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Early Look: How does Apple Watch stack up vs rival watches?

A woman holds the Apple Watch Edition during a demo following an Apple event Monday, March 9, 2015, in San Francisco. Make calls, read email, control music, manage Instagram photos, keep up with your workout, pay for groceries, open your hotel room door. CEO Tim Cook says you can do it all from your wrist with Apple Watch — for 18 hours a day. That's how long the battery will last on an average day. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) A woman holds the Apple Watch Edition during a demo following an Apple event Monday, March 9, 2015, in San Francisco. Make calls, read email, control music, manage Instagram photos, keep up with your workout, pay for groceries, open your hotel room door. CEO Tim Cook says you can do it all from your wrist with Apple Watch — for 18 hours a day. That's how long the battery will last on an average day. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By Associated Press March 10, 2015 5 min read

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Apple made a strong case for how you can use its upcoming Apple Watch, and the device stacks up well against the competition.

If you’ve waited for the Apple Watch to decide on a smartwatch, here are some things to consider in weighing whether you really need one. You’ll need an iPhone 5 or newer, while the rival watches will typically work only with Android.

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PRICE

Apple Watch is among the most expensive on the market. You can get an Android smartwatch from Motorola or Sony for $250. You can get a high-end Samsung Gear S with its own cellular connectivity for $300 through AT&T, plus the monthly cost of a data plan.