It’s because in many parts of the world, people won’t buy expensive things unless there is some way for people to know you spent a lot of money and have the newest thing.

I hate the red dot too. Already ordered my WatchDots.

Exactly this. China is a great example. Many many people will buy the LTE model strictly for the red dot, with no intention of actually using LTE, because it's a status symbol. I'm really surprised Gruber doesn't get that.

There was a post I saw recently, that I thought Gruber linked to but I can't find it anymore, about how Apple's strategy of taking old phones and selling them as the lower tier models is great because it means people can buy those phones and nobody can tell that they bought a lower-tier phone (because it looks like they could have just bought the top-tier phone last year and not gotten around to upgrading yet). This was also used to explain why the 5C was apparently a flop, because it was immediately obvious to anybody that a 5C owner bought the cheap phone.

Status symbols are important.

It's the same reason why earpods only come in white. It makes them stand out. White iPod headphones were a walking advertisement/status symbol for years.

I will buy AirPods the moment they come in black... so I'm guessing I probably never will. :)

They also further reinforce the status symbols of the top-of-line Watch by discontinuing Stainless Steel case in all editions except in the Series 3 LTE as well. Though, this also means that the Stainless Steel Watch is not available to purchase at all if your country don't have Series 3 LTE available.

Red is a lucky colour in China.

I hope that's not the reason, because it a huge wart on the side of a device that already isn't as thin and elegant as it might be.

But who knows?

I don't think that could be it in this case.

The LTE version is only $70 more. That's not going to wow anyone. (Well, plus a monthly service charge, which is more significant financially, but has no weight as a status symbol.) Meanwhile, there are more expensive upgrades that are at least as obtrusive, like the stainless-steal case and those designer bands.

I mean, I don't really get it either, but it isn't this.

Maybe it's just a way to highlight a significant new feature?

Well, maybe it's to signal "I have the latest!" (as opposed to a few-year-old one) rather than "I spent $70 more!"

But I don't get it either. I always bought my iPhones when they did the hardware revision (the "s" models), not the design change.

It's like how folks said Starbucks cups were a status symbol. On what planet does $3 buy you status?

I think it's so you can tell at a glance what generation watch you are looking at.

They did a similar change series 1 to 2.

There are people for whom that matters.

The non-LTE variants of Series 3 do not have the red dot.

Right… so if you’re up for some conspicuous consumption, you better shell out for the more expensive model.

You are right the red dot might be the first time. The dial varies all over the map series 1, 2, 3, depending on finish and material.

I can't discern a pattern that isn't just dependent on the finish of the watch.

Probably the classic syndrome of design being dictated by branding/marketing.

I suspect as much, how else can people visually differentiate your status as having Cellular on your watch. Thing is most people can't tell a difference between series 1, 2, and 3.

Time to buy black nail polish... It sure is ugly.