What is it?

Apple's newest creation: a smart watch.

How will it change my life?

The release of any highly anticipated product should be viewed with the caution of those who know what awaited Dorothy at the end of the Yellow Brick Road. In short, be wary of the hype: you might be expecting a mighty wizard but sometimes all you get is a bloke hiding behind a curtain.

It's an approach I kept in mind when taking a first look at the latest arrival from Apple. The buzz surrounding the Apple Watch has been nothing short of phenomenal with high hopes that it will prove as innovative as the iPod, iPhone and iPad before it.

Apple is trying to attract an entirely different customer base for its latest offering, pitching it not at technology buffs but at the more fashion conscious. This is unlikely to deter die-hard Apple aficionados shelling out for it, of course, so what can you expect to receive for your money?

Good points?

It looks sleek with Apple providing a range of watch faces to choose from, and it is a device that will no doubt become popular with app makers.

By taking its time to enter the wearables market Apple has ensured that the physical quality of the watch has not been compromised.

The personal aspects of the technology are especially interesting and will only grow with expected updates including vibrations on your wrist when a notification arrives on your phone.

The fitness apps are sufficient for a first attempt and have plenty of scope to move forward into other areas such as golf swing analysis.

Bad points?

The battery life is said to be less than a day, which doesn't send a progressive message. Pricing will also present a major obstacle to many potential buyers desperate to get their hands on one.

Best for ...

Those who like to wear their tech bling not so much on their sleeve, but proudly on their wrist.

Avoid if ...

You prefer to let early adopters iron out the bugs before investing.

Score:

6/10. There's no hiding the fact the Apple Watch lacks the sparkle of the company's past successes.

Apple Watch, £479 (apple.com)