Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Anyone less enthusiastic about the 4?
- Thread starter iSheep5S
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Im a fan of the stainless option, but I also place a certain value on a watch. Spending $700 + tax on a new SS series 4 is just ridiculous to me! I absolutely love the new design and features, and I would buy it at the right price point. But for now Im happy with my used S2 SS purchased for $200 about a year ago 
From a runner’s perspective - the extra 1 hour or outdoor workout time will allow me for the first time to complete an entire marathon with just the Apple Watch. From a day to day perspective the better cellular reception is going to be a huge win this generation as I loved that on the S3, but found it to loose signal too easily, so far with the S4 I’ve been getting the signal to pick up both quicker and to have stronger connections (including access in places I didn’t on the S3) - so this is huge especially while running without my phone.
I purchased a cellular S3 and love it. It's my first AW. Jealous of the new form factor, btu I find the S3 to be pretty quick as it is. I guess since I never had a S0 or S1 I am unaware of how slow the previous versions really are.
I figure by S6 or I will bite the bullet. Love my S3.
I figure by S6 or I will bite the bullet. Love my S3.
You kidding, right?
I haven't gotten mine yet, and I come from an OG, not S1, but I've fiddled with a demo watch and dude... the improvement is absolutely massive. MASSIVE! It's like night and day. The display, well obviously, so much bigger and nicer. New haptic motor, way way more precise in feel, and the feedback when scrolling is great. You even get an extra "thump" when you reach either end; a little Apple special touch there. Processor and graphics speed improvement is just monstrous. Bring up maps app, and OG watch is just stuttering and stammering all over the place. Load time is huge, screen updates jerk and wobble. S4 watch scrolls and zooms fluidly like water, map data download speed is tremendously faster. Again, massive difference.
Pre-ordered first day after pre-orders opened up, still no sign of it a week later and I can't wait until I get mine, honestly. (Well, I'm just gonna have to, heh.)
So these are my thoughts. Obviously some will not appreciate the significant changes with the Series 4. But after actually wearing the Series 4 in comparison to my older Apple Watch, it feels so much better on my wrist, its somewhat lighter (10% lighter with the Stainless model) and it just looks better in general with the new display. And it’s also thinner (Which is noticeable).
I really do think if you compare the Series 3 Apple Watch compared to the Series 4, it really does make the Series 3 look that much more ‘dated’. But that’s the nature of tech in general, as it evolves, it becomes more refined overtime. I Think the Series 4 is a step in the right direction, even though the price points are not reflective of some not wanting to spend that amount, The popularity is clearly on demand, as Apple is now adding a second supplier due to the overwhelming response with orders booking almost into November now.
I personally do not miss the older style Apple Watch at all. It was time for a change. (<—Pun intended).
I really do think if you compare the Series 3 Apple Watch compared to the Series 4, it really does make the Series 3 look that much more ‘dated’. But that’s the nature of tech in general, as it evolves, it becomes more refined overtime. I Think the Series 4 is a step in the right direction, even though the price points are not reflective of some not wanting to spend that amount, The popularity is clearly on demand, as Apple is now adding a second supplier due to the overwhelming response with orders booking almost into November now.
I personally do not miss the older style Apple Watch at all. It was time for a change. (<—Pun intended).
I just found out that my S4 works through my car audio!!! My S3 wouldn't connect to my car no matter what I tried (I don't have apple play in my car). Not sure if anyone else had this issue w/ the 3 but I'm just beside myself. Finally, can stream apple play and use car's audio without my phone. One happy camper here . Might be another case for the 4.
. Might be another case for the 4.
The S3 to S4 upgrade wasn't exactly compelling, but it was persuasive enough that my wife (who's generally very skeptical about upgrades) and I both upgraded to the S4. I like the slimmer case and larger display, and I think I'm getting more accurate indoor and outdoor workout tracking.
Same. I went into it expecting basically the same thing with a larger screen. Wow, was I wrong. This thing is fast. I never really paid much attention to how slow my S2 was until I tried the S4. Everything opens instantly on this thing, no more loading circle when doing basically anything on it.
I've already taken advantage of that.
As have I (S3 stainless), and it’s a great update from an S1 (aluminum) for less than $200 net.
This is why I am sticking with the aluminum models. Apple has made great hardware improvements with the Apple Watch every year thus far, so I can trade in the aluminum models with less of a money hit. I was weary about upgrading from an S3, but it was worth every penny. The sensors are definitely better, and the info graph face and larger display have been great to have.
I just found out that my S4 works through my car audio!!! My S3 wouldn't connect to my car no matter what I tried (I don't have apple play in my car). Not sure if anyone else had this issue w/ the 3 but I'm just beside myself. Finally, can stream apple play and use car's audio without my phone. One happy camper here
The other watches had no problem connecting to ford sync radios anyhow. You had to manage the pass code on setup but that was about it.
I upgraded because of the EKG, I now find in the UK it is very unlikely that we will get the feature this year and maybe not next.
It is nice but my S2 was good enough for my needs.
I had an S3 LTE version, and upgraded to the S4 LTE version, mainly because of the size change. I have wanted one with less bulk, and this S4 is noticeably thinner on the arm. Because of family heart issues, I was excited about the new heart monitoring features, and, because we live out in the country and I’m home and working outside a good bit, I was pretty excited about the fall detection as well - pretty neat feature.
I also had a local buyer for my series 3, so that kinda pushed me over the edge.
I also had a local buyer for my series 3, so that kinda pushed me over the edge.
Sounds like the S4 is like coming from a 3GS to an X with the way most of you are talking.
I guess with the money waiting for stock I’ll have to sit on it.
Heh. I'd liken it to the jump from a 7 to an X. A generation skip (the 8), a new form factor that squeezes much more screen into a similar form factor, and a lot more speed.
I went from a S2 to a S4 and the difference is massive, where’s the difference between an iPhone X to a XS is tiny, I’d gain a slightly better camera and background blur control, that’s about it.
I have a 42mm S3 (and had a S2 and the S0), and I've decided to wait until the S5 before upgrading, unless some really good holiday sales pop up. Somehow, there seems to be this view that the S3 screens are not good, but in terms of what I view day-to-day, it's more than good enough to make it hard to justify the upgrade just for the screen. The S3 was finally fast enough to make using the watch enjoyable, as opposed to an exercise in patience, and for times I've needed it, the cellular function has worked great. I spent some time comparing my S3 (42mm) to the two S4s (40mm and 44mm) at the local Apple Store; it had a bunch watches just sitting on a table to try, with different bands. If a bigger/bolder display is what you want, no question that the 44mm is the way to go, particularly as the fonts are thicker on my favorite watch face (Modular/Infograph Modular). I assume that the brightness on the display units were cranked all the way up (maybe even to daylight/max brightness mode for the demo units), because they were extremely bright. The regular Infograph watch face was just too much at the set brightness (to the point of being distracting), and on the 40mm, it just seemed cramped. Somebody on a different thread said that Apple needs to optimize some of the watch faces for the larger screen size, and I agree. The Infograph Modular watch face essentially adds only one additional complication compared to the Modular watch face on the 42mm S3. I'm hopeful that the S5 will iron out any kinks that come up with the new design, have better battery life, and a refined ECG function. But the main reason I won't upgrade this year is that I just like the design/look of the S3 over the S4. Somebody mentioned that the S4 is Pebble-like, and i agree. The differences are subtle, but I prefer the S3 design, and it's too bad they couldn't have just put in a larger screen in that case size. I'll get over it, because next year there will be no choice.
Yeah, someone has to ask. Someone who is sitting on the idea but doesn’t use his Series 1 for anything more than a fitnesses tracker.
They are out of stock near me so I’m mulling the idea.
Anyone sticking with their S3, S2, S1 or the dedicated ones with an S0?
You all seem excited about the new gadget but after the new and shiny? How’s things?
I have a series three and I jumped at the chance to upgrade, this is the biggest upgrade to date. I think the 3 was the first apple watch that was marginally usable, the 4 is the first version that is the real deal. Larger screen and *super* fast.
Me too. I am sticking with S3.I've already taken advantage of that.