Cracked screen dashed my upgrade plans. Should I replace my Series 3 or upgrade to 7?

[scarylarry]

I’ve had a Series 3 for about 3.5 years, and have been happy. I was originally thinking of upgrading to the 7, but when I saw how similar it was to the 6, I decided I would wait until next year to upgrade.

Well! I didn’t clasp my band correctly today, and the Series 3 fell and cracked. Now it’s unresponsive, and I’m faced with a choice.

Do I replace my Series 3 for $170 and wait another year as planned, or do I just go to Series 7? My main reason for not upgrading is the cost, which will keep me from wanting to upgrade again when a more significant update comes along.

If it matters: I’m a marathon runner, so my biggest use is as a fitness tracker/GPS device while running.

 

[Night Spring]

Sorry about your watch, that's a crappy thing to happen. You say cost is an issue. Have you considered trading in your old watch when you upgrade? If you buy the S7 now, and you find that the S8 has features you really want, you could trade in the S7, and likely get $200+ for it. The S3, on the other hand, would have very little or no trade in value. It's also likely that you will be happy with the S7 and keep it for 3-4 years like you did with your S3, whereas the lifespan of S3 is likely limited. I wouldn't be surprised if the S3 didn't get watch OS9 next year. So if it were me, I'd get the S7.

 

[Pilot Jones]

I do think that at this point, getting a new S3 would probably bring you less value now than buying a well-priced, newer variant. The squared screen to the software compatibility issues to the aging internals all seem fairly sub-optimal in 2021.

Maybe you don't need to go straight to the S7 if price is an issue, have you considered a used S5 or S6? They have most everything the S7 does, minus a few refinements. You might be able to find one at a price which doesn't put you off upgrading when a more significant upgrade arrives.

 

[scarylarry]

I really appreciate these responses! Based on these and a night of thinking about it, I’ve put in my purchase for a new S7 GPS. My 3 was cellular, but I found I didn’t use it much and ended up deactivating it on my cell plan. So I just went GPS this time. Money saved on data can now go toward the next upgrade.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

3 was a solid watch and I actually preferred the design but is a false economy now, go with the 7.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I really appreciate these responses! Based on these and a night of thinking about it, I’ve put in my purchase for a new S7 GPS. My 3 was cellular, but I found I didn’t use it much and ended up deactivating it on my cell plan. So I just went GPS this time. Money saved on data can now go toward the next upgrade.

Great choice! I cracked the top of my series 4 a few months ago but I wasn’t enthusiastic about the 7 not having an extra sensors or CPU power so I was also going to wait till next year too. It wouldn’t be waterproof anymore but I could live with that. Well, two days ago it cracked completely through the glass from the top crack down to the bottom. It still works but it’s falling apart. I use my watch at work all the time so I didn’t have a choice at that point. I ordered a 45mm series 7 GPS in starlight and went with the solo sport band (super comfy) and had it delivered the next day from the local Apple Store.

It’s a good upgrade from the 4 and a GREAT one from the 3. If you turn off the always on display (AOD) you should get even more life out of it for your marathoning as it has a larger battery than even the series 6.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

The speed increase and larger display really makes this an Easy choice if I was in your position. The series 3 is severely outdated IMHO.

 

[NoBoMac]

Even though OP made a choice, my $0.02: an SE.

I was in a similar situation, destroyed my 3's screen while navigating some climbs in a canyon, replaced with SE. ECG, VO2, and AOD not important, so SE gave me a big upgrade from 3 without the "tax" for functions I don't need or want.