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Fighting it (Buying an Apple Watch)

S

Sami13496

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 25, 2022
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1,546
Hi all,

It’s that time again when I feel like buying an Apple Watch. Apple sure knows how to market their products. Never owned one. Don’t need it. It would just be another gadget distracting me daily from more important things. How long did you fight against this unnecessary purchase? Or are you still fighting it? Or did you give in right away? Or did you *really* need it (like seriously)?

I’m looking at the SE model myself. That way, I’d lose the least amount of money if I end up losing this battle.
 
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It's been on my wrist for almost a decade. Wasn't sure if I'd keep it when I first got it, then it became an essential part of my life. It sounds like you're quite hesitant. Apple Watch SE is currently going for $169/199 (depending on the size you go with) at Best Buy, and you can return it until January 14. Why not give it a try and go from there?
 
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Sami13496 said:
Hi all,

It’s that time again when I feel like buying an Apple Watch. Apple sure knows how to market their products. Never owned one. Don’t need it. It would just be another gadget distracting me daily from more important things. How long did you fight against this unnecessary purchase? Or are you still fighting it? Or did you give in right away? Or did you *really* need it (like seriously)?

I’m looking at the SE model myself. That way, I’d lose the least amount of money if I end up losing this battle.
Click to expand...
I bought an AW SE at launch. I was sort of on the fence about buying one. But it is my favourite Apple product.
Fitness was my original goal. I know exercise a lot more than I ever had before I got it. I’m no gym bunny but I jog and use my cross trainer.
Apple Pay never made sense to me with an iPhone. By the time you get that out of your pocket might as well get out your card.
But on an AW it makes perfect sense. No need to even take a wallet with me.
I also like to read messages as they pop up when in a meeting or busy.
Making a call or skipping tracks is pretty useful to when out and about (when paired with my AirPod Pro’s).

I’d say for the price if you can’t get something out of it, then I’d be surprised.
 
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Sami13496 said:
It would just be another gadget distracting me daily from more important things.
Click to expand...
Or it could possibly be the way you avoid daily distractions, since your silent, non-vibrating iPhone could be left in your pocket, with only your curated notifications arriving as a tap on your wrist. Seeing information you've chosen to display on the screen without the usual distractions available when picking up the iPhone.
 
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CharlesShaw said:
Or it could possibly be the way you avoid daily distractions, since your silent, non-vibrating iPhone could be left in your pocket, with only your curated notifications arriving as a tap on your wrist. Seeing information you've chosen to display on the screen without the usual distractions available when picking up the iPhone.
Click to expand...
Indeed. The other key thing is limit the distractions in the first place. When an app what’s to send me notifications or alerts 99% of the time I say no.
 
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Many of the regulars on here (especially @bricktop_at) will tell you that I returned about three of them.

I then kept the series 8, and now the 10.

I love it. I'm not into fitness, but I find other features really handy (no pun intended.)

And then you become a strap/band collector, and you can create many different styles, suiting your mood.

Get one and try it for a bit, especially as the return period is now longer, due to Christmas.
 
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CharlesShaw said:
Or it could possibly be the way you avoid daily distractions, since your silent, non-vibrating iPhone could be left in your pocket, with only your curated notifications arriving as a tap on your wrist. Seeing information you've chosen to display on the screen without the usual distractions available when picking up the iPhone.
Click to expand...
This is how a coworker with one explained it to me. I didn’t fully believe it until I got the watch. I need to keep my phone silent at work and found myself constantly checking it for missed calls/texts. Now I don’t need to, also a quick glance at the watch determines if I need to respond now or let it wait.
 
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I can relate to this keeping phone silent at work but checking it regularly to avoid missing something important.

So, if I understood correctly, with the Apple Watch, if I leave my phone on silent in my pocket and a notification comes through, the watch will show it. Can I set the watch to vibrate without making a sound?

Also, if I use Focus mode on my phone, will only the notifications I’ve allowed in Focus mode show up on the watch?

Apologies if I’m asking obvious questions, but I’ve never owned an Apple Watch, so I’m not sure how this works.
 
Sami13496 said:
I can relate to this keeping phone silent at work but checking it regularly to avoid missing something important.

So, if I understood correctly, with the Apple Watch, if I leave my phone on silent in my pocket and a notification comes through, the watch will show it. Can I set the watch to vibrate without making a sound?

Also, if I use Focus mode on my phone, will only the notifications I’ve allowed in Focus mode show up on the watch?

Apologies if I’m asking obvious questions, but I’ve never owned an Apple Watch, so I’m not sure how this works.
Click to expand...
Yes the watch vibrates and doesn’t make a sound. I think that’s the default tbh.
You can also use it to ring your iPhone when you’ve misplaced it (even if the iPhone is set to silent).
 
Yes, I keep the watch silent also, so it just vibrates.

I don’t use focus mode, but I believe that is how it works.

Before buying it, I figured I’d only really use it on work days. I wear it nearly everyday though. This way I still get notifications when I’m in a different room than my phone. It also still tracks my steps if phone is not on me. Not critical feature, but nice.
 
Sami13496 said:
Hi all,

It’s that time again when I feel like buying an Apple Watch. Apple sure knows how to market their products. Never owned one. Don’t need it. It would just be another gadget distracting me daily from more important things. How long did you fight against this unnecessary purchase? Or are you still fighting it? Or did you give in right away? Or did you *really* need it (like seriously)?

I’m looking at the SE model myself. That way, I’d lose the least amount of money if I end up losing this battle.
Click to expand...

From my perspective I think it's a net gain at the moment.

Positives:
  • Ok for tracking walks I do.
  • As a watch it's quite good.
  • Handy for cooking timers and adding stuff to reminders via Siri.
  • double-tap is handy once you work out how to use it
  • I wear it at night so it's a nicer wakeup (being tapped on the arm) rather than screaming an alarm at you
  • Occasionally for paying for stuff.
  • Loud noise detection is a good reminder as I carry ear plugs around.
  • Compass on it is really good and handy when I'm outdoors (hobby / hiking stuff)
Negatives:
  • Sometimes distracting (can be tuned via notifications to disable that crap).
  • Slightly bulky and gets caught on my backpack when I put it on.
  • Needs charging daily and have to take the charging puck with me when I'm travelling.
 
cjsuk said:
From my perspective I think it's a net gain at the moment.

Positives:
  • Ok for tracking walks I do.
  • As a watch it's quite good.
  • Handy for cooking timers and adding stuff to reminders via Siri.
  • double-tap is handy once you work out how to use it
  • I wear it at night so it's a nicer wakeup (being tapped on the arm) rather than screaming an alarm at you
  • Occasionally for paying for stuff.
  • Loud noise detection is a good reminder as I carry ear plugs around.
  • Compass on it is really good and handy when I'm outdoors (hobby / hiking stuff)
Negatives:
  • Sometimes distracting (can be tuned via notifications to disable that crap).
  • Slightly bulky and gets caught on my backpack when I put it on.
  • Needs charging daily and have to take the charging puck with me when I'm travelling.
Click to expand...
Why only occasionally to pay for stuff? Just curious.
 
Sami13496 said:
How long did you fight against this unnecessary purchase? Or are you still fighting it? Or did you give in right away? Or did you *really* need it (like seriously)?
Click to expand...
someone gave me a tip once... decide on a date every month when you allow yourself to make a big purchase like this. i chose the 25th of each month (sort of like christmas).
by the time that date finally comes round you have usually given yourself enough time to talk yourself out of it, but if you still want it then go ahead
 
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Cunir said:
someone gave me a tip once... decide on a date every month when you allow yourself to make a big purchase like this.
Click to expand...
I possess neither the budget for a monthly big purchase, nor the will power to wait that long, but if I did, I fear I'd feel obligated to think of something to buy every month for my special day! 😁
 
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To the OP: We were in the same boat you are in two years ago — on the fence, to mix metaphors. 😁

We were unsure because neither of us wear watches, one of us didn’t own an iPhone, and the other had one but only for emergency calls. In other words, few of the usual rationales for getting a watch even applied.

We bought an original SE to test the waters and a 7 to test the ECG, blood oxygen features. We got both with cellular for the fall detection, especially as we are sometimes apart or off in nature.

We really liked them! Upped our fitness game and found the ability to set timers and to receive mindfulness and stand reminders quite useful.

But the low-cost SE was a “mistake” in hindsight. We should have purchased two 7's! We ended up getting a Series 9 last year to replace it (that was before the disabling of the blood oxygen sensor). The SE is now a back-up.

We find the ECG and blood oxygen features useful and reassuring — a good health check.

Our recommendation would be to either try the SE and see how you get on with the watch — or, depending on the price, and your age or health condition, even go directly to a good condition, little used, low cost, Series 7 or 8 so that you have the oxygen sensor and ECG.

The watches are addicting — and useful — with many different features as people have noted, some of which may really appeal to you! You may find yourself upgrading quickly to a full-featured, current model…
 
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Sami13496 said:
Hi all,

It’s that time again when I feel like buying an Apple Watch. Apple sure knows how to market their products. Never owned one. Don’t need it. It would just be another gadget distracting me daily from more important things. How long did you fight against this unnecessary purchase? Or are you still fighting it? Or did you give in right away? Or did you *really* need it (like seriously)?

I’m looking at the SE model myself. That way, I’d lose the least amount of money if I end up losing this battle.
Click to expand...
I had gone a few years not wearing a watch and then I was given an early AW as a gift. I immediately loved the utility of the AW, upgraded once and then again instantly when the AW Ultra came out. The AW Ultra cellular version suits me at least 2x as much as the regular AW does. The AW Ultra is now a mandatory device for me, but I have felt no need to upgrade from v1 because the v1 Ultra is so perfect for my needs.

The iPhone stays in my pocket and I use the AW for:
• timers
• workouts
• heart rate
• stopwatch timing
• microphone quick recordng notes
• phone calls when accessing the iPhone is inconvenient
• phone calls when out running
• a backup phone when the iPhone is misplaced
• Find my iPhone
• compass
• remote camera shutter release
• Time, day and date

And on top of all that the AW first diagnosed AFib for me.
 
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I bought it 10years ago thinking it would just be a toy or something I would not use often, I have plenty of high end watches. I now own several. I cannot be without my AW and it's been years since I have worn my other watches that are far more expensive they are now just sitting in the safety deposit box.
 
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