AWU1 Owners - Are you upgrading?

[Adelphos33]

My AWU1 still has great battery life - but many of the "quality of life" upgrades (wide angle screen, bigger screen, apparently better max battery life depending on who you believe) are tempting. Plus - the AWU doesn't get the hypertension and sleep apnea stuff the AWU2 gets, and the AWU1 is missing stuff like on device Siri, double tap, etc. My Apple Watch Ultra is my main watch. I am thinking about doing the upgrade and just keeping the watch for a while. All my bands will still be compatible, plus I can choose a new band with the purchase of the watch.

I am skipping this years iPhones, so it looks like this is an Apple Watch and AirPods year for me...

 

[terryw1]

I am trading in my awu1 for the u3. I have both the ultra2 in black and the u1 in natural. I justified the trade with the new and improved health features, the better battery life and I really want the Milanese band in natural. It is the best band out there!

 

[funktofunk]

I’m really on the fence still. My Ultra 1 is at 84% battery health and I notice it on days I mountain bike without phone, stream some music, it seems to drain a little quicker. I’m tempted to get the black, love the look, also the 5G and satellite would be nice since I’m in areas without service regularly, we will see, not 100% I will pull trigger yet…

 

[A1000]

While my AWU1 is still delivering even if like you when I really use it for music, workout, etc.. it does drain noticeably quicker these days. The pivot for me was the trade-in value was still ok and only about 10% less than an AWU2 so felt like the optimum time for the economics. Especially as you say you get an additional band and charging puck. I also realise that my AWU is probably my most used device in reality.

 

[doogm]

I already pre-ordered an Ultra 3, so yes. My Ultra is at 88% max capacity in battery health and the battery lasts noticeably less. I tried turning off AOD for day, but I just couldn't stand using it that way.

 

[tcuprof]

My Ultra 1 battery is down to 85%, but it goes on the charger every night and if I need a little boost to make it through the day, it's no big deal to give it a few minutes of charge. The main thing I'd prefer is a black case, but that's not worth $799. I am curious how much better the cell reception is because our neighborhood where I run gets only a very weak cell signal.

 

[doogm]

One thing that I will note about my Ultra 3 pre-order is that the Ultra's estimated trade-in value is $255, so the net price for the upgrade is $544.

I do sleep tracking - I always have since a few weeks after I first bought an Apple Watch in early 2017 - so my watch typically drains from about 85%-ish when I wake up in the morning to about 55%-ish after my usual morning workout. When I first bought the Ultra that was more like 95%-ish to 70%-ish. I usually charge while I shower but I also need to top-up for about 15 minutes before I go to bed. I'll note, though, that this is far better than my original Series 2 and Series 5 were after two and a half years and three years, respectively - those needed at least one extra charge during the day, plus, of course, they had bo fast-charging. So as long as "Series" watches get only"24 hours" battery life, I will always buy an Ultra. Here's hoping that battery technology will improve soon so that this will no longer be an issue.

 

[1rottenapple]

No it won’t significantly change my use. Current gen 1 works for its purposes and satellite sos would be helpful but I upgraded to the 16 for that reason alone.

I’d love glucose monitoring though. That would be amazing not because I have a condition but more for fitness purposes. I would like to see how eating affects my blood glucose. But I doubt apple’s version will be that accurate given their monitoring wrist temps looks for treads or blood pressure isn’t an immediate number.

 

[avro707]

My Ultra V1 is still working fine so I will not upgrade yet.

For fitness purposes I ordered a Concept2 RowErg instead, I think that will serve me better than a new Apple Watch Ultra 3.

 

[marmiteturkey]

I was going to, but after ending the day yesterday with still 45% battery, I can’t justify it.

If Apple would sell me a watch without a strap for £99 less I probably would have…

 

[doogm]

If Apple would sell me a watch without a strap for £99 less I probably would have…

I really hope that someday Apple will sell a watch plain, without a strap, for those of us after 10-ish years have plenty of them already.

 

[marlman]

AWU 3 ordered to replace my AWU1 it will be here next Friday and I am looking forward to it.

I have loved my AWU 1 I am not in any way adventurous just love having a sturdy watch on my wrist, I do a lot of dog walking so I do keep track of my daily steps!

I was happy with my my £235 trade in value and I will hopefully get another two years at least out of my new watch.

I am now on a two year cycle for my watch and phone so will be keeping my iPhone 16 Pro Max which I love for another year and hopefully change it next year.

Really looking forward to playing with the new gestures which the AWU 1 does not have, roll on next Friday!

 

[iMacoo7]

I’m upgrading my AWU1. I ordered my AWU3 via ATT showing delivery of next Thursday and I ordered 30 minutes after the window opened.
Too bad AWU1 cannot use the new health features or I would keep rocking it.

 

[funktofunk]

I ended up ordering, looking forward to upgraded screen, on device Siri, 5g, battery, like others have said I use this device constantly and is with me more than phone, think it will be a nice upgrade, no phone upgrade this year so it will scratch the itch

 

[Howard2k]

I was on the fence, but I did order. My employer gives us "toy" money each year so that will offset a portion. I'll sell my Ultra (1) in addition, and so the uplift will be quite modest.

I do think the Ultra 4 will be a bigger steps forwards than the Ultra 3, and it wasn't an easy decision, but it feels like a good opportunity to start gathering those additional health stats too (apnea and hypertension). AFAIK I don't have either, but you know... And the on-device Siri will also be beneficial. Those are the big things for me.

Extra battery life is nice too, but I can manage with Ultra 1 there, and really it's a token amount of extra battery life.

 

[Lumpydog]

Yep - tradin in my AWU1 for a 3. Enough improvements to make it worth it for me. I wear it every day - it will get enough use to make it worth it to me.

 

[gstevie]

Yes, I went for it. Was a bit on impulse but I think the slightly better screen, gestures and have been jealous of the black since the 2 was updated to be that shade have made it worth it in my mind.

 

[nortonandreev]

No.