Good time to buy an SE? Apple Care?

[wayne905]

I am considering becoming a brand new Apple Watch buyer. I have my eye on the SE model. Do you think now is a good time to buy or is there a refresh on the SE around the corner? Also just curious if you folks purchased AppleCare with your watches and if so if you're glad you did (and maybe your Apple care has already paid for itself).

I see on Amazon Canada there are several knock off bands both metallic and other ones that look like the Nike bands and have very good reviews. They seem a lot more affordable than Apple branded versions. I have my eye on a Milanies Loop looking type of band on Amazon. I was contemplating buying the Apple branded one but I'm thinking if I go with Amazon if the quality is good the savings can go towards my AppleCare.

Any thoughts or comments you wish to share would be appreciated.

 

[One2Grift]

That's a frequent question on MR -- is there something new coming out in a few to several months. Most unfortunately you'll get no definitive answer. Series 6 was released I think about 9 months ago. I believe Apple has been releasing a new watch about every year since the first one debuted. So that suggests chances are good for Series 7 by the holidays. Does that mean one is coming before the holidays? Maybe.

IMHO AppleCare is an excellent choice if you can afford it. I've only owned my Watch a few months but I can see that chances of dings and smacks to it are probably notable than other devices. Me? I'm figuring 2 years between AW upgrade purchases. Using a credit card that extends mfg warranty by one year, my money is best set aside for the cost of the AW replacement. But for someone else looking for longer AW usage between replacements? Go with AC and the credit card to get 3 years.

Wish I could help more brother. IMHO if you want one, target a model and price you're happy with, when you see that price then get it, don't worry about a new device that may be coming. That's a game that you'll rarely win.

 

[Mistborn15]

If you are okay with no always on display, SE is a good choice. Another SE is unlikely this year. Apple watch is the only device I get AppleCare. Other devices I can take care but Apple watch can break any time (fall / ball hitting the watch etc)

 

[primarycolors]

New SE owner here: I adore the SE, and learning from past mistakes I did purchase the monthly AppleCare subscription. I had an S4 and thought I'd never need AC until the fateful day I dropped it onto tile while taking it off. The cost of the screen repair was significantly more than an SE with a new band so I sprung for the SE and made sure to buy AC.

That's a frequent question on MR -- is there something new coming out in a few to several months. Most unfortunately you'll get no definitive answer. Series 6 was released I think about 9 months ago. I believe Apple has been releasing a new watch about every year since the first one debuted. So that suggests chances are good for Series 7 by the holidays. Does that mean one is coming before the holidays? Maybe.

IMHO AppleCare is an excellent choice if you can afford it. I've only owned my Watch a few months but I can see that chances of dings and smacks to it are probably notable than other devices. Me? I'm figuring 2 years between AW upgrade purchases. Using a credit card that extends mfg warranty by one year, my money is best set aside for the cost of the AW replacement. But for someone else looking for longer AW usage between replacements? Go with AC and the credit card to get 3 years.

Wish I could help more brother. IMHO if you want one, target a model and price you're happy with, when you see that price then get it, don't worry about a new device that may be coming. That's a game that you'll rarely win.

So, that would be relevant if OP was considering a Series 6, but they're considering an SE which really changes things.

Considering Apple's strategy with the SE, I do not think another will be arriving until at least fall 2022. Updating it every year would defeat the purpose and price point. If you're satisfied with the feature set on the SE, go for it.

 

[Htsi]

The s6 goes on sale for around the same price, why not look at that

 

[bricktop_at]

The s6 goes on sale for around the same price, why not look at that

… or a new S5 (I think Amazon has them still, at least where I live), plus AC+, which I would definitely recommend getting.
S5 is the better SE in my opinion, has AOD and EKG on top and the rest is basically the same.

 

[One2Grift]

New SE owner here: I adore the SE, and learning from past mistakes I did purchase the monthly AppleCare subscription. I had an S4 and thought I'd never need AC until the fateful day I dropped it onto tile while taking it off. The cost of the screen repair was significantly more than an SE with a new band so I sprung for the SE and made sure to buy AC.


So, that would be relevant if OP was considering a Series 6, but they're considering an SE which really changes things.

Considering Apple's strategy with the SE, I do not think another will be arriving until at least fall 2022. Updating it every year would defeat the purpose and price point. If you're satisfied with the feature set on the SE, go for it.

Ah, thanks for the correct info primarycolors. I’m not up on the SE model and assumed(incorrectly) it was in the same as the general series X upgrade rotation.

And it definitely changes things. With seemingly much less chance of a new SE release, the OP can avoid the feared ‘if I would have waited’. I am very happy with my AW — one of my better buys — and the OP will likely be happy with his/hers too.

 

[wayne905]

New SE owner here: I adore the SE, and learning from past mistakes I did purchase the monthly AppleCare subscription. I had an S4 and thought I'd never need AC until the fateful day I dropped it onto tile while taking it off. The cost of the screen repair was significantly more than an SE with a new band so I sprung for the SE and made sure to buy AC.


So, that would be relevant if OP was considering a Series 6, but they're considering an SE which really changes things.

Considering Apple's strategy with the SE, I do not think another will be arriving until at least fall 2022. Updating it every year would defeat the purpose and price point. If you're satisfied with the feature set on the SE, go for it.

Thanks very much @primarycolors and everyone for all your responses. I think AC is definitely needed for me. I can be clumsy at times, and when I've owned watches in my younger days I'd always bank by wrist.

Thats's a great point about the AC getting me an extra year with my credit card's extended warranty. I hadn't thought of extending AC.

I'm still contemplating between the series 6 and the SE. Costco Canada is currently offering $60 off the series 6 but I fear the series 7 it's just around the corner and probably worth the wait. And, as you mentioned, the SE being upgraded this year is probably unlikely. I'm also trying to decide if the added features of the series 6 is worth the money over the SE and if I would actually use them. Is the always on display with the 6 a big feature? Is it a big deal to have to wake up the SE? This is my first time diving into the Apple Watch pool and have never had a digital watch before.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks very much @primarycolors and everyone for all your responses. I think AC is definitely needed for me. I can be clumsy at times, and when I've owned watches in my younger days I'd always bank by wrist.

Thats's a great point about the AC getting me an extra year with my credit card's extended warranty. I hadn't thought of extending AC.

I'm still contemplating between the series 6 and the SE. Costco Canada is currently offering $60 off the series 6 but I fear the series 7 it's just around the corner and probably worth the wait. And, as you mentioned, the SE being upgraded this year is probably unlikely. I'm also trying to decide if the added features of the series 6 is worth the money over the SE and if I would actually use them. Is the always on display with the 6 a big feature? Is it a big deal to have to wake up the SE? This is my first time diving into the Apple Watch pool and have never had a digital watch before.

More than likely, the series 7 will be a standard spec bump from the series 6. If you come across a very good deal on the series 6, I would get that instead of waiting. There is always going to be something new on he horizon. The series 6 is a great watch and won't suddenly go obsolete or stop working when the series 7 is released.

 

[Saturn007]

There is one way of overcoming the dilemma of when to buy — and not having to worry that you've made a mistake because “a new device may soon be released”.

Buy the watch, iPhone, iPad, etc. right after a new version is released. You can then buy the brand new model and be absolutely current or save money by buying the previous year's model at a discount and knowing exactly what the trade-off are.

Given that a new watch is expected this fall, likely September or October, wait until then and buy then.

Now, that system does fail occasionally as Apple will release new versions of its products at odd times but, as a general principle, it's a good way to go. The other thing to do is browse MR and the net and see what new features are expected and whether it would matter to you.

Of course, there's also the “Captain Obvious” advice that if the device you depend on no longer works, you don't have the luxury of waiting and must choose among the options available — at the moment. You need to get your work done. You can always sell it and upgrade later if something dramatically better comes along.

 

[primarycolors]

Thanks very much @primarycolors and everyone for all your responses. I think AC is definitely needed for me. I can be clumsy at times, and when I've owned watches in my younger days I'd always bank by wrist.

Thats's a great point about the AC getting me an extra year with my credit card's extended warranty. I hadn't thought of extending AC.

I'm still contemplating between the series 6 and the SE. Costco Canada is currently offering $60 off the series 6 but I fear the series 7 it's just around the corner and probably worth the wait. And, as you mentioned, the SE being upgraded this year is probably unlikely. I'm also trying to decide if the added features of the series 6 is worth the money over the SE and if I would actually use them. Is the always on display with the 6 a big feature? Is it a big deal to have to wake up the SE? This is my first time diving into the Apple Watch pool and have never had a digital watch before.

I've never owned a watch with an always on display but I've never really wished I had one on the SE, if that makes sense? The 'raise to wake' detection is good enough.

Contrary to what @Apple_Robert says, the S7 is heavily rumored to be a significant design change (square on all edges) with new health sensors (I think I heard blood pressure but I'm not totally sure). If that sounds interesting to you, it may be worth holding out.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I've never owned a watch with an always on display but I've never really wished I had one on the SE, if that makes sense? The 'raise to wake' detection is good enough.

Contrary to what @Apple_Robert says, the S7 is heavily rumored to be a significant design change (square on all edges) with new health sensors (I think I heard blood pressure but I'm not totally sure). If that sounds interesting to you, it may be worth holding out.

Yes, we have seen a lot of rumors about a physical design change for the series 7. As to real hardware changes, that is a different story, in my opinion. It has been said that blood pressure might this, that and the other by one or two people. At this point, there has been a lot of speculating done about those speculating about some rumors. I don't think that such speculation should enter into a current buying decision. I think it is much better to deal with what is. There is no harm in the OP waiting so that he can make a more informed decision. That is a very logical thing to do. If he needs or wants a watch now, there is no real reason to wait, in my opinion.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I had the original AW and currently have a Series 4, so even the SE would be a step up for me due to the newer processor (although otherwise feature-for-feature pretty comparable to the S4). For me the always-on display of the S6 isn't particularly compelling - I'm used to the way things have always been (display wakes with an arm/wrist motion). So if you're just getting your feet wet with Watch, SE would be a fine, economical way to do it.

Don't expect a new SE anytime soon. That's the nature of iPhone SE - the same model is sold for a couple of years without upgrade. I'd expect the same for Watch SE. We do know that Series 7 will be along in a few months. If you'd prefer to wait for the latest-and-greatest (or for a price cut on the Series 6)... Apple has sometimes continued to sell the previous year's model Watch after the new model is introduced, sometimes not. It may turn out that in the fall you'll have a choice of SE and Series 7, and nothing else.

I'm pretty gentle on my gear, so I've never needed to make a claim under AppleCare+ on Watch, iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Since it doesn't cover cosmetic damage (scuffs and scratches) which is the typical damage I've done to my watches (both Apple and prior) nothing I've done rises to the level of a claim. The battery is also covered under AppleCare+, but it's very unlikely to need a battery replacement within the first 2 years. I still buy it for the sake of having insurance, but like auto, life, homeowners, and health, AppleCare+ has been a losing wager.

Most of the non-Apple bands I've seen are a matter of "you get what you pay for." Overall, the fit-and-finish of Apple's bands has been superior. I have the Apple Milanese Loop and it's a nicer quality than my friend's non-Apple Milanese Loop. From a distance it's not easy to tell, but the non-Apple is a bit rougher around the edges. That doesn't mean the brand you're considering is the same as my friend's, but as a general observation, as soon as the price difference becomes significant, chances are you're giving up something. You're not going to get 100% quality at 50% price - maybe 75% quality, maybe even 95% quality... but Apple's prices aren't greatly inflated relative to the quality delivered. Companies that market on "quality" are always charging for the intangible as well as the tangible. Of course for watch bands, 100% quality may not be necessary. That tends to be an individual judgement.