battery will last an expected 18 hours. If it's used extensively then this time could well be cut short. And as Timothy Kennett points out, the Apple page on battery life worryingly highlights "actual results may vary".

You will also need a new charger that is different to ones used for the Mac or iPhone. Unless you carry the extra charger with you or your friends have one, your Watch will inevitably lose battery if you go away anywhere for the night.

3. The interface is confusing

Initial reviews of the user interface and its have been underwhelming. “On first use, the device felt a little confusing and clumsy,” wrote Stephen Pulvirent at Bloomberg. “Sometimes it seemed to do one thing; at other times, just the opposite."

Nilay Patel at the Verge called the controls “confusing” and Scott Stein at CNET called the interface “hard to figure out”.

4. It's expensive

The Apple Watch starts at £299 in the UK, rising to £13,500 for the premium Edition range.

As Timothy Kennett explained in the Independent: "[This] price positions the Apple Watch as a luxury, which indicates that the watch itself is essentially useless. Luxury products are not distinguished by their utility, but by their price tag. Their point is not be useful, but to show how much money their owner has."

5. It's a timepiece that isn't timeless

As Gideon Lichfield noted in the Quartzweekend brief, there is an inherent contradiction in the high-end version of the Apple Watch: "Expensive jewellery and high-tech gadgets both serve as status symbols; but while a classic watch derives value from its age and timelessness, a tech item does so from its newness and timeliness, and these cannot coexist."

When the latest version of the Apple Watch is inevitably released, no doubt with a range of new features, will this first edition feel instantly outdated? It could just be an expensive fad if so.

More: What you need to know about the new Apple Watch

Comment: Let's face it - the Apple Watch is a very stupid idea