Apple Planning 'Ten Year Celebration' Activity Achievement for Apple Watch

[WarmWinterHat]

Great fitness watch, okay smart watch.

Yep, sold my Forerunner as it couldn't make or receive calls, nor could it use my main phone number for such services. Fitness functions were great and potentially 2nd to none (I honestly feel the Pixel / Fitbit integration is better as an Android user though).

Battery was great, but the watch wasn't doing as much for me as even the 1st generation AWU that I still use daily.

Garmin was great for multi-day camping trips, but the AWU actually lets me leave my phone behind, still be fully connected when needed, and has far smarter overall functions for me.

I keep thinking about moving back to a Garmin. I’ve had a an Apple Watch since 2017, but keep almost all the smart stuff off. Notifications are off for everything except messages, I’ve never taken a call with it, I have no 3rd party apps installed, never used my watch to pay, don’t use it for music, etc.. I even keep AOD off. The Apple Watch sure can do a lot, though, if you want it to.

The fitness tracking and GPS recording are the only bits that matter to me and the battery won’t last on long GPS-recorded bike ride, especially in a below-freezing day. Very long trail runs can be sketchy too.

The ultra is an option, but it’s just too big.

 

[BvizioN]

No kidding. I remember when Watch was still just a rumor.

I remember reading so many comments from forum "experts" here how it was going to fail miserably!

 

[Radeon85]

how big is your health data? if I may? I worry of mine ballooning over the years and having to delete things...

Only 1.22GB in total. Considering that’s 10 years worth of data, I’d say that’s pretty small.

 

[city_17]

I keep thinking about moving back to a Garmin. I’ve had a an Apple Watch since 2017, but keep almost all the smart stuff off. Notifications are off for everything except messages, I’ve never taken a call with it, I have no 3rd party apps installed, never used my watch to pay, don’t use it for music, etc.. I even keep AOD off. The Apple Watch sure can do a lot, though, if you want it to.

The fitness tracking and GPS recording are the only bits that matter to me and the battery won’t last on long GPS-recorded bike ride, especially in a below-freezing day. Very long trail runs can be sketchy too.

The ultra is an option, but it’s just too big.

Take a good look at the accuracy of some Garmin watches, only the very newest Garmin sensors come anywhere close to the accuracy of Apple Watch for things like HR tracking. The Quantified Scientist channel has some good videos on this.

I'm also looking at both right now, but I don't need the super advanced sports stuff of the Garmin, mainly just good HR zone tracking, but I don't need most of the smart stuff from the Apple Watch either – I'm exercising outside to get away from screens, not to have a mini smartphone strapped to my wrist.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Take a good look at the accuracy of some Garmin watches, only the very newest Garmin sensors come anywhere close to the accuracy of Apple Watch for things like HR tracking. The Quantified Scientist channel has some good videos on this.

I'm also looking at both right now, but I don't need the super advanced sports stuff of the Garmin, mainly just good HR zone tracking, but I don't need most of the smart stuff from the Apple Watch either – I'm exercising outside to get away from screens, not to have a mini smartphone strapped to my wrist.

Thanks for the info, I'll check out the videos! DC rainmaker has been my go-to for fitness gear for a while, and he doesn't seem to think that Garmin or the Apple Watch is better, so haven't been able to decide. As long as they keep working with Strava, I'm good, I think.

I don't want to be connected when I'm running/bike riding either and want to be as far as from screens as possible.

 

[HeThatShallNotBeNamed]

It’s the watch that every smart watch wants to be. I’ve had two of them and currently on an AW 4 and still going strong.

It won’t die will it? Such a great watch. Apple replaced mine because the battery died. $70 - refurbed unit. Stainless steel.

 

[bLackjackj]

Apple Watch 10,..built for Celebration Activity Achievements.​

 

[phenste]

That 10yrs went by fast, had the Apple Watch from day 1 in 2015 and still love it. Still have all my health data from 2015 onwards.

hey, another day 1! (I’m sure there are countless of us on here lol)

really is crazy to think about. nice to hear Apple is finding a good way to celebrate, extra-nice knowing they’re probably at least a teeny bit thinking “this is for the day 1 folks”

 

[Regbial]

Only 1.22GB in total. Considering that’s 10 years worth of data, I’d say that’s pretty small.

It certainly is! and with default storage sizes getting bigger and bigger... maybe there's not too much to worry about. Many thanks! 😊

 

[840quadra]

I keep thinking about moving back to a Garmin. I’ve had a an Apple Watch since 2017, but keep almost all the smart stuff off. Notifications are off for everything except messages, I’ve never taken a call with it, I have no 3rd party apps installed, never used my watch to pay, don’t use it for music, etc.. I even keep AOD off. The Apple Watch sure can do a lot, though, if you want it to.

The fitness tracking and GPS recording are the only bits that matter to me and the battery won’t last on long GPS-recorded bike ride, especially in a below-freezing day. Very long trail runs can be sketchy too.

The ultra is an option, but it’s just too big.

You have to go with what works for you. Brand loyalty, popular trends, or opinion of friends is totally irrelavent. In my personal case I loved the garmin fitness aspects, but missed the smart features and connectivity I use.

Living in MN, I haven't noticed much of a hit on battery life on the AWU in cold temps. Though, with mine being overlapped by sleeve layers, and usually an extra layer from gloves, it could be isolated enough from elements (when I am not interacting with it), that it doesn't impact battery life as much.

I'd say try a modern garmin, go with a vendor that offers a decent return policy, and see if it works well for you. It wasn't a great fit for my personal needs, but may be spot on for what you are after.