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Why do I need a faster Watch? Or better graphics? I argue that no one does and this is reflective of Apple still wanting the watch to be a little phone but marketing it as what they know 95% of people use it for - fitness. They have the data showing no one is using apps outside of basic notifications and Siri.

I know they need the battery life for GPS but I wish it was thinner - much thinner.

Waterproof - great! GPS - super great! Faster? Don't care. How about the screen works when I am sweating. That would be nice.

And yes, despite thinking the watch was pointless even while owning one, I have started using it for fitness it works really well. Will buy the new one for the GPS. No one knows how to measure anything else useful yet with sensors so I think the watch has no where to go for a long time.
 
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They also didn't say that all Apple Watch Series 2 now have a ceramic back. That adds weight.

As a side note, that composite back really screwed up my watch and charger. The back got so scratched to the point that its texture is now rough, and the charger has black spots all over it. And this was only caused by taking it on and off the charger normally! But when I tried to get it replaced twice, they rejected it both times.
 
Going to see how my SS 42mm fares with watchOS 3 before I spring for a Series 2. Not happy with the price increase for the nylon bands.

Nylon bands are still $49 US, same as the sport bands. When ordered separately.

Bundled, however, they are only available with Series 2, which costs more than Series 1.

(I'm pretty happy that Series 1 is better than the original launch watch, yet costs $100 less for 42mm, $80 less for 38mm. The screen sizes are only $30 apart now. And the new brighter Series 2 for outdoor workouts costs the same as the original launch for 42mm, or $20 increased for 38mm.)

The best deal around is the Series 1 plus any $49 band you like. You get the new speed plus TWO bands to swap, including the new colors, all for $51 less than the original was at launch--or the same price as the original was last week with ONE band.
 
GPS battery life is a pathetic 5 hours max. That's not nearly good enough. I have a Suunto Ambit3 Vertical that is considered poor in the battery performance arena (compared to the Ambit3 Peak, for example) because it gets only 10 hours with GPS in its best performance setting and 100 hours in its worst performance setting. The Ambit3 Peak goes from 20 hours to 200 hours, depending on GPS performance. 20 hours. It also goes an entire month on a single charge when using it like a watch. At best I got a day and a half with the first Apple Watch when I had it. Series 2 will be no better.

Out of curiosity, I just checked my recent activity and found where I hiked Yonah Mountain. The entire round-trip took 5 hours and 4 minutes to complete including stopping at various landmarks. That means that if I didn't top off the Apple Watch right before setting out, it wouldn't have lasted the entire hike. That also means that if I did top off the Apple Watch right before setting out, it still likely wouldn't have lasted the entire hike considering that I would have received notifications, activated the screen, interacted with the watch, etc.

A 5 hour hike is nothing. I have been on bike rides that last longer than that, and once again, the Apple Watch wouldn't be able to keep up. Maybe one day it will, but right now... nope.



My Ambit3 Vertical is 15mm. The Ambit3 Peak is 18mm. The Garmin Fenix 3 is 16mm (and that doesn't include the HR bump on the HR model). The Garmin Epix is 17.8mm. The 42mm Apple Watch is average at best and not something I would call "one of the thickest watches out there."

Not something I would want on my wrist.

900
 
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Yes, a phone that is .9mm thicker and has 20% more battery would be great. The watch? It's pretty chunky already.

One of the biggest complaints about the first gen was how slow it was though. It obviously needed more power and more power requires a bigger battery. I think everyone would have liked to see it get a bit thinner but maybe this is a trade off that just had to be made to make the watch more functional.
 
I'm wondering if it would really be the same if you didn't use the GPS in the Series 2. Apple lists the battery life as the same 18 hours for the Series 1 and Series 2 even tho the Series 2 is thinker for maybe a bigger battery and has a GPS.

If it has the bigger battery and you don't use the GPS then the battery life should be longer in the Series 2 since the Series 1 has the same CPU upgrade and maybe the original size battery since its thiner.
wonder if you can turn off gps
 
interesting. I wonder how many AW1 owners will upgrade, especially those with SS models.
I was hoping for an in-store upgrade if form factor has not changed... I don't buy watches every year and am not about to start now. Keeping the form factor, yet the option to swap out guts, get a credit on the guts etc. would be great. I don't need a new case and watch bands, i DO need better performance and greater independence from the iPhone. Guess I'll be waiting several more years before making any $$ decisions in this regard.
 
I started with a SG Sport at launch last year and upgraded to a SB Stainless when they released it with the sport band.

That being said, I'll be picking up a Ceramic Edition when they're available. I'll still keep my SB Stainless because I love the look, but that white is too sexy.
 
The only thing I am worried about is GPS battery drain. Whenever I used my Gear S2 with GPS to map my run it would be nearly dead after 1 hour.
 
I couldn't care less about it having its own GPS. I always have my phone with me, so its unnecessary. I think they should have put the GPS in the new Nike version, and made the new series 2 thinner with better battery life. Outside of their favorite customers, runners, who needs separate GPS?
 
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GPS battery life is a pathetic 5 hours max. That's not nearly good enough. I have a Suunto Ambit3 Vertical that is considered poor in the battery performance arena (compared to the Ambit3 Peak, for example) because it gets only 10 hours with GPS in its best performance setting and 100 hours in its worst performance setting. The Ambit3 Peak goes from 20 hours to 200 hours, depending on GPS performance. 20 hours. It also goes an entire month on a single charge when using it like a watch. At best I got a day and a half with the first Apple Watch when I had it. Series 2 will be no better.

Out of curiosity, I just checked my recent activity and found where I hiked Yonah Mountain. The entire round-trip took 5 hours and 4 minutes to complete including stopping at various landmarks. That means that if I didn't top off the Apple Watch right before setting out, it wouldn't have lasted the entire hike. That also means that if I did top off the Apple Watch right before setting out, it still likely wouldn't have lasted the entire hike considering that I would have received notifications, activated the screen, interacted with the watch, etc.

A 5 hour hike is nothing. I have been on bike rides that last longer than that, and once again, the Apple Watch wouldn't be able to keep up. Maybe one day it will, but right now... nope.



My Ambit3 Vertical is 15mm. The Ambit3 Peak is 18mm. The Garmin Fenix 3 is 16mm (and that doesn't include the HR bump on the HR model). The Garmin Epix is 17.8mm. The 42mm Apple Watch is average at best and not something I would call "one of the thickest watches out there."

I'm not a hiker, but... if you're going on a 5+ hour hike, wouldn't you at least take your phone with you? In that case, the GPS capabilities of the AW would not be in use, in favor of the phone. Or am I missing something?
 
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That additional thickness is minuscule. Since it makes room for additional components and a bigger battery, I think it's the best thing they could have done. They could also stop the deceptive marketing regarding the thickness of the watch. To be fair, it's most of us who are making the mistake. Apple's marketing only displays case measurements:

Apple-Watch-dimensions-series-1-vs-2.jpg

We are the one's incorrectly assuming these are the measurements for the actual watch which includes the sensors. It's what they want to assume, so who's to blame? Why not just give the true dimensions of the watch and be done with it? They give true dimensions to accessory makers. Are consumers not worthy of the truth?
 
I couldn't care less about it having its own GPS. I always have my phone with me, so its unnecessary. I think they should have put the GPS in the new Nike version, and made the new series 2 thinner with better battery life. Outside of their favorite customers, runners, who needs separate GPS?


There are a lot of runners with this watch, me included. If you don't want GPS, get the series 1 option.
 
The screen is 2 x brighter and it has a GPS / barometer running, that is great they made it last similar battery time. 1mm wont matter.
 
This and the protruding camera cannot be a coincidence lol. Apple is trolling with us.

Product Design Guideline

Step 1 - Read Mac Rumors comment section.

Step 2 - Do the opposite

Step 3 - Laugh straight to the bank!
 
I cant remember the last time Apple released a product that was thicker and heavier than the previous model.

You still have to carry your iPhone to make it work so I don't see the point in wearing one.

the ipad 3 (with retina display) was thicker and heavier than the ipad 2.
 
When I ever buy an iPhone, I'll consider buying an :apple: Watch. For now, I am staying with NOTHING on my wrists. I do have a Timex Triathlon (c.1999) that I can wear when I am going somewhere that I need a watch and don't want to use my phone.
 
I wish they would ditch the 2mm convex buldge for sensors. I mean I love the watch but it's painful to wear; that sensor buldge felt like a single point of pressure after a week of wearing. Tried everything to make it work but had to sell. :(
 
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