The hype surrounding the Apple Watch has apparently forced competitors to drop prices for their own smartwatches in order to stand toe-to-toe with Apple's new gadget.

Among these competitors is Motorola, which is currently selling its Moto 360 for $179 at Amazon and Best Buy, specifically models that come with a leather band, according to Apple Insider. Models with a metal band now cost $220 at Best Buy and $229 at Amazon.

The move means a 28-percent price cut for the leather band version, which originally started at $250, as well as a 23 to 26-percent price cut for the all-metal version, which originally started at $299.

The price cuts may be a wise decision if Motorola wants to compete with the Apple Watch, which will go on sale for prices ranging from $349 to $17,000, VentureBeat reported.

Motorola is also rumored to be working on a second-generation model of the 360, which made its debut last September, Apple Insider reported.

Another watch experiencing a drop in price ahead of the Apple Watch launch is the MetaWatch, which originally cost $179 but is now available for only $15 plus shipping at deals site Meh.

Friday was the first day that Apple fans got the chance to go to their local Apple Store and try on the Apple Watch to see how it feels and works. The gadget will be available in three versions (Sport, Watch, and Edition) when it goes on sale April 24.