With the introduction of smart watches, the tech world and the watch world have fused. Or have they clashed? To see how the two sectors are getting along, every Thursday we keep you up to date with tech trends from the watch world. Today we dive into the issue of planned obsolescence and the longevity of the Apple Watch.

Questions have been raised about whether the Apple Watch will seriously threaten the Swiss watch industry. One thing that Swiss mechanical watches have on their side is their longevity. Mechanical watches – with proper care and servicing – can remain functional and accurate for centuries. Such examples are a true testament to their designers and their mechanical execution.

At the leading edge of the tech industry, Apple has also been praised for its innovative designs and user friendly technologies. And the fact that the company has been able to integrate so many functions into a device that can be we worn on the wrist also deserves credit. Yet the question remains, what will be the longevity of an Apple Watch?

I’m not only talking about the issue of battery life, which has actually been more impressive than what Apple had promised. But that still doesn’t mean you won’t have to charge the watch daily.

Rather, here I’m referring to whether the Apple Watch can be upgraded to truly stand the test of time. While a mechanical watch only needs servicing of its existing components, its wearable tech equivalent will require upgrades in both hardware and software to stand the test of time. How feasible is that for the Apple Watch?

Apple Watch - Before

iFixit, a tech repair website, has done all the hard work to answer that question. And the end result is not too optimistic. After the release of the watch, the company got its hands on one and performed a total teardown to evaluate it from inside-out.

According to iFixit:

It seems, therefore, that the Apple Watch, like many other tech products, has built in obsolescence. Eventually, the watch will become redundant, meaning that only new models can operate on the latest software. And I’m sure you are already familiar with this problem: After buying a new mobile phone, you are asked (read “forced”) to constantly upgrade its software to the latest version. Eventually, the new software surpasses the ability of the old hardware to run it, meaning it’s time to buy a new phone. It appears users of the Apple Watch will face a similar problem. In short, it is designed to fail in the long run.

Apple Watch - After

Of course, this is one way to keep consumers consuming, having to purchase the latest model every few years, just to be on trend. But from another perspective, planned obsolescence does not have to be seen as a sinister plot by manufacturers to maximize sales. As marketing expert Philip Kotlertold The Economist, “Much so-called planned obsolescence is the working of the competitive and technological forces in a free society—forces that lead to ever-improving goods and services.”

Yes, on the one hand such a strategy can improve goods by providing incentives for innovation. But sometimes the market doesn’t get it right, as Kotler argues. For example, the idea of planned obsolescence is very problematic for those who bought the gold version of the watch. Paying $12,000 for something that will be obsolete in a few years is something only a few can afford. Unless, of course, you figured out how to beat the system! (VJ)