Apple Watch Series 4 Reviews: Larger Screen is 'Incredibly Good', Upgrading From Series 0 or 1 a 'No Brainer'

[ActionableMango]

there was a time Apple announced product and it was ready at launch day. Nowadays Apple offers unready product with no main feature.

This isn't just any normal feature. When you make something that can be considered a medical device, it falls under a regulatory umbrella known for being very slow. If they held onto the feature until every single country's protective regulatory agencies approved it as a medical device, it might take several months or even a year or longer, and that would be absurd for a consumer device that's getting updated so far every year.

 

[cmaier]

How is battery life an issue for anyone? Seriously? Take it off when you go toe bed, place it on charger, wake up, put in back on. How is it seriously an inconvenience to anyone?

Longer battery life would allow two features:
1) sleep tracking.
2) always-on screen

 

[iAdamator]

I'm beyond excited to get my Series 4. Unfortunately, I initially wasn't going to get it, but then changed my mind. That means though that my shipping isn't til Mid October.

I think I am more excited for the watch than I am my iPhone Xs. And this is from someone who skipped the iPhone X. I didn't get an Apple Watch right away. I started with a S2, then had to have a S3, and now a 4.

I'm really dying to use the infograph watch face and find out exactly what complications can go in each spot on it. Ideally, it lets me put all the complications I use on a single face.

 

[jonnysods]

Really hoping that getting up early and heading to an Apple store will pay off. Otherwise I won't get my 4 until October 10...

 

[PeteS1963]

Its not. It’s no different than charging your iPhone or iPad on a daily basis. Even though the Apple Watch is rated 18 hours, I can at least achieve 23 Hours with my usage and settings adjusted. If you consider how _much_ technology is actually included in the Apple Watch, even rated 18 hours conservatively from Apple is fairly reputable with all the health sensors, haptic engine, etc.

I use mine for sleep tracking which I find very useful. In fact I would not buy a watch without this capability. Obviously this means that over night charging is out of the question. Mind, I can usually get it charged back to 100% (or close to it) by putting it on charge while I’m getter no ready for work in the morning. The Watches charge fast. However, there are occasions when I don’t have time to do this. So for me more battery life would be very useful.
[doublepost=1537380069][/doublepost]

How is battery life an issue for anyone? Seriously? Take it off when you go toe bed, place it on charger, wake up, put in back on. How is it seriously an inconvenience to anyone?

Sleep tracking.

 

[apolloa]

Hhmmm no thanks, I’ll stick to me lovely Series 1 I think. If I didn’t have that then I’d be interested for sure

 

[scrapesleon]

I don’t feel like upgrading my series 1 even though it started acting up

 

[greytmom]

I was about to order AW4, but found out, that ECG (EKG) works only in USA. No other country have this option in description...

I mean - they did't say a single word about this, so it looks very unprofessional from Apple, to talk about new feature for 12 minutes that is limited to USA and not mention will it come to other countries... So I will not buy it. Even if they said this feature come to Europe in 2018, after AirPower fail I wouldn't believe them...

They did say in the keynote that they are working to bring this feature to other countries.
[doublepost=1537386555][/doublepost]

And to proof that, you linked me an article at Macrumors? A mean - I like this website, but it's not like I am visiting it every day and read every article. Don't you think it would be nice if Apple mention at conference that ECG is limited to USA only and they work with other countries to provide this feature? After a presentation I was so much like "I go for it". If I didn't check Apple website before purchase, I wouldn't even notice before take it in my hands :/

They did. They said exactly that.
[doublepost=1537387082][/doublepost]

Nice. I can’t wait until Friday.
As for automatic workout detection, I was nicely surprised when my series 3 nudged me today noticing that I was on a treadmill and asking if I wanted to track it. So that’s a nice new feature in Watch OS 5

I’m with you. I realize it’s trendy on these forums to hate everything, but I just can’t do it. LOL

I LOVE the new workout feature. I am forever forgetting to either start or end workout, so it is great to be reminded!
[doublepost=1537387660][/doublepost]

Battery life is what keeps me in Garmin products, most recharge while you shower so they can collect data all day... for days at a time. I do not understand why battery life is not a huge hit. I think most buyers wore jewelry watches before, those of us who never take a watch off do not seem to be the target market. Why aren't there batteries in the bands or something?

Apple Watch can recharge while you shower as well.

But true, if you never, ever take your watch off, this isn’t the watch for you. I don’t understand that mindset at all, but I don’t need to understand it.

 

[sclawis300]

Definitely not worth upgrade from series 3. Maybe in a few years. Needs more features. So far the coming soon ekg that I’ll never use seems to be the thing.

I wouldn't say "definitely". If the price hadn't increased I may have upgraded. Would love a larger screen for sure.
[doublepost=1537387988][/doublepost]

Battery life continues to be the only thing stopping me from purchasing. If some form of integrated solar and/or kinetic charging solution get's included to increase the time between charges then I'll be in. Though I suspect the engineering and practicality challenges to bring this about are extreme. I live in hope.

Have you ever actually talked to someone who owns a series 3 watch who thinks the battery life is a problem?
[doublepost=1537389403][/doublepost]

It should at least last for 3 full days in order to give the user the possibility to use it during a weekend far from home and avoid bringing the charging cable.

I have to bring something to charge my phone. We don't gripe and moan about a phone that doesn't last a week. If only they could come up with some sort of pad that I could put all my devices on....that would be great....

Obviously they came up with it just can't bring it to market.

 

[Spendlove]

I had the Series 0 in stainless, and while expensive I wouldn't say its over priced. That thing was amazing, the Sapphire glass meant no scratches at all, not a single micro abrasions in the 3 years I owned it. I got the series 3 aluminum and it lasted a week before micro abrasions started to appear. To bad Apple never did that Sapphire glass on the iPhone

My sport space black series 0 is in absolute fresh out of the box mint condition. There’s not a mark on it!

I’ve worn mine since day one every single day all day and used it for Bootcamp training, gardening, building, all the physical stuff that would destroy a watch normally.

Insane build quality. Bravo Apple.

 

[azentropy]

How is battery life an issue for anyone? Seriously? Take it off when you go toe bed, place it on charger, wake up, put in back on. How is it seriously an inconvenience to anyone?

I’m the opposite, I don’t see how people don’t have a problem with the battery life. I guess if all you do is wear it and check the time then it is fine. But if you actually do workouts, send messages with it, use any apps with it, take short trips that take you away for a day or two etc. then battery life is an issue.

 

[840quadra]

I’m the opposite, I don’t see how people don’t have a problem with the battery life. I guess if all you do is wear it and check the time then it is fine. But if you actually do workouts, send messages with it, use any apps with it, take short trips that take you away for a day or two etc. then battery life is an issue.

Even doing that (plus calls through AirPods) Mine lasts 2 days for me, 3 days with lighter use. I normally have +-70% battery life left at the end of the day with my Series 3 cellular.

 

[greytmom]

I’m the opposite, I don’t see how people don’t have a problem with the battery life. I guess if all you do is wear it and check the time then it is fine. But if you actually do workouts, send messages with it, use any apps with it, take short trips that take you away for a day or two etc. then battery life is an issue.

Yeah, I do all those things. No issue.

 

[fpsBeaTt]

“In everyday life, the Series 4 does feel snappier...”

Buckle up, Buckeroos

 

[PaladinGuy]

I wouldn't say "definitely". If the price hadn't increased I may have upgraded. Would love a larger screen for sure.
[doublepost=1537387988][/doublepost]
Have you ever actually talked to someone who owns a series 3 watch who thinks the battery life is a problem?
[doublepost=1537389403][/doublepost]
I have to bring something to charge my phone. We don't gripe and moan about a phone that doesn't last a week. If only they could come up with some sort of pad that I could put all my devices on....that would be great....

Obviously they came up with it just can't bring it to market.

I agree about the price increase. I would be much more interested in upgrading my series 3, but they took a high price and made it higher. I highly prefer the stainless steel model, and the $700 starting price kinda blows me away.

 

[lec0rsaire]

Hhmmm no thanks, I’ll stick to me lovely Series 1 I think. If I didn’t have that then I’d be interested for sure

The Series 1 was a great value. I would've never bought one if I didn't pay just $229 for it at the beginning of last year. It has nearly same dual core SoC of the Series 2 except for the built-in GPS. Since I never leave the house without my phone that feature is useless. And it doesn't have that tacky red dot on the Digital Crown!
[doublepost=1537408428][/doublepost]Man, Rene Ritchie is really going over the top here! It's like he wants to make love to it lol!

I bet those fanboys who bought the gold Edition have to be pissed Apple is now selling gold plated versions. Those who were dumb enough to buy one deserve to see their money going down the drain. They can maybe recoup $900 at current gold prices. At least the white ceramic Edition still has 40% of its value.

 

[fhopper]

I’m willing to believe most take their Watches off to charge at night. That would also be dependent if someone values sleep monitoring or not. For me, I have no benefit for that, therefore I charge my watch at night, which I’m Sure others are in the same
Instance.



No idea what this has to do with my post and charging the watch.

If they had been collecting heart data at night for months prior to the event they might have been able to address it with their doctor early. Night time data collection is the heart (pun intended) of Heart Rate data collection.

 

[falainber]

Larger Screen is 'Incredibly Good'
Meaning - use your phone and don't bother with the surrogates.

 

[Tovenaar]

I'm sick and tired of reviews that just rehash the Apple keynote. Walt Mossberg please come back!

 

[TallManNY]

Longer battery life would allow two features:
1) sleep tracking.
2) always-on screen

Those are two very different things. The current Series 3 allows sleep tracking. But at some point during your day you would have to find 15 to 20 minutes to put it on a charger. You have to do a bit of juggling, more so on days where you use the watch in workout mode. Maybe 15% more battery life and that juggling gets a lot easier. But still it is pretty much already a feature you can use.

But always-on screen would require a completely different power design. Larger battery wouldn't do it alone, I think. I think it would take slower and more efficient CPU and less bright screen. So basically everything would be compromised in some way for that always-on feature.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

I can see the ECG thing being like apple pay, taking years to become available in other countries. Aside from the screen it really is the only new feature. I think Ill wait for when these new medical sensors are available in the UK/Australia. Which if it's like Apple pay, is still a few versions away. Until then, I'll save my money, or have migrated to Android the way this pricing is heading.

 

[Fidgetyrat]

Lots of peopel want bettery battery for sleep tracking.

Honest question, has there ever been good wrist-worn sleep tracking? I've had a series of fitness bands over the years ending with my Series 3 and none of them gave any interesting sleep analysis. To make matters worse, my Garmin was worn after my daughter was born (you know, when you are up every 1-2 hours feeding or consoling) and it often just said "yep, you slept great!".. Um no, I didn't.. Thanks..

 

[eec091]

I wouldn't say "definitely". If the price hadn't increased I may have upgraded. Would love a larger screen for sure.
[doublepost=1537387988][/doublepost]
Have you ever actually talked to someone who owns a series 3 watch who thinks the battery life is a problem?

I haven’t spoken to series 3 owners about battery life. But I’m not sure what benefit it would bring in doing so, as on paper the battery wouldn’t last long enough for my liking or needs, so someone’s personal opinion isn’t going to solve the issue for me.

 

[cmaier]

Those are two very different things. The current Series 3 allows sleep tracking. But at some point during your day you would have to find 15 to 20 minutes to put it on a charger. You have to do a bit of juggling, more so on days where you use the watch in workout mode. Maybe 15% more battery life and that juggling gets a lot easier. But still it is pretty much already a feature you can use.

But always-on screen would require a completely different power design. Larger battery wouldn't do it alone, I think. I think it would take slower and more efficient CPU and less bright screen. So basically everything would be compromised in some way for that always-on feature.

I didn’t say bigger battery. I said longer battery life. It could be done lots of ways - lots of watches already do it.

 

[Neodym]

But if you actually do workouts, send messages with it, use any apps with it, take short trips that take you away for a day or two etc. then battery life is an issue.

There are power banks for the AW as well.