The guy whanging the sports watch against a sidewalk over and over was definitely not controlled 😕 Who's going to do something like that in real life?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is sapphire worth the $250 premium?
- Thread starter Bigboiiiii
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The fact that you think you can gauge someone's income by the type of Apple watch they have speaks volume. This place is either overrun with children or idiots.
caligurl
macrumors 68040
mightyjabba
macrumors 68000
I was surprised by those drop test videos, since I had also been led to believe that sapphire would if anything be more prone to shattering. It could just be the luck of the draw -- maybe the sport model fell in the exact way it needed to in order to shatter, and in most cases they would actually both be okay under those circumstances. But it's still a little disturbing to see it break so easily.
The guy doing that test was a joke though. You're doing a drop test and you don't even know that it doesn't have a sapphire screen? And that part where he got mad seemed kind of fake.
The guy doing that test was a joke though. You're doing a drop test and you don't even know that it doesn't have a sapphire screen? And that part where he got mad seemed kind of fake.
techno-Zen
macrumors 68000
After getting a scuff on my sport model on Day 1 from barely hitting a plastic piece of gym equipment. I ordered the SS model without a thought.
Ouch. Did you get AppleCare+? Are you looking into an out-of-warranty repair or will you just wait until it gets a few more dings?
People wouldn't, but it wouldn't be unexpected for the watch to end up face down into the sidewalk if you trip, or into a wall if you brush against it.
As for the scratches, the first is always the worst! If you bought on an Amex, you could use the protection to replace it.
I'm sure it is luck of the draw. I had an iPad that shattered after a 3 foot drop and one that was unscathed after falling from twice that high, both on hard surfaces. That said, I'm not surprised that the Sport is scratching. I'm a bit puzzled why Apple didn't use sapphire on all the watches. Maybe they will in the future once the enhanced sapphire that is less reflective is available.
Omen87
macrumors regular
I have AC+. Once the newness wears off somewhat I'll probably be over it. But no, I won't waste one of my accidental damage claims on one scratch. I wonder if and when parts become available, such as from iFixit or something, if a person could buy a sapphire screen and fit it to a Sport model. They seem to be identical other than the material.
How much do you make? What kind of car do you drive? You've got me all worried about my Sport buying decision now.
You don't know the yield and the production quantities.
I assume that the glass covers can be produced in no time and the yield is really high.
My everyday wear-around watch has a sapphire face. I've had it for a decade and I'll have it for decades more. I guess I'm not as sure that the v. 1.0 Apple Watch will have anywhere near that long of a functional lifespan. It's not something I'm buying for the ages.
Currently I have 2 Sport models sitting in processing on my account. I'm vacillating back and forth on whether I want to cancel and reorder the stainless steel model.
I'm not particularly influenced by the metal material (I actually am fond of the anodized satin finish look on the Sport model). What it's coming down to is the do I want to spend $400+ more to buy 2 sapphire watch faces?
I'm not concerned about hardness (the ~7 Mohs scale hardness of the glass face is fine). What I am concerned about is fracture toughness. I'm kind of thinking of the extra $200/watch cost as being insurance against the inevitable face-down drop onto a tile floor.
Fortunately I just placed my order the other day so I'm at the back of the line and have some time to mull it over.
Not on a Gen 1 device. Let's all remember this is a mark 1 apple product. If you ware going to early adopt buy the cheap one as it will be eclipsed badly by the next model.
iphone
ipad
etc.
I think if you get one get the sport the cheap one in 12 months there will be a longer term apple watch to buy that has more features last longer and will be so much better
iphone
ipad
etc.
I think if you get one get the sport the cheap one in 12 months there will be a longer term apple watch to buy that has more features last longer and will be so much better
Even better: Adamantium case + transparent aluminium face 😉
Reading this thread has convinced me I should get AppleCare+.
Arran
macrumors 603
It's really simple. You have to work backwards:
Long time ago, at the concept stage, Apple decided on a $550 price point for the upcoming watch.
Later market research showed $550 would never sell in volume. And without volume the thing was dead: App developers and accessory producers would never get on board.
So $350 was set as a new "entry-level" price point, but J. wouldn't give up the stainless at $550-$1K slot. Omitting that pricing step would make his Edition project untenable at 10K. So the question became: "What can we take out of the sport, so the stainless still appears to offer some added value?"
Sapphire and ceramic were it, because anything else would mean altering the electronics of the watch and that would only ADD cost for Apple.
Disclaimer: The events depicted in this story are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental. 🙂
Having had a Sport, that I returned to Apple Monday (ordered a SS ML 38, in store) - yes, it is worth the difference. The Applewatch build materials are just better. I'm now at the end of the line (old preorder - returned and new order placed) -but his unbearable wait to have a watch again will be over by Jun 11 😉
All it took was a Consumer Reports + a couple YouTube drop tests, where the sapphire was unharmed vs the Sport scratching or shattering - to have me return it.
sport:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7fwqANb9Acg
Applewatch:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ-1WgWN1s
- apparently, I can't imbed a YT video, like I can a NeoGaf - so just google the 2 - the sport shattered face down and AW survived repeated drops - so much for sapphire being brtittle .
Last edited:
Ya'll, if you haven't caught on, this guy has been trolling the forum for at least a week. Just ignore.
sjinsjca
macrumors 68020
Okay, everybody, here's the word you're all searching for:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=douche
----------
Well, I can't help you with the adamantium, but sapphire is transparent aluminum oxide... close enough?
thedwp
macrumors newbie
It seems like the consensus is to go with the SS. I have both, a 42mm SS & a 42mm Space gray and I'm totally torn as to which one to sell. I wore the SS for a day and had no issues or problems. At first it did seem a little heavy, but I haven't been a 'watch-wearer' and after a few minutes I didn't even notice it on.
The next day my Space Gray came, and right away I thought it looked really cool. I put it on and felt the difference in weight. The other thing I noticed was after a few hours it seemed like small specks of dust were getting caught between the screen and the casing. I didn't notice this on the SS but it could be because everything shows up on black.
The other thing I noticed was the SG, because of the weight felt 'cheaper' when I used the crown wheel and with general interaction with the face. I tried to compare the two crown movements and the crown on both turned the same but I could feel more of the grooves on the SS.
One more observation...it seemed like my the SG became more sticky with on my wrist. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the ceramic coating on the SS vs the plastic composite on the SG.
Has anyone else noticed or seen any threads talking about how the ceramic feels vs the composite against your skin?
The next day my Space Gray came, and right away I thought it looked really cool. I put it on and felt the difference in weight. The other thing I noticed was after a few hours it seemed like small specks of dust were getting caught between the screen and the casing. I didn't notice this on the SS but it could be because everything shows up on black.
The other thing I noticed was the SG, because of the weight felt 'cheaper' when I used the crown wheel and with general interaction with the face. I tried to compare the two crown movements and the crown on both turned the same but I could feel more of the grooves on the SS.
One more observation...it seemed like my the SG became more sticky with on my wrist. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the ceramic coating on the SS vs the plastic composite on the SG.
Has anyone else noticed or seen any threads talking about how the ceramic feels vs the composite against your skin?
I know I might get flamed for this, but are there any good screen protectors that fit to the edge of the glass (around the curve) and don't inhibit the quality of the display? I know there's a zagg kiosk right outside my Apple Store so I might check them out.
colonelbutt
macrumors 6502
I concur with everything
The SG simply feels and looks cheaper. It's still very nice but once you have tried on an SS you can't really go back to the SG.
IMHO once stumping up the money the extra premium for stainless steel and sapphire crystal is kind of a no brainier.
Lastly there are health risks associated with Alu. Although this has been commented mostly about in cooking pots I am nervous having Alu next to my skin all the time ......