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Apple Watch Series 5 Hands On: Always-On Display is Great, but Otherwise Not Much of an Upgrade
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1. You asked why people are excited about an always on display on a watch.
2. I replied because human beings are behaviourally tuned to expect watch faces to be always on based on how watches have historically worked.
3. Your response is "but battery"
Are you saying that because the underlying technology is different in a smart watch people shouldn't be excited or have an expectation for an always on display? It takes a long time for human behavioural expectations to change. The watch as a concept has been around for a long time. The smart watch is fairly recent relatively.
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I don't have experience with an AW, but the thing is, part of the big deal about wearing a watch if you need to quickly check time, is that you want to just quickly glance. Based on other tech that 'wakes up' and tries to 'guess' when you want it to respond and such, I'm guessing it doesn't work that well.
So, if the point is to be a smart-watch that isn't a very good watch... then always-on isn't that important. If it needs to be a watch, then that's crucial. I agree about the historical aspect, but there is the practical aspect as well.
That said, yeah, battery life is also crucial. Apparently Apple thinks they are at a point where they could get rid of this compromise. I'm curious though... if you don't heavily use your AW (series 4, I know no one has series 4 experience yet) about how much actual cell time would you get if you needed it? Like, if you're out and about all day and then have to make an emergency call, say, 9 or 10 hours later... could you do it?
I've really had no use for an AW so far, but I'm interested in one at some point if I start doing stuff like sea kayaking (where I wouldn't want my phone... or where the phone would be useless in case of an accident). Otherwise, I just have my phone, so the AW doesn't seem that beneficial.
Usage models are going to differ from person to person obviously. I've never required cellular capability on my watch. The cost/benefit doesn't work for me but might work for others. The always on display, in my opinion, is a significant beneficial change that benefits everyone irrespective how one uses the other functions of the watch. I'm waiting for reviews to see how the battery is affected and if Apple executed it well.
No sleep tracking
18 hour battery life, there has to be a point in the day you charge it (sleep).
Agreed. I opted for the Aluminum Series 5 w/out Cellular as I am never without my phone for the most part. If I were out hiking or something else, I would carry my phone in a pack of some kind. I had the AW Series 0 and Series 2 both in space grey so am wondering how I will like the standard Aluminum finish. I just think the standard aluminum goes with everything color wise and it seems everyone opts for space grey so maybe a differentiator.
18? Lol that's pathetic, my galaxy SW does 48 minimum between charges, then 15 mins whilst I'm in the shower and it's up to 50%. AOD whilst some have called it a game changer, which is weird as every other smartwatch already has the option, is something that I can guarantee many folk will turn off then wonder why they upgraded just for it!!
We are discussing AOD and the implications of it, so anecdotal evidence of other associated scenarios surely is more than welcome..? No?
People who upgrade for it will not likely switch it off
it depends on what you use your watch for...can last for day and a half depending on what it’s used for.
Bought the Series 5 Nike when it was released a week and a bit ago. I’ve decided to return it. Maybe it’s just my eyes but I found the AOD way too dim in many lighting situations. It’s literally impossible for me to see outside in the sun. So I end up having to wake it up all the time anyway. Plus I noticed that even when I was just glancing... not trying to wake it up... 9 times out of 10 it would wake up anyway. The wrist raise it very sensitive.
I think the best use case for it would be workouts like rowing where your wrists are in a static position and you can’t easily change them. I do find rowing workouts a pain with my 4 but I only row very rarely. 99% of my workouts are running, skating and yoga. AOD is not needed for running and skating and for yoga I have it in theatre mode anyway.
Kind of a bummer since I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long and was so excited for it... but in practice I found it very disappointing and underwhelming. Gonna wait for the 6 and hope it improves.
I think the best use case for it would be workouts like rowing where your wrists are in a static position and you can’t easily change them. I do find rowing workouts a pain with my 4 but I only row very rarely. 99% of my workouts are running, skating and yoga. AOD is not needed for running and skating and for yoga I have it in theatre mode anyway.
Kind of a bummer since I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long and was so excited for it... but in practice I found it very disappointing and underwhelming. Gonna wait for the 6 and hope it improves.
Good feedback, but I suppose a majority of people and use tends to be in offices, meetings, etc. where it is bright enough w/o (hopefully) being distracting. I can imagine it would be hard in the sunlight, as even fairly bright screens can be hard to see.
Can you disable that raise-to-wake thing though? I find that annoying as heck (and immediately disable) on phones, so I'd probably want to do that on a watch too. I think I'd rather have the dim always-on and then have to physically touch the screen or something to actually wake it.
You can definitely disable raise to wake. Some people have reported it affects battery life. I like it so I keep it on.
Yes it would be great in an office environment and in meetings. I work from home though. I dunno I was just disappointed in how dim it was especially in certain lighting. And as I say I found it lighting up 9 time out of 10 anyway when I look at my watch.
One thing that was slightly annoying when switching back to my 4 was the 1 second delay between totally black empty display to lit up display when you raise your wrist. With AOD there is still that same delay but at least it’s starting from a somewhat visible screen. And it actually fades up so you can read the time pretty quickly instead of waiting a second. But again when outside on a bright day I would still have to wait that second or so for it to fully light up and that was more annoying. Like.. why did I just pay $600 for an always on display if I still have to wait for it to light up in certain scenarios anyway?
Also I’m 51 so maybe part of it is just having older / poorer vision.
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I usually use the AOD inside but I used it outside all day this weekend and I didn't have any problem with it. Some faces like Solar Dial would be hard to see but I have a problem with those indoors also.