Apple Announces Swimproof 'Apple Watch Series 2' With Built-In GPS and New Ceramic Edition

[recoil80]

So - any kind of "for $100, you can have your original Apple Watch be serviced and get an S2 upgrade" kind of deal going to happen? I would love it if it was that simple to get the faster CPU on my original Watch.

I don't think it is going to happen.
Watch series 1 is an implicit admission that the original Watch was too slow, like many other Apple products version 1 is always lacking something.
You may try to sell the original Watch and buy series 1
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Did putting the S2 in the current gen and calling it Series 1, just kill the resale value of my Gen 1???

Of course it does.

Series 1 is a good deal. If you're not interested in swimming with the watch and never go running without the iPhone series 2 offers just a brighter screen, but we don't know yet how bright it is.
I'm not sure if I'll buy Apple Watch this year, but I always have the iPhone with me so series 1 looks ok.
I expect some good deals on the original Watch, either on ebay or places like bestbuy but I'd prefer series 1 for the new chip.
I wonder if they added RAM to the S2 as well as a new dual core cpu. With the ability to quickly open recent apps more ram would allow more apps to stay in memory for that purpose.

 

[blewyn]

Just so I'm clear - the actual Apple watch is the same in all these models yes ? Only the cases and straps are different ?

 

[mdellepi]

The real surprise is the Series 1 with updated internals. If you don't swim and you are not too much into running, at 100$/€ less than before is a great product!

 

[ts1973]

I'm not happy at all with the prices in Europe.

Example : series 1

US price : $269 => about € 239
Price in my country : € 339 incl. VAT, or about € 280 without tax.

Why € 40 ($50) more over here ?

Example 2 : iphone 7 / 7+

US price : $ 649 / $ 769 => € 576 / € 683

Price over here : € 769 / € 909 or € 635 / € 751 without tax.

Why € 60-70 more ???

This smells like plain greed Apple, or is it to offset the dwindling sales and hence make everything more expensive to up the profits ?

As a comparison : an S7 edge costs € 689 incl. tax over here, or € 220 less (25%) than a 7+. These prices cannot be justified any more, the Apple tax is getting rediculous.

 

[ilian92]

I feel sorry for everyone who bought a gold Apple Watch which was obsolete in 18 months instead of buying a mechanical watch which will last hundreds of years. Actually, I don't often sorry for stupid people who have more money than sense.

You do realise that the current Apple Watch won't stop working the second the new one is out, right? It will still tell time just about the same way it always has, the same way a mechanical watch does. The new one may have a feature or two extra, but the core function of being a watch won't exactly disappear.

 

[oftheheavens]

Did putting the S2 in the current gen and calling it Series 1, just kill the resale value of my Gen 1???

Yes it dropped resale $60 over night on the site I was going to use.... dangit I should have sold a couple days ago.... May as well just keep it as a memento now instead of getting the $100 for it. Wife already approved i can get the SS this year so whatever.
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Ceramic looks amazing.

No word on battery life at all.

Strange omission.

Just wish it came with a ceramic link bracelet for that price. I am getting the SS link but really wish I could get the ceramic with a link.
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SOLD.

My first gen watch is currently cracked. I'm replacing it launch day, no questions asked. This with the AirPods and I'm one happy camper.

Im upgrading as well but Im going with SS link this time. The sport screen scratches to easy. (an the boss approved my getting a more expensive watch since I wore the sport everyday lol)

 

[Tech198]

hehe.. swimproof...

Trying to frantically read through, i don't think i saw anything about improved battery life on this.

Probably, no better time to get the Series 1 watch anyway

 

[S.B.G]

Though I have little interest in the AW, I am glad to see they added GPS and water resistance too. Those are big features for active and sports inclined people. That testing contraption they showed yesterday for long term water testing was pretty cool I thought.

 

[kilcher]

What happened with those leaks of the new size of the watch and the reduced thickness?

No one was saying the watch would be thinner. Pretty much everything out there said the dimensions would be the same and the thinner components would make room for a larger battery (to power GPS and a brighter screen, not necessarily to increase battery life).

 

[adamjackson]

What about the watch itself (edges, sides, area where links attach) -- has the black finish scratched to reveal plain steel beneath? I am wary of the stainless steel due to the gloss finishes - the non-colored stainless seems to show lots of scratches. I have the space grey aluminum watch, which is a matte finish - and there are no noticeable scratches as far as I can tell. I would like to upgrade to a SS black or simply SS, but they sound less durable.

The watch finish is flawless, sapphire screen is scratch free. Just the links and clasp itself that rest on the inside of my fore-arm that rub on a desk all day while typing are showing wear and only at the edges. No DLC coating on the main exposed areas has been affected. Should I snap a few photos?

 

[RamGuy]

Got to admit. The new Apple Watch is actually more tempting to me than the new phone. As one who runs a lot, the addition of a GPS would make it possible for me to sync Apple Music playlists and actually go for a run without my iPhone Plus. I also want to replace my Apple Watch Sport with a Apple Watch (Steel) as I'm using it every day. I went with the cheapest option as I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to use it a whole lot or not.

 

[69650]

Please no... I have had an Apple Watch for a year and have not had any desire to make a phone call with it. That would be pretty rude for anyone around trying to not hear your whole conversation. It will kill battery, and cost more to operate. As long as its an extension to your phone, that seems unnecessary.

The point is you wouldn't need to carry your iPhone everywhere to make/receive calls. Nobody would need to hear your conversation as you would simply use the new AirPods to listen and speak in the same way I use a wireless headset to make and receive calls using my iPhone.

I'm not suggesting they add this function to every Watch. They could make a special edition with phone capability. Other smartwatch manufacturers have managed to do it.

Without this function I don't see any reason to wear an Apple Watch unless you're really into fitness training.

The Series 2 is a pass for me. I'm disappointed but hey that's the downside of being an Apple fan.

 

[FriendlyMackle]

The watch finish is flawless, sapphire screen is scratch free. Just the links and clasp itself that rest on the inside of my fore-arm that rub on a desk all day while typing are showing wear and only at the edges. No DLC coating on the main exposed areas has been affected. Should I snap a few photos?

Hi Adam - Thanks very much for your response! I'm sure that's exactly the same kind of wear I would get - my forearm against my desk or at a table. This is where my traditional steel watches have all scratched in the past.

I would love to see photos - and I guess my other question is, does the wearing away bother you, do you think it is noticeable? My thinking is that with a steel-colored band/watch, the scratches would be less noticeable since there is no color to actually wear away - and it is possible to have a steel watch polished (though I don't know if that could totally eliminate scratches).

 

[adamjackson]

Hi Adam - Thanks very much for your response! I'm sure that's exactly the same kind of wear I would get - my forearm against my desk or at a table. This is where my traditional steel watches have all scratched in the past.

I would love to see photos - and I guess my other question is, does the wearing away bother you, do you think it is noticeable? My thinking is that with a steel-colored band/watch, the scratches would be less noticeable since there is no color to actually wear away - and it is possible to have a steel watch polished (though I don't know if that could totally eliminate scratches).

I don't have the watch currently (in for repair) but I do have the link bracelet so I can snap photos when I get home w/ my SLR.

I am meticulous with my gear. When I sell a tech item, even my phone, the buyers are usually blown away by the fact there is no wear at all, every port is cleaned, no scratches, no blemishes, etc. I've never dropped a phone or iPod or iPad. everything gets wrapped in a 100% case w/ nothing exposed to elements except the screen.

So in that way, it does bother me but I've worn the watch every day since May 21, 2015. I rock the sport band on weekends, link bracelet during the week and have found I almost never use the milanese anymore. Watch goes on at 6:30AM and usually enters power reserve around 10PM - 11PM every night and I dock it at 11PM before sleeping.

The steel would likely show surface scratches in the right light in all kinds of places. I've banged this thing against walls, doors, scratched it against my car-engine while reaching to a hard to get spot w/ a wrench and every time I bang it against something metallic, I check and nope, still looks brand new.

The daily desk rubbing on the fore-arm part though seems to have been unavoidable and I'd rather have that small wear of the DLC coating versus thousands of micro-scratches showing on the regular SS model from my daily abuse. I guess if you're very OCD, keyboarding all day w/ a micro-fiber cloth under your apple watch hand would have kept these scratches at bay.

Just my opinion. Since I've only ever owned the DLC watch, not sure how polishing of the regular SS would work. My GF's rose gold sport 38mm watch already has a deep scratch on the screen from banging it against a door-handle as it closed on her. It'd drive me crazy to have a scratch on the screen. Nothing so far yet!

 

[freddiecable]

What are you using it for?

I'm upgrading because:

1. GPS (running regularly and don't want to bring my iphone in order to get the route/map)
2. Better water-proof. (you don't want to remove your watch unless you want to charge it/during night most often) so when showering, swimming etc this is very good.
3. Much faster (AW1 is quite slow and needs a boost)

What should I buy now? This is too much tech talk for me.

The AW1 have now a new chip? So...the only differense between AW1 and AW2 are that water thing? Okey, that display is not the same, but who cares? I

They have the same battery performance? Right?

What should I buy now?

 

[imspace2]

Well, I am an avid swimmer and I think this AW nailed it for me. I'll be getting the cheapest one because it makes no sense to put too much money down on something that gets obsolete in less than 2 years.
I am only sad I will have to put my Omega Seamaster aside for most days.

Why not just get a Garmin that has swim capabilities ranging from $250-$1000 you have plenty of choices.
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My wife has a garmin that is smaller but does not do all the other magic. I might upgrade her to the series 2.

She might now want to leave GarminConnect https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-230/prod523893.html

 

[thirteen1031]

So, I can make calls or check E-Mail when my phone is at home and I don't have any WLan?
Wow.

Um, no. Sorry if that wasn't clear--or are you pulling my leg? Well, in case you're not...I said you can GO FOR A RUN without the phone. That means you can get info on your route, calories burned, etc. while on a walk/run/jog using only the watch. You can also, as on AW1, download a playlist and listen to music, no need for the Phone. You can also use Apple Pay, no need for the phone.

Alas, you will still have to have the phone on you to make calls, check e-mails or get messages. As well as running other apps. But the AW2 certainly makes exercising easier as you no long need your phone on you to measure your progress. Unlike with the AW1 where your progress can't be measured without the phone.
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3. Much faster (AW1 is quite slow and needs a boost)

Actually, the new OS for the watch is going to speed it up considerably. Check out here:

Though I'm sure the AW2, with its new faster processor, will be even speedier than that. But AW1, in case anyone is thinking of getting that one rather than the AW2, will be getting a real speed bump thanks to the new OS.

 

[adamjackson]

I would love to see photos .

taken on iPhone 6S:

You can see SS showing through below the DLC coating on the edges of some of the links / clasp

 

[imspace2]

[QUOTE="adamjackson, post: 23359237,
You can see SS showing through below the DLC coating on the edges of some of the links / clasp[/QUOTE]

This happens to absolutely every treated SS band on any watch looks pretty great to me considering normal use.

 

[freddiecable]

I know this and it's splendid! But as you say AW2 will be twice as fast. Good thing I would say. if the iPhone gets twice as fast nowadays - it does not really give the same benefit. Classic law of diminishing returns.

Though I'm sure the AW2, with its new faster processor, will be even speedier than that. But AW1, in case anyone is thinking of getting that one rather than the AW2, will be getting a real speed bump thanks to the new OS.

 

[adamjackson]

[QUOTE="adamjackson, post: 23359237,
You can see SS showing through below the DLC coating on the edges of some of the links / clasp

This happens to absolutely every treated SS band on any watch looks pretty great to me considering normal use.[/QUOTE]

Good to know. I've never ever seen another Space Black link bracelet in person so I don't know what's normal.

 

[Mac 128]

Got to admit. The new Apple Watch is actually more tempting to me than the new phone. As one who runs a lot, the addition of a GPS would make it possible for me to sync Apple Music playlists and actually go for a run without my iPhone Plus. I also want to replace my Apple Watch Sport with a Apple Watch (Steel) as I'm using it every day. I went with the cheapest option as I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to use it a whole lot or not.

Actually that's a very good point about the phone.

This is the watch I would have preferred to buy the first time around, and given that a nice stainless one is going to cost around the same as a new iPhone which omits a major feature offset by mostly minor upgrades, the watch seems like a much better deal. In your case, the dual camera on the Plus makes it much more desirable upgrade, but otherwise, the watch is a much better deal in my opinion.

 

[betabeta]

No one is really talking about the second mic, I was ready to not upgrade, but seeing the second mic, I have to figure it will improve call clarity. I do use my watch to answer calls, the second mic has to help and I also hope the speaker is just a tad bit louder.

 

[thirteen1031]

No one is really talking about the second mic, I was ready to not upgrade, but seeing the second mic, I have to figure it will improve call clarity. I do use my watch to answer calls, the second mic has to help and I also hope the speaker is just a tad bit louder.

I think that's why no one is talking about the 2nd mic. I have answered calls on my watch, but it's a rare thing. 99% of the time I let the go to voice mail. So that 2nd mic isn't that important to me. But I can see where it would be to someone who makes use of that feature.

Note: This isn't to say that I find the ability to get/make calls on my watch useless. To the contrary! Being alerted to a call was one of the reasons I got the watch. I keep my phone in my backpack, and, prior to getting the watch, I was missing calls left and right. Now I never miss a call. I feel that buzz, check my wrist and I know who's called and whether they need to be called back ASAP—either right then, from the watch, or in a bit using my phone. VERY useful!

 

[FriendlyMackle]

taken on iPhone 6S:

You can see SS showing through below the DLC coating on the edges of some of the links / clasp

Hi Adam - Thanks very much for your reply and the excellent photos showing the light (overall) wear on the watch link band - sorry that it took me a few days to respond!
It really does look pretty good! Honestly, I wish they would make a matte finish stainless steel with matching link band - that type of finish would show scratches least of all. Not sure how attractive it would be, though.