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Apple Watch Review Roundup: The 'World's Best Smartwatch', But 'Not For Everyone'
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I don't think it is a cop out at all. The cost is kind of what drives it into the "don't need one" category. If it was cheaper it would make more sense. But at $350 to get a foot in the door and all the way up to $17k, I'll just stick to doing things on my phone, because the phone works and does all I need. So ya, people come to the conclusion that they don't need one, they have an iPhone to do all of that.
It seems The Verge has a way of stirring people up for some reason. There's a lot of attacks on Nilay here, but he really isn't saying anything all that different from the other reviewers in the end. Hell, even David Pogue - one of the biggest Apple fanboys on the planet - literally said, "You don't need one."
The fact that all of these individual reviewers have used it for days and came away saying "It's impressive, but, meh..." is worrisome.
I started out questioning the Apple Watch from the jump - and I'm a diehard Apple fan - but I was starting to change my mind recently. A lot of that was because of how bullish Ben Thompson from Stratechery was about the Apple Watch after the Spring event.
I'm disappointed that these reviews seem to confirm my fears about the Apple Watch seeming a tad clunky and unfocused from a UX standpoint.
The fact that all of these individual reviewers have used it for days and came away saying "It's impressive, but, meh..." is worrisome.
I started out questioning the Apple Watch from the jump - and I'm a diehard Apple fan - but I was starting to change my mind recently. A lot of that was because of how bullish Ben Thompson from Stratechery was about the Apple Watch after the Spring event.
I'm disappointed that these reviews seem to confirm my fears about the Apple Watch seeming a tad clunky and unfocused from a UX standpoint.
I don't think it will be. But since you wear it you'll be hypersensitive the first few days, just like the NYT reviewer.
Very well said. For me it seems that the reviewers are struggling with the same issues as per other wearables, Apple did not solve the wearable riddle, they just made a better product.
Well it depends what you are looking for. Are you looking for a smart watch or a fashion accessory. Also I don't think it's fair to compare the apple watch to the first gen Galaxy gear because Apple have spent 2 years watching what everyone else has been doing and trying to 'perfect it'. The earlier smart watch makers were going in almost blind, it has been more trial and error. I'd expect the apple watch to be better because Apple have been able to use other people's work as reference.
It irritates me when people compare the apple watch to android wear and then say that the apple watch is more sophisticated. The gear S does more than the apple watch. It's ridiculus that most of the reviewers completely ignore Samsung's smart watches, particularly when sales figures that were released a month or so ago show that Samsung have sold the most smart watches by quite some margin.
That'll teach him for being honest about an Apple product! Didn't anyone around here warn him in advance that he's supposed to love whatever Apple gives him no questions asked? What an idiot!!!
Honestly I think you've touched on one of the reasons some of us are dissatisfied with the Watch to an almost hostile degree. It's what it represents, I'm no Luddite, but I've grown very cynical seeing the way smart phones and social media platforms have consumed people's attention. Just this morning someone was walking down the sidewalk, his head buried in his phone, and he walked right into me. I have one coworker who will literally cut you off mid conversation to answer calls of no consequence. From her parents who she speaks to like six times a day. People constantly getting distracted by texts or checking sports scores or whatever they find more important than you when together. And then Facebook and all the social media platforms they are involved in. It's just getting crazy to me, and the Watch is a device which takes it to the level of parody. Now, users can't put it away, it can't be ignored.
The only thing the watch does better than my phone is to track my fitness. And for that I'm not paying 350$, yet. Give this thing more health sensors that makes it a fully capable health tracker and I'm game. Until then, wearable technology will be optional.
I didn't buy the iPad until it got a retina screen, and it seems like I'll wait for the 3rd gen watch as well. Biomedical engineering is a hot field right now and in a few years the landscape will change a lot.
I didn't buy the iPad until it got a retina screen, and it seems like I'll wait for the 3rd gen watch as well. Biomedical engineering is a hot field right now and in a few years the landscape will change a lot.
I appreciate these reviews since they give me a broader perspective on what the Watch is and can be, but I don't think they're going to affect sales all that much.
The general public's expectations and technology writers' expectations tend to be very different things. The Watch is going to dazzle a lot of people out of the gate, creating a momentum that will build and build as each subsequent version is released.
The general public's expectations and technology writers' expectations tend to be very different things. The Watch is going to dazzle a lot of people out of the gate, creating a momentum that will build and build as each subsequent version is released.
Ha! Yeah, I guess that sounds pretty bad.
I mean wake up, take the watch off, shower, etc, eat breakfast, do some morning reading/catching up, put the watch on to actually start my day
I'm still in
I backed the Pebble on Kickstarter, so have had a smartwatch for a while now. I know what it's like to have a smartwatch, and I like the experience. My main issue with the Pebble is the intermittent connectivity, and having to re-pair it constantly. That, and it looks like a big block of plastic on my wrist. My guess is that Apple Watch won't have connectivity issues (if it does, I'll be returning it), so given that it does all the things I already want out of a smartwatch, I'm still in.
I backed the Pebble on Kickstarter, so have had a smartwatch for a while now. I know what it's like to have a smartwatch, and I like the experience. My main issue with the Pebble is the intermittent connectivity, and having to re-pair it constantly. That, and it looks like a big block of plastic on my wrist. My guess is that Apple Watch won't have connectivity issues (if it does, I'll be returning it), so given that it does all the things I already want out of a smartwatch, I'm still in.
Most of us have been less than positive about it. It's pointless and not needed.
Conversely, Apple will have a ton of amazing pull quotes by ignoring the content of the reviews.
"The world's best smartwatch" is one of the pull quotes I see already.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. The Watch does everything we've known it does. Did people think it would be something more?
Look, if you were on the fence, if you didn't know what purpose it would serve, if you just wanted to get it because it's Apple and it's new... Then you probably shouldn't get one.
A smartwatch isn't a necessary piece of tech, it's convenience. I know what that convenience can be, because I used to have a Pebble. When I ordered it, I was a work at home dad to a baby who needed to be held constantly. I also had a job where immediate response to emails was crucial. Being able to triage communications without putting the kid down allowed me to function.
Some jobs require people to respond immediately to certain communications. These people can benefit from the watch. Some social groups (especially significant others, girlfriends etc.) like to stay in constant communication and expect quick responses to certain messages. A watch would help people who live in these circles. Some recreational activities make it difficult to pull out your phone, like biking for instance. The watch is convenient for them (like when your wife texts you asking if you're dead on the side of the road and you don't want to have to stop to answer that you're still alive). Some people are so attached to the communication their phone provides that it often consumes them, taking them out if the moment. Those people will benefit from the watch.
But there are people who don't need a watch. Take my father for example: he doesn't get any important emails because he's retired, he doesn't text often, he doesn't do anything where he can't just pull out his phone. He likes new technology, but the watch is not for him.
So, to all those who are skipping or waiting for the next generation I say you are correct. Don't buy this if you don't see the value. I'm not sure how generation 2, 3 etc. can really make this more useful though. Smoother, yes, but I imagine software updates will handle that. More battery? Great, but charging it every other day isn't really an improvement over charging every day. The watch will never replace the phone; the watch is too small to be anything more than a peripheral.
Apple doesn't need to sell the watch to everyone. It isn't necessary for even a majority of people. There isn't a device to sell anymore that serves the needs of all. That was the iPhone, and the iPhone will not be unseated. The watch, and the next things, will be niche devices. Computers and even iPads are growing more and more niche as iPhones cannibalize sales to people who only need to browse, text and email. Get used to it, because as long as the iPhone (or smartphone in general) exists, no other device will be as ubiquitous.
Look, if you were on the fence, if you didn't know what purpose it would serve, if you just wanted to get it because it's Apple and it's new... Then you probably shouldn't get one.
A smartwatch isn't a necessary piece of tech, it's convenience. I know what that convenience can be, because I used to have a Pebble. When I ordered it, I was a work at home dad to a baby who needed to be held constantly. I also had a job where immediate response to emails was crucial. Being able to triage communications without putting the kid down allowed me to function.
Some jobs require people to respond immediately to certain communications. These people can benefit from the watch. Some social groups (especially significant others, girlfriends etc.) like to stay in constant communication and expect quick responses to certain messages. A watch would help people who live in these circles. Some recreational activities make it difficult to pull out your phone, like biking for instance. The watch is convenient for them (like when your wife texts you asking if you're dead on the side of the road and you don't want to have to stop to answer that you're still alive). Some people are so attached to the communication their phone provides that it often consumes them, taking them out if the moment. Those people will benefit from the watch.
But there are people who don't need a watch. Take my father for example: he doesn't get any important emails because he's retired, he doesn't text often, he doesn't do anything where he can't just pull out his phone. He likes new technology, but the watch is not for him.
So, to all those who are skipping or waiting for the next generation I say you are correct. Don't buy this if you don't see the value. I'm not sure how generation 2, 3 etc. can really make this more useful though. Smoother, yes, but I imagine software updates will handle that. More battery? Great, but charging it every other day isn't really an improvement over charging every day. The watch will never replace the phone; the watch is too small to be anything more than a peripheral.
Apple doesn't need to sell the watch to everyone. It isn't necessary for even a majority of people. There isn't a device to sell anymore that serves the needs of all. That was the iPhone, and the iPhone will not be unseated. The watch, and the next things, will be niche devices. Computers and even iPads are growing more and more niche as iPhones cannibalize sales to people who only need to browse, text and email. Get used to it, because as long as the iPhone (or smartphone in general) exists, no other device will be as ubiquitous.
Actually I thought the review were nicely balanced. Its a 1.0 product. Once Apple understands how folks use their products they will fine tune it for a 2.0 or 3.0 release. I think these reviews are on par with the original iPhone.
None of the review said the watch stunk just that there's ways to improve. Most of the improvement seem to be on the software side which is easily fixable.
It's a watch
My take on all of this is bemusement.
We are not all fine jewelry collectors, or watch connoisseurs, but I would wager that a majority of us have a watch even though we could look at our phone. Personally, I have always worn watches that retail in the $175 - $275 range. I've owned 4 in my life as watches at that price point - under normal daily use - will last 10+ years.
My current Seiko has lasted nearly 15 and will be replaced in the next year or two. Then, I will have to answer the question... "Another $250ish watch? Or, should I take a hard look at the Apple Watch?"
I would not buy a watch just for notifications, just as I would not buy a smartwatch just to tell time. Eventually (by Rev 2 or 3), nearly everyone who wears watches currently will have a smartwatch. It is just the nature of technology adopters to do so.
My take on all of this is bemusement.
We are not all fine jewelry collectors, or watch connoisseurs, but I would wager that a majority of us have a watch even though we could look at our phone. Personally, I have always worn watches that retail in the $175 - $275 range. I've owned 4 in my life as watches at that price point - under normal daily use - will last 10+ years.
My current Seiko has lasted nearly 15 and will be replaced in the next year or two. Then, I will have to answer the question... "Another $250ish watch? Or, should I take a hard look at the Apple Watch?"
I would not buy a watch just for notifications, just as I would not buy a smartwatch just to tell time. Eventually (by Rev 2 or 3), nearly everyone who wears watches currently will have a smartwatch. It is just the nature of technology adopters to do so.
I've just read it, I don't agree, though I only read the verge and his, and he has been very positive. Maybe verge going into the detials of the pros and cons made it better while Gruber glanced over details....
I wonder how many people here complaining about Apple's watch even own a smart watch. I do, and the Apple Watch looks amazing. After being stuck with a Pebble for close to 2 years and a Metawatch before, I know how important a smart watch actually is. Now I can get the best one on the market.
All the naysayers probaby either don't use a watch or refuse to believe their $4000 Omega is now 'worthless'.
All the naysayers probaby either don't use a watch or refuse to believe their $4000 Omega is now 'worthless'.
I'm sure it will sell well because of the Apple logo and nice design, but I think a couple of these reviews kind of highlighted how pointless a "smart watch" is for most people.
i think the verge's video review summed it up well.
I don't think this is what apple was looking for. What were the reviews like on the original iPhone? I know the iPad were mixed.
I don't think this is what apple was looking for. What were the reviews like on the original iPhone? I know the iPad were mixed.
The only knock against either of those was price.
The iPod was lauded for its storage size and polished look. It was understood what its use was.
The iPhone was lauded for its ability to combine an iPod, a phone, and an Internet communicator in one device. Again, it was understood what its use was.
The watch is not as useful as either of those.