I gave up my Apple Watch after 9 years and feel free.

[the future]

I have a couple of nice watches that I only wear for certain occasions and I do enjoy not wearing the Apple watch on those certain times, if only that I have something different on my wrist.

(…)

Apple make a million different bands for the watch as a way for people to try and differentiate their watch and make it more individualized for each person. It does that to an extent, but it's still an Apple Watch and the same one that everyone else is wearing. And I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, its just a little bizarre that we are all walking around with the same watch on that looks the exact same.

I know what you mean, and agree to a point, but not only is the Apple Watch quite customizable not only by the strap, but also material and colour of the case as well as the chosen watch face, but honestly 90% of fine (i.e. mechanical) watches you see folks wear are also the same chrono or diver type pieces that look more alike than different. So real „individuality“ is also scarce on that side of the fence.

 

[DMG35]

I know what you mean, and agree to a point, but not only is the Apple Watch quite customizable not only by the strap, but also material and colour of the case as well as the chosen watch face, but honestly 90% of fine (i.e. mechanical) watches you see folks wear are also the same chrono or diver type pieces that look more alike than different. So real „individuality“ is also scarce on that side of the fence.

Also very true.

 

[childu]

I have never used my Apple Watch for notifications. For health concern (unsure about the effect of wifi and bluetooth so close to the body) it’s always on airplane mode. I use it only for workouts, rarely for sleep monitoring, Apple Pay (it works offline!) when I don’t want to use my phone. That’s it, it can stay months in the drawer if I don’t work out.

 

[Axelle838]

I only wear my Apple Watch when I'm working out or sleeping. Otherwise I'm wearing my Rolex.

 

[clayj]

I bought the original Apple Watch in 2015 and sold it in 2018, when it was about to lose support for current watchOS. I simply got tired of it telling me what to do.

Since 2018, I've built up a pretty decent collection of G-SHOCK, Hamilton, Marathon, Sternglas, and LACO watches, along with one Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. I enjoy these MUCH more than I did the Apple Watch, and none of them tell me what to do.

 

[lxmeta]

I’m thinking of doing this, too. It’s the thought of giving Apple another $5,000 through the rest of my life on newer Watches and throwing away previous Watches because Apple (like other manufacturers) obsolete them and stop offering battery replacements. Same with iPhone. For now I’ve just been keeping devices as long as I can, but that still feels a bit wasteful.

My reason against the AW. My Fenix 6 holds battery for more than a week and is very durable. My Fenix 3 is still on my sons wrist.

I have and still use when possible my first Apple Watch, a nice stainless steel with nice bands, but it will eventually get to the point where it can only be used in the off/time-only mode, and later, its battery will become a spicy pillow. Then what do I do? Junk it? That’s pretty insane. If it were a real watch that wouldn’t happen, and anyway there are repair shops.

One of the main reasons I first got a watch was that the iPhone sizes started getting bigger and bigger. But if I just switch to a dumb phone…

I only use a smartwatch for workout. Otherwise my GMT Master II has been serving me as my daily rocker for 10 years without any service…

 

[lxmeta]

Ooooohhh, you have a rolex. You must be rich. I'm impressed!

So sorry for your insecurity! Just honest work on my side. Guess you must have missed quite a few other similar posts…
And no, it’s not just one
Edit: you do realize the whole thread was started with an Omega replacing an AW, right?😂

 

[Tdude96]

It's interesting to see how people react to various devices. For me, the Apple Watch is very freeing and my phone feels like the ball and chain. The watch allows me to go about my day and hardly touch the phone, I can even leave the phone behind entirely and get through a day just fine with the watch alone. It's incredibly nice.

 

[nburwell]

I have most app notifications for my AW turned off. I primarily use it to tell the time and scan text notifications that I receive. I was never a watch person before I purchased my AW. But it’s also not for everyone. YMMV though.

 

[ohthehorror]

Not sure it matters what you do in your life And why you felt the need to share something that has virtually no effect on anyone else.

 

[turbineseaplane]

For fitness folks, nothing touches Garmins -- the options, features, ecosystem -- and the battery life

Their dramatically better battery life also allows them to be worn and used and mostly forgotten about in a way the "constantly needing to be charged" Apple Watch does not

Apple really needs to expand the Watch lineup and do a fitness focused/first effort

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not sure it matters what you do in your life And why you felt the need to share something that has virtually no effect on anyone else.

It's a discussion forum - this is literally what we do here ... share thoughts and experiences

 

[stanza.richi]

I use my Submariner 124060 on my left wrist all the time except while sleeping, showering and exercising. My AW is on my right wrist all the time except while showering, on the left while exercising.

 

[Grayburn]

They aren't even accurate fitness trackers either

Total bollocks

 

[lxmeta]

I use my Submariner 124060 on my left wrist all the time except while sleeping, showering and exercising. My AW is on my right wrist all the time except while showering, on the left while exercising.

A no date on one and an AW on the other arm? And why remove it in the shower?
I guess I missed the sarcasm tag

 

[cms2]

What ever makes you feel free, happy and sleep better at night. Enjoy your omega.

I was surprised (naïve, I guess) to see some of the negative comments here. I'm a happy Apple Watch owner, but I mean, happy for the OP to have found something that works better for them. So just echoing your very decent sentiment.

 

[trip1ex]

This isn’t reasonable. You can say that the benefit is low, but for nearly everyone, it’s not quite zilch. If you can tell me you never care to see what time it is or what the weather is…well, I wish I lived in your zen world.

It’s fair to say that it’s not worth it to you to spend money on it, to feel it on your wrist, or to take it off to charge…stuff like that. But it’s really hard to deny that there’s some utility.

The problem is my phone has time and weather on it. I hope I'm allowed to look at my phone under your rules.

'Basically zilch' vs 'low' seems like semantics to me.

 

[chrisrows]

AW for daily wear. DJ41 fluted bezel, rhodium dial on a jubilee bracelet for occasions. Not a flex - my point is that I think I'm with the majority (and backed by sales) that a smart watch is preferred for everyday life and mechanical watches are fun, beautiful, and I love them in a totally different way for a different occasion.

If you get burnt out wearing an AW every day, you didn't take the time to properly set up the notifications. There's so many things an AW helps with - time management, responding to critical messages, health, apple wallet in a bind, GPS and directions, quick things to ask Siri, smart home, and if you opt for cellular you don't have to be as tethered to your phone. However, you need to go through and uninstall and/or mute notifications for all the junk on your phone.

 

[blackpeter]

My everyday watches are mechanical. I wear an Apple Watch when I'm doing chores, when I sleep, and when I workout.

As a lover of watches, I appreciate what Apple has done with the Apple Watch.

The general health tracking is probably the killer feature for me. I would love something smaller that I could wear with my mechanical watches. If the Apple Ring ever came to be, I'd be pretty happy.

 

[DonutHands]

I try the watch every now and then. I have never been a watch person and the AW never sticks. Wear it for a few days, then i forget and it never goes back on.

 

[trip1ex]

I completely don't get wearing the Apple Watch while you sleep. That just sounds wrong. lol. (...you don't need to give me medical reasons. I understand despite my feeling about wearing the AW while you sleep. )

I bought my wife and kid AWs. Wife has hers on about half the time maybe more lately. I think it's mostly because other women at her work have one. IT's sort of a status/fashion symbol of sorts. She likes it for fitness...but still refuses to leave the phone at home while walking. Which is the big reason I bought her the latest AW. lol. ..waste of money for me. lol.

My kid hasn't worn his in forever like 6 months. Not sure why except now he even gave up his iphone for a flip phone. I didn't think he would make it a month with a flip phone but he's almost at that mark now.

I thought it was mostly admirable at first but it's also been annoying because he doesn't have maps on him (and world isn't set up for paper maps) and he hasn't been driving for even a year yet. He misses out on deals at fast food places that him and his friends go to frequently. And worst of all (lol) he's a green bubble in the family group chat. But I do like that we talk to each other outside the house way more now. Before it was close to zero. It's nicer to hear a voice instead of texting. And quicker to resolve some discussions. /tangent

 

[MDJCM]

I see a simple mistake with most Apple Watch owners. I now advise all my friends the first thing they should do is go into the settings and turn off all notifications. Then over time decide which notifications that appear on the phone you'd prefer to see on the watch instead.

It's a shame the notification setting is to opt-out on new apps.

 

[Tozovac]

I've never owned one and have refused to buy one since they came out. I am still refusing to buy one. The AW is Apple's answer to the LED notification light. Rather than add that to the iPhone, Apple wants you to purchase an entirely different device.

I'm not going to play that game.

I have my dad's old 1860s pocket watch that's been passed down, plus my own watch. I use those.

The AW is a boon to those using its functions that a phone can't offer, particularly the health and exercise/training related functions for which a dedicated, more focused training watch like a Garmin isn't necessary.

Or, all kidding aside, the AW provides a sneaky way to keep visual tabs on certain important reminders/notifications without being seen as "looking at your phone" during those times you don't want to be seen looking at your phone.

Those looking at the AW as an additional indicator system beyond the phone itself are probably just not the right audience for an AW.

 

[Tozovac]

Decided to part ways with my Apple Watch Ultra 2. From owning the original 9 years ago and wearing one on my wrist up until now, I felt it was time to try and see just what it feels like to rid myself of it.
I purchased a Omega as my new wearable.
Sold the Apple Watch on eBay.
Now, I feel comfortably free and, for some reason, clear headed.

Give it a try.

Which Omega did you get? I sure miss my 2254.50 and often think I'd love to have that back in place of my AW at times but I'm happy with the add'l functions the AW gives me that the iPhone does not, and an Omega can't.

 

[john123]

The problem is my phone has time and weather on it. I hope I'm allowed to look at my phone under your rules.

'Basically zilch' vs 'low' seems like semantics to me.

Rotating your wrist 45 degrees at a glance rather than pulling something out of your pocket is easier. It’s much easier if you have something in your hands such as a bag. And of course it’s more subtle if you’re with other people around.

Sources of info here for “rules”: physics, life, facts.