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How protective are you with your Apple Watch?

How protective are you of your Apple Watch?

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    184
of course for the first couple weeks I’m overprotective about it, but after a while I realize that it’s literally just a tool and then I basically forget about it.
I’ll put a case on my phone, but certainly not on a watch or a MacBook which I’ve always found to just be silly.
One of the times I decided to keep a hard shell on my MacBook, it literally left a big scratch when removing it. Literally doing the opposite of its job.

After I had my series 5 for four years and it’s still being in pretty good condition, you quickly realize that no matter what condition your Apple Watch is in, after five years, you’re probably not getting more than $50 for it.
And no matter what the battery is going to degrade in the software is going to slow down and eventually be dropped.

My new first generation ultra I got for half off, and it still had almost all of the default year-long insurance on it. Someone bought it, used it for a couple months and realized they didn’t like it, and could barely sell it for half in practically brand new condition.
Is it really worth being that stressed about a device that’s going to depreciate no matter how you treat it?
Not to mention, battery degradation and software support are going to harm a device much more than a couple dents and scratches, and all of that is pretty much guaranteed.
 
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was pretty lackadaisical for the last ~9 years of owning several different models (wow…almost nine years, good lord); recently decided it was worth being a little more careful when it fell on the floor and the screen cracked, lol. 🤙
 
dasjati said:
According to some people on this forum, the Aluminum Apple Watch basically scratches, breaks, and shatters the second you take it out of the packaging. Strangely, my Series 6 Aluminum still looks like new, without any protection whatsoever.
Click to expand...
The screen is more of a big deal than the sides. They really should put sapphire crystal on the aluminum models. I get why they haven't done it though (for the upsell)
 
Counterquestion: How protective is Apple about their (my!) watches?
Apple Watch S4 upgraded from wOS9 to wOS10. Barely usable any more throughout a day span. Battery gives up between 5pm and 7pm or sometimes earlier. Definitively not a battery health issue (was holding until 11pm and longer with wOS9).
Now the exact same degradation happened to my sister in law.

And the worst: You don't get the chance to downgrade after you discover those drawback. EU, Ms Westager to the rescue!!
(Anyone remembering how crippled Apple left the iPad 1 with faulty upgrade from iOS4 to iOS5? Thx for nothing, Apple).
 
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I had (still have) the original Apple Watch in my 'collection' of old Apple stuff. That Watch is pristine, screen and everything is like new lol.

I upgraded to a Series 4 when that came out. Again, this Watch is in perfect condition, with a blemish-free screen. I'd been using it up until Christmas when my son upgraded his Series 7 Watch to an Ultra 2. He asked me if I wanted the S7 and... well, it's a nice upgrade, right? Bigger screen, blood oxygen sensor (lol) and other improvements. So I jumped at it!

The downside is that my son treated this Watch badly. The screen is scratched, the crown is scratched, the body has scratches on it... It kinda looks awful. But.... it's a S7, right?!?!

My plan was (still is) to upgrade to an Apple Watch X or whatever they call it later this year. So I'm currently using the S7 until then. The scratches were annoying me, though, so I put a Zagg InvisibleShield case and screen on it - which makes it look acceptable. Can't wait for the X later this year, tho!
 
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I take good care of my stuff, just don’t bother to baby sit nor be overprotective about devices/tools. Life is lot more than some gadgets.
 
I have an Apple Watch Ultra. This thing is pretty much indestructible. I’m not overly cautious with it. It’s got a few dents but nothing major. My previous S7 had a protective cover on it as I found the normal apple watch very easy to damage.
 
I've owned several Apple Watches and only my Series 2 ever suffered damage while being worn. I put a case on it to prevent further damage, but eventually decided to take it back off. Since then I haven't worried about my watch. My S6 was destroyed in a motorcycle accident but lived long enough to call my wife. I should probably write up my story and send it to Apple, as it helped save my life that day! My S8 has been caseless since my wife bought it for me to replace the S6 (which we framed) and looks like it's brand new well over a year later.
 
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My S4 is in pretty good condition for its age. I think it will hold 2 more years easily. Voted for put on and forget. Change the straps periodically, but no special care or babying it.
 
I've tried my best to look after it (S6) yet it has already picked up more deep glass scratches than a way older Casio cheap basic digital watch. The glass just doesn't seem to be strong. I am now very nervous about it and take it off when there is more risk of an accident happening. Nannying a watch feels very backwards. I even picked up one scratch as a direct result of trying to put it somewhere safe and out of risk. One fabric band stretched to the point of being useless in under a year. A metal band that I thought was stainless, wasn't - it is rusting.(bought from Apple store so hope it wasn't a fake).
 
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My Apple Watch Series 4 screen already has a big crack and I didn’t even know when that crack occurred.

This just gets to show how much I care about my Apple Watch. Aside from occasional cleaning, I spend little time taking care of it.
 
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I usually sleep with the s8, which caused a lot of scratches, and I put a screen protector on it.
 
Joeyyye said:
I usually sleep with the s8, which caused a lot of scratches, and I put a screen protector on it.
Click to expand...
When I first started sleeping with it, I found myself waking up & clawing at the watch.

I think it's because I wasn't used to wearing it during sleep.

I have no problems, now.
 
The Cockney Rebel said:
When I first started sleeping with it, I found myself waking up & clawing at the watch.

I think it's because I wasn't used to wearing it during sleep.

I have no problems, now.
Click to expand...
I didn't get used to it at first. I felt like my wrists were tied.
In order to use the sleep monitoring function, I forced myself to adapt, and before long I stopped feeling its presence while sleeping
 
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I never even think about it unless I hit my U2 on some object and then look to see if damaged. It has happened multiple times and there is still not a scratch or even a scuff.
 
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Timpetus said:
I've owned several Apple Watches and only my Series 2 ever suffered damage while being worn. I put a case on it to prevent further damage, but eventually decided to take it back off. Since then I haven't worried about my watch. My S6 was destroyed in a motorcycle accident but lived long enough to call my wife. I should probably write up my story and send it to Apple, as it helped save my life that day! My S8 has been caseless since my wife bought it for me to replace the S6 (which we framed) and looks like it's brand new well over a year later.
Click to expand...
Great idea framing that watch that helped save your life! Glad you're still here to tell the tale.

I have two of those GRID Studio framed iPhones on the wall in my office, and they do look cool. So I can imagine how awesome it must be having a framed Watch that has such a personal story to you.
 
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I don't care about mine at all except for washing it in the sink every couple days as I use it for workouts. Other than accidentally banging it on door frames nothing's ever happened. And it's a cheaper aluminum version too. I'd be more concerned with the battery wearing out fast (especially with workouts battery life is merely okay) and having to go in for a battery replacement where you get a different refurbished unit entirely. So much for sentimental value, once the battery is done you can either exchange the entire unit or put it in a drawer and buy a new one.
 
Super protective.

It just doesn't have any chance of getting damaged because I've so rarely worn my days-after-release Series 5 (hence also the lack of an upgrade).

For various reasons it's been worn for maybe three months in total between Oct 19 - now, outside of which it has sat on the puck. And even when I do wear it, it mostly ends up being basically a glorified volume control for my Airpods since I still fish out the phone and glance at it.

For that reason this will be one of the rare devices that I keep for the full supported period - and maybe beyond, and not consider replacing once it dies.

The interesting thing is that I used to wear a Band every day when it was a thing. Smartwatches may just have been a phase for me that I've gotten over.
 
The only time I'm like ooh, is when I hit it against a door frame or something. Luckily the Ultra seems quite tough.
 
I have a Series 8 cellular and I don’t baby it at all.

However, I try to avoid getting water on it.

-Despite cleaning it only in clear, tap water, I never get the feeling that all the water has been pushed out after using the water lock feature.

I know my AppleCare plan doesn’t cover water damage for it. So I think it’s best to not tempt fate even if a new Watch isn’t that expensive for me.
 
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