Apple Watch Series 4 Hands-On: Larger Displays, New Finishes, Slightly Thinner, ECG, and More

[cwanja]

Fine, let it be $100 that I’d need to cough up instead of $200. Dwelling on that number misses my main point, which is that my $500 watch band won’t match any AW I want without paying an extra bundle. You guys are saying that bundle is only $100. That’s still a lot of cash. My point is not whether or not it’s a $100 versus $200 consequence. It’s that it is annoying that Apple has stopped making a GPS-only steel watch.

So I get your point about the band, entirely. That does suck. However, has anyone definitively confirmed it won't work? Or is your band the 42mm and you would go to a 40mm series 4? That seems to be the only definitive configuration that will not work.

I completely agree with you that a non-cellular stainless steel is annoying. For the last month and a half I have been on these boards posting with others about the desire to have that. I just came to the conclusion that it was not going to happen, especially when the rumor mill churned up the possibility that they were all cellular models. And I ended up ordering a stainless steel space black S4 with cellular I will likely never activate unless carriers provide a trial period like they did with the series 3.

 

[MrUNIMOG]

So I get your point about the band, entirely. That does suck. However, has anyone definitively confirmed it won't work? Or is your band the 42mm and you would go to a 40mm series 4? That seems to be the only definitive configuration that will not work.

It will absolutely work and mechanically it will fit, but aesthetically it won't match.

 

[Kabeyun]

It will absolutely work and mechanically it will fit, but aesthetically it won't match.

Exactly. Apple’s weird with legacy stuff. Sometimes it’s a bit of a hose job (most expensive watch band doesn’t match most current watches, dropping the bundled lightning to headphone adapter) and sometimes they cling (USB-A).

 

[MrUNIMOG]

Exactly. Apple’s weird with legacy stuff. Sometimes it’s a bit of a hose job (most expensive watch band doesn’t match most current watches, dropping the bundled lightning to headphone adapter) and sometimes they cling (USB-A).

I wouldn't really call that a legacy stuff issue though. They're still selling the stainless steel watchband and even had the Series 4 on display with it.
Also I wouldn't say most watches, since before it matched only one model (stainless steel w/o cellular) and now it only matches one model (stainless steel with cellular).

I'm a bit in the same boat as you, since I'm absolutely going to upgrade to a stainless steel S4 to match my Milanaise and classic Leather watchbands, but I'm not decided yet whether I'm even going to add it to my cellular plan (5 € per month extra), since I have my phone with me most of the time and for running or swimming, GPS should be enough. If emergency calls are indeed possible on the watch without an activated cellular plan, I might just leave it at that, that alone is a huge benefit.
Not sure though whether I'd choose a non-cellular stainless steel model over the cellular one if there was one for 100 $ less.

 

[tresmith]

No way to describe to you the timepiece culture of power brokers. Either you’ve experienced it or you haven’t. The Apple Watch is a toy. The best you can do is minimize your downside exposure and get a “respectable” one. Even then, you’re on the outside.

Yeah I have an apple watch but still want a Rolex.

 

[bunnicula]

No way to describe to you the timepiece culture of power brokers. Either you’ve experienced it or you haven’t. The Apple Watch is a toy. The best you can do is minimize your downside exposure and get a “respectable” one. Even then, you’re on the outside.

Oh... I understand it perfectly. There are even watch rental services so traveling execs can sport flashy pieces for every occasion without having to purchase all of them.

I just think it's stupid. LOL.

Don't get me wrong... a beautiful timepiece is really great, but it's not like people who aren't wearing Patek Philippe or Rolex or whatever other company the analog snobs think they should be wearing cannot AFFORD one of those watches. They likely just aren't into them enough to invest heavily.

I'm more apt to judge people by their shoes, really.

 

[tresmith]

So I get your point about the band, entirely. That does suck. However, has anyone definitively confirmed it won't work? Or is your band the 42mm and you would go to a 40mm series 4? That seems to be the only definitive configuration that will not work.

I completely agree with you that a non-cellular stainless steel is annoying. For the last month and a half I have been on these boards posting with others about the desire to have that. I just came to the conclusion that it was not going to happen, especially when the rumor mill churned up the possibility that they were all cellular models. And I ended up ordering a stainless steel space black S4 with cellular I will likely never activate unless carriers provide a trial period like they did with the series 3.

Just to be able to get a 44mm S4 Space Black on launch day I had to buy it through Tmobile and I had to pay for service.

 

[e-coli]

I'm more apt to judge people by their shoes, really.

This x 100.

 

[enduro0125]

Good to know.

Maybe best to not activate when mountain biking or riding my dirt bike.

I did have it on when I recently went mountain biking.
I did take a tumble,and sure enough the fall detection worked perfectly.

Luckily it wasn’t a big crash and I quickly disabled the sos call.

I’m impressed.

 

[Digital Dude]

I currently have the 2nd Gen Ceramic, and while it does what I like, I decide to upgrade to the Gold Stainless Gen4. Hopefully, it will be a tad more useful to help justify the cost.