Apple Watch Series 3 Reviews: Freedom From iPhone Held Back by LTE and Battery Life Concerns

[M.PaulCezanne]

You people complaining of talk time don't understand the use model.
It's not a replacement for your phone; it's an emergency alternative when you are out on a run or forget your phone.
It's small so don't expect long talk times. It's a device to use as a communication bridge when you don't have your iPhone.

I have an LG watch and that's what I have been doing for the last 18 months.

There is NO question that battery life is the barrier here, the way it is with all mobile devices. The tech's been there, it's just that everybody knew even the best batteries this small could barely get it done. Frankly, I'm surprised talk was included. I figured it would be LTE data only.

Sad, because I'm an outdoorsy person and I'd LOVE to have a truly useful connected communication device on my wrist (without having to lug around a iPhone). I very nearly pulled the trigger on this, but I'm glad I waited. Too soon to tell if it's really going to be workable.

 

[Jacoblee23]

This is what I was afraid of. I carry my phone with me anyway. I will just stick with my series 2 and not pay a monthly fee.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

Ordered the LTE with the notion of never activating cellular. Just the option is there if I want it.

 

[unobtainium]

Stern added that "you're lucky if the battery allows you to roam on cellular for longer than half a day--especially if you're making calls."

Wait a second she is surprised the watch died when she was using LTE for HALF THE DAY? I’m shocked sometimes how these people are able to hold jobs as tech journalists.

Tech reviews are for the masses. She’s doing her job by accurately reporting the battery life. Many people would expect a longer battery life, not realizing the limitations.

 

[petererr]

Stern added that "you're lucky if the battery allows you to roam on cellular for longer than half a day--especially if you're making calls."

Wait a second she is surprised the watch died when she was using LTE for HALF THE DAY? I’m shocked sometimes how these people are able to hold jobs as tech journalists.

This is a typical nerdy comment. Although I know where you came from, I should say that when you start to advertise a feature, it should work in a practical way, that's what we call making good product decisions. Otherwise it's a gimmick.

 

[SorsCode]

A review from Hodinkee. It's good to see what a proper watch enthusiast site thinks of it.
apple-watch-series-3-edition-review

I will admit, I don't post on here very often. I like to read the posts and see some of the arguing, but I'm actually wanting to reply for once.

One I like this review. Thanks ditzy for posting a link to it. I am an original Series 0 owner and have owned it since day 1. It isn't the fastest thing in the world but it accomplished most of the things I wanted. I enjoying biking, running, hiking, and many more out door activities. It was able to monitor them with little issue. Did it have GPS, nope, but that was fine.

Now I'm upgrading to the Series 3 with LTE for a few reasons.
1) I like leaving my house and leaving my phone behind. I'm even a "millennial aged male".
2) I can't stand running, or doing certain outdoor activities with my phone, just so I can listen to music.
3) If I want to just run to the grocery store, I don't see the reason to take my phone. I have Wallet App, and Apple Pay setup on my Watch. Now I'll be able to do that, and still be reached if someone needs me.
4) I spend a lot of my day in business meetings. I can leave my phone at my office, and still get notifications, and calls (silent of course). Nothing annoys me more, than people in meetings looking at there phones every 5 minutes. (We wonder why 30 minute meetings are not 1-2 hours long these day... Yes a rant, sorry)

I know my post will get torn apart, and that's fine. I think people thinking the LTE watch should last all day on LTE only, is asking for a lot. I'm actually happy if it will last 1 hour with talk, or whatever I'll get with mixed usage. I won't be making calls on mine, and if I do, it'll be a very fast emergency call. This isn't to replace your Apple Phone, this is just to give the ability to not go into a paranoid downward spiral if you leave your iPhone behind for 30 minutes, or accidentally.

I think the Apple Watch S3 + LTE is being torn apart, because people are asking for so much, but in reality, I think its right on par with where it should be in today's time.

Okay I'm going to step off my soap box, kick it to the side, and prepare for my beatings.

 

[unobtainium]

Screw the Verge..They complained when it didn't have LTE, not they complain when it does have LTE and the issue she brought up will be fixed in a future SW release.

Lol at Apple fanboy logic. Look, I love apple stuff but that’s not how reviews work. “Oh we experienced all these issues but we’re not going to mention them because they’ll maybe get fixed eventually probably.”

 

[shox2k2]

Do I need to have lte for the series 3 to work? I want an updated watch from my s0. And att is giving me 3 months free. But after three months can I de activate that from att? Streaming music is good. GPS is good. Not sure I would make calls from it though. Obviously if I had a flat tire or something happened I’d be thankful I still had it but I could always activate it depending on the season.

 

[Tinmania]

And who would be making calls on their Apple Watch for half a day? Seems like cellular models are mostly for runners who want to be able to run without their phone. Even then how frequently would you be running where you needed to make calls on your watch so long that it would significantly drain the battery?

While I do run, that is not why I bought an LTE smartwatch. For me it was just the convenience of not being completely out of contact should I not have my phone, either intentionally or unintentionally (forgot it, battery died, etc.). Indeed my watch has come in handy in times like that. And that is with an Android Wear watch, that to me doesn't implement LTE very well. I absolutely think Apple Watch 3 will do better in that regard.

I would not expect, at this point in time, for a watch to replace my phone. But that is what many people think when they hear LTE watch--even reviewers who should know better.



Mike

 

[Jack Shaftoe]

Sounds like a review that evaluates that use case would be useful for a lot of people. I'm sure some will be forthcoming eventually. What kind of battery life are you hoping to get?

If it works reasonably well for my use case (watch + bluetooth buds + music streaming while exercising/running), I'm willing to deal with having to charge it twice a day. However, battery will need to be able to handle 3 hours of streaming music + GPS + biometrics minimum without going dead. Ideally 4+.

If Watch 3 accomplishes this, I'll be buying one. If it doesn't, I hope my shuffle can last another year and will continue looking for something/anything that can do this well. Apple will lose a customer in me if a competitor beats them to this.

 

[bingeciren]

What really annoys me is that there are no non-LTE versions of the SS, Hermes or Edition.

I don't care about the LTE because LTE works only in the country of purchase and my country is not in the supported list yet.

GEN 3 wifi only SS model that I want simply doesn't exist.

 

[Osxguy]

The iPhone has a similar problem. It holds onto a wifi signal for dear life waiting till the last possible moment to release it. even with cellular assist on. I think this is more an internal problem with networks etc. Also connect once to the "free" xfinity network and you have to remember to disconnect from it.

 

[Born Again]

Honestly I am not impressed with many of the high profile reviewers from many of these firms. Many posters on this site (forum members) have more of an educated understanding of the technology, the software, and the hardware limitations of devices they post personal reviews on.

Sexist much?

Laura is a very qualified blogger on The Verge.

Let's quit arm chair quarterbacking and support women doing a great job in the tech industry!
[doublepost=1505920244][/doublepost]

Lol, "serious athlete". Shame on Apple for not targeting 1% of 1% of the population.
I hear serious professional photographers don't use their iPhone for taking pictures . Must be useless for them then.

Serious photographers do
[doublepost=1505920369][/doublepost]

There are many many other physical demanding sports/hobbies that are more demanding than a triathlon.
Saying a serious athlete is only that is crap

Okay when do you need a GPS watch?

 

[JOHNGAETANO]

WOW, I didn't see these negative reviews coming. Very disappointing. I was more excited for the watch over the new 8+. Now I am wondering if I will even accept delivery. .

 

[5105973]

"YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN! I'M CALLING THE POLICE! I CAN DO IT RIGHT FROM MY WATCH!"

My American Dream!

 

[satchmo]

Waiting for Apple Watch X!

But will it have a notch?
[doublepost=1505920681][/doublepost]

I'll say it again if you are a serious athlete you don't use an apple watch.

You may not have one at all but if you do 9 times out ten it's a reliable Garmin.

Just hit the track my friends. Go to a marathon my buddies. Check out a triathlon guys.

No apple watch .

The problem with Garmin is that it lacks storage for music.
Because real athletes listen to music to train.

 

[marioguarneros]

Lol, "serious athlete". Shame on Apple for not targeting 1% of 1% of the population.
I hear serious professional photographers don't use their iPhone for taking pictures . Must be useless for them then.

Best comment ever! I fully agree, the moment I read the comment I thought well that would be like saying not a single Formula 1 racer drives a Jeep, Jeeps must be **** then.

 

[pherplexed]

I'll say it again if you are a serious athlete you don't use an apple watch.

You may not have one at all but if you do 9 times out ten it's a reliable Garmin.

Just hit the track my friends. Go to a marathon my buddies. Check out a triathlon guys.

No apple watch .

True, but there are a few of us that love using the Apple Watch for all the times we're not training or racing. I'm a serious runner and swimmer and yeah, I use a Garmin Fenix 5 for all my training and races…and I LOVE it. But it's also pretty bulky as a daily wear watch. And while it's great at giving me phone notifications, I can't do anything with them other than read them…have to pull the phone out to reply to a txt, confirm a calendar invite or arm the alarm when it reminds me after I left the area. I can do all that straight from the notification on Apple Watch. CAN. NOT. WAIT. #nerdstuff

Ok, I'm glad you posted this. I was tying to come up with scenarios when I need LTE on my watch and do not have my iPhone with me. This is one.

Here's another use case: I ordered one for my wife because as a physician, when she’s on call, she she needs to be able to get txt messages from her paging service. The Apple Watch with LTE will give her the freedom to put the phone in her purse and enjoy being wherever she is (out to dinner; working in the garden; on a run) without concern she’s missing a page.

My use case is a bit more shallow. With my original Apple Watch, if I wasn’t literally within eyesight of my phone, the watch was basically useless. I could be in my bedroom with the iPhone in the kitchen and the watch would struggle to complete any command or fetch data. Or maybe I ran into the store and my phone is in the car, or maybe I’m doing yard work and my phone is on the porch. All of these scenarios made the apple watch basically useless. So for me, having the LTE backup just lets the AppleWatch do what it’s supposed to do whether my phone is in range or not. That's what got me excited about this version.

 

[mstrmac]

Mixed reviews on the  watch 3. Think back a few years when Apple introduced the iPhone/first iPad how the competition and media fud all combined to trash the product and the company. A first to market quality smart touch phone/iPad. The Cellular watch is a very dangerous disruption. I foresee a period of history repeating.

 

[Jack Shaftoe]

Sexist much?

Respectfully - I don't see how you jumped to the sexist conclusion. Sorry. Read 840quadra's comment multiple times, reading again now... nope. Don't see it.

Glad you are an eggplant fan. Good fruit.

 

[twennywonn]

Screw the Verge..They complained when it didn't have LTE, not they complain when it does have LTE and the issue she brought up will be fixed in a future SW release. And oh BTW the monthly charge is $5 not $10 with Verizon, who is THE largest cell carrier in the industry. The LTE is for someone who wants it for the gym or running, case closed and it did EXACTLY that in her review flawlessly.

Get your facts straight, who cares if you can take it surfing, quit uptalking and get a real job. Worst review I've ever seen.

Uhm no. It’s $10 on Verizon.

Worst review of a review I’ve ever seen.

 

[5105973]

Yep, techie wannabes clamor for more battery life without knowing or understanding the current state of battery technology. Then there are the gross looking HUGE plastic watches with bigger batteries that no one buys out of embarrassment.

I own such a cellular watch. It's my Samsung Gear S2 sport edition with 4G. It's been useful to have and works very well and has useful battery capacity, but it's so big and clunky I gradually stopped wearing it. It wasn't uncomfortable, exactly, but it was unsightly and was so big it caught on some of my shirt cuffs. The materials also weren't as breathable and skin friendly as those found on Apple watches.

 

[MarkB786]

Haha, think before you say. How about Samsung with their exploding phones. Did they not test their Note 7 before launch? How about the re-released one which they supposedly fixed?
Get off Apple forums.

Whoa, take settle down. I didn't say Samsung was without guilt. However, I do believe that Samsung's recent products are ahead of Apple's in terms of usefulness and productivity. I currently own 9 Apple products, and two Samsung. So I think I will stay on the Apple forum and continue to hold them accountable for developing quality products, just I like I will with Samsung/Android. My loyalty follows product quality and usefulness.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Timmy's on a roll on September goof ups so far. What's next?

 

[Boatboy24]

I was considering trading in my Series 2 watch as I stupidly bought it before the 3 came out...only considering the GPS version...I can still do calls and not have the extra expense of $10 a month. I am still on the fence of the upgrade...leaning towards just keeping the S2. Any thoughts? The watch is less than a month old.

I have a series 2 (had a S0 as well), and for me, there isn't much reason to upgrade. When I'm exercising, even if I have my phone, I'm not answering calls. And streaming, while nice, isn't something I miss today. I'm happy just utilizing the onboard storage for a few playlists.