Apple Watch has 2GB storage for playing music without an iPhone

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Despite glossing over this information at the Apple Watch launch event, Apple has now confirmed the internal storage for the Watch and its ability to store and play music without the need for your iPhone.

The Apple Watch reveal on Monday gave us a lot more information on Apple's next big product (and news on CarPlay and Apple TV), but there were a few details omitted.

Internal storage was one such omission but this has now since been confirmed: 8GB of internal storage, but crucially only 2GB available for music.

This does however mean that unlike many of the Apple Watch features, music playback will be able to function without an iPhone.

With Bluetooth on board, this allows you to use an Apple Watch as a wrist-based iPod streaming straight to a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones.

So you won't have to take your iPhone with you when you go for a run or to the gym. With fitness-tracking billed as one of the Apple Watch's best features, this seems a handy function.

9to5mac reports the confirmation of the 8GB of internal storage, which will be the same on every Apple Watch model, whether your spend $350 or $10,000.

Crucially, only 2GB of that will be available for storing music, which is equal to around 200 songs, depending on quality. Only 75MB will be available for pictures.

Naturally, if you do have your iPhone paired, you'll be able to stream any music on your iPhone. But, where streaming isn't possible or if you don't want to carry your iPhone, you will have that 2GB of storage.

MORE: Apple launches Watch and new MacBook; drops Apple TV price, confirms new CarPlay partners

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).