Apple Watch clones from Noise, Fire-Boltt, Helix India, and more, are gaining popularity in India by using the same design, user interface, and features as Apple’s popular smartwatch. So much so, that the Indian celebrities who have been photographed wearing Apple Watch are now endorsing its clones as “India’s No.1 wearable watch brand” like cricket star Virat Kholi, producer and director Karan Johar, actress Kareena Kapoor and many others.
In addition to setting up production units, Apple began selling its products officially in India in 2020. During its Q3, 2022 earnings call, the company reported promising sales in emerging markets including India, Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia.
However, it appears that the tech giant might face competition from local smartwatch manufacturers who are selling Apple Watch clones in India and using Bollywood and sports celebrities to promote their low to mid-range Apple Watch clones from Noise and Fire-Boltt with similar design language, watch faces, and other features.
Apple Watch clones in India offer watch faces, workout metrics, and other similar features for a fraction of the price
There are multiple smartwatch brands on the market from manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, and others that offer several health features like Apple’s smartwatch but none have cloned its design and user interface to the T.
ColorFit series by Noise and Ninja series by Fire-Boltt are Apple Watch clones that have the same rectangular design with curved edges, and a Digital Crown or side button. But the straps are not detachable and can’t be changed.
The low to mid-range smartwatches come in 43mm or 44mm sizes and feature customizable watch faces with complications for the date, time, weather, heart rate, steps, and others which have the same layout as Apple Watch’s UI.
For example, the watch faces, the pink, green, and blue activity rings, metrics displayed in the workout app, the call interface, and other elements are copied from Apple’s smartwatch.
However, there is a huge difference in prices. Apple Watch Series 7 starts from $531 (₹41900.00) in India, whereas, the ColorFit series starts from $50.70 (₹4000) and the Ninja series starts from $63.38 (₹5000).
More interestingly, the celebrities who endorse Noise and Fire-Boltt smartwatches have been found to actually be Apple Watch users. This is not unheard of, as celebrities often promote products despite using other brands.
In a social media company for Fire-Boltt, the renowned Indian cricket player Virat Kholi promotes the watch by saying that it offers versatile health features. He also wears an Apple Watch as seen in his Instagram posts from August 23, 2020, October 18 2020, and others.
Actress Kareen Kapoor Khan’s post on Instagram markets the Fire-Boltt Ring 3 smartwatch by saying that it helps her stay fit by allowing her to track her fitness. However, on Instagram, she has also posted a photo in which she is wearing an Apple Watch with a pink braided loop band. On April 18, 2021, she also shared a picture of the total steps on an Apple smartwatch.
Sania Mirza, India’s popular tennis star, was also recently promoting an Apple Watch clone by Fire-Boltt. A look at her Instagram profile also reveals that she is an Apple Watch user.
Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra was also found to be promoting a Fire-Bollt smartwatch, while it’s clear that she is also using an Apple Watch for her workouts.
Actor Arjun Kapoor is yet another celebrity who is promoting the Fire-Boltt smartwatch but can be seen wearing an Apple Watch in another Instagram post.
These are just some examples of high-profile celebrities promoting these Apple Watch clones. The list of influencers promoting these products is quiet long as is evident from the official Instagram profiles of these products.
The phenomenon of marketing products from other brands, while still using Apple products, is very common amongst celebrities. It is interesting to see how many high-profile celebrities are backing these Apple Watch clones, while using the original product for daily use.
