Which videos are you talking about? The ones posted earlier in this thread were casual, superficial tests. The stainless steel was dropped what.. two or three times? What would you conclude if the next time dropped it shattered into a thousand pieces? What if in the few tests they tried the band inadvertently protected the crystal? I'm not saying glass is better than sapphire I just wouldn't trust the guys making those videos. I'd have more faith in a through test done by a reputable organization such as Consumer Reports.
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 difference is $700 for me as I got 38mm Sports Gray ($350) and that only compares with black SS ($1050). So, no it is not worth that premium.
Maybe when V2 comes out with (hopefully) a camera, better battery life, and other improvements, they will not require us to purchase that expensive band with the black SS model. I'll be all over it.
Maybe when V2 comes out with (hopefully) a camera, better battery life, and other improvements, they will not require us to purchase that expensive band with the black SS model. I'll be all over it.
I feel that 2 days is insufficient to develop an opinion on the watch.
And I think the one of the points of the watch is so that you don't have to have your phone on you 95% of the time.
for a tech person like myself it is, computers/electronics have zero learning curve for me. Don't take what I said above as negative it's just for myself personally, after the hype was over the usage factor dropped. I've changed songs, checked notifications, reminders, msg, emails, etc... but the two features I use the most are checking the Time and Fitness stats. Any notification that hits my watch I received about 2secs earlier on my phone. By the time any notification comes in i'm already grabbing my phone before its pushed to my watch.
i will purchase the next Watch version just like I buy every iPhone version... but I can't honestly give a good reason to anyone to purchase the Watch other than if you have the money and you want the latest/hot tech then get it. SS and Edition is perfect for fashion tech too
I just think you need a few days to discover if it's for you or not. Regardless of technical ability but to each his own.
Me neither the only good reason is pretty much get it if you want one.
I agree, the decision to get this is much harder than an iphone. I have had mine for a couple days and its going back. It just costs too much for what it is. I will consider the sport model due to lower price but Canadian prices are much higher now.
I agree. I understood pretty much all of the watch's functions right out of the box, especially since I had been obsessively reading about it for weeks. But that told me little about how it would be to use day-in day-out.
Getting back to the subject of screens, this guy says he scratched a Sport model after wearing it casually for a single day. Seems crazy to me.
The first video is BS. There are several cuts between the footage of the drop itself and subsequently revealing the broken face. Anything could've happened in between cuts: They could've driven a Sherman tank over the watch and just edited it out. That, and the narrator's voice is clearly faking surprise on seeing the broken screen.
I suspect the producer is hoping for "viral video" monetization. Why else would you destroy a $400 item you just bought? The bend-gate video guy did well apparently.
The uncritical eat it up and the producer cashes in:
- "Gasp! The Apple sport watch breaks!!": Over 1,000,000 views already. Cha ching! $$$
- "The Apple watch doesn't break": 20,000 views only. Loser.
Last edited:
Of course he's doing it for monetization, but it's not like these drop tests are a new phenomenon. Every time there's a new Apple product, dozens of people buy them on the first day just to destroy them on camera. I don't think that in and of itself is any reason to suspect it's faked. That said, it did seem staged in other ways.
I checked the views each got. "If it bleeds, it leads", was never truer.
Post above updated.
Keep the Sport and get AppleCare Plus for an extra $50. That said, I have the same dilemma but I chose the sport because I didn't want to really go for the extra $ on a first gen product.
Last edited:
Fair enough, I'm also incorporating my own direct experience with glass and sapphire watch crystals.
But so far Consumer Reports has said the sapphire screen is superior. They haven't reported on any attempts to shatter the crystal yet, so we'll see what their final report says next week when they say they expect to complete their tests.
I'm Sport all the way.
Here is my reasoning/situation...
1) I own several high end timepieces. None of the Apple watches can be can compete with them aesthetically or in quality. For me, buying this product as a fashion accessory is an absolute waste. I actually think, for this reason, the sport watch is better looking. It's not trying--and failing--to be something it's not.
2) The watch is completely disposable and I'll have replaced it in under a year with the next model.
3) Sapphire is highly reflective and much worse than Ion-X in sunlight. I'm used to wearing watches and not bashing them into things. Since again, the watch is disposable, the visibility is much more valuable than durability.
Here is my reasoning/situation...
1) I own several high end timepieces. None of the Apple watches can be can compete with them aesthetically or in quality. For me, buying this product as a fashion accessory is an absolute waste. I actually think, for this reason, the sport watch is better looking. It's not trying--and failing--to be something it's not.
2) The watch is completely disposable and I'll have replaced it in under a year with the next model.
3) Sapphire is highly reflective and much worse than Ion-X in sunlight. I'm used to wearing watches and not bashing them into things. Since again, the watch is disposable, the visibility is much more valuable than durability.
Oh, I don't think that is the reason lots of people buy the Sport. I think many people want to get the entry-level model because it is first gen and also this is something they don't know if they will even like or use.
I was in that same situation and opted for the Sport. Once I got it and realized that I loved it and felt I needed a more formal looking watch I opted to get the SS and return the Sport. The price didn't really figure in to my decision making at all.
I think the Sport is a great choice for many people regardless of their ability to afford a more expensive one.
----------
Has everyone seen this video? The sports watch cannot withstand a light tap with a hammer after exposure to colddefinitely better to go with stainless steel ⬇︎
YouTube: video
Ha ha .. "light" tape with hammer!! More like full force with a sledgehammer!
I am SO sorry! I really believe with the way the watch domes out the majority of Sport owners will have scratches on the screens. The iPhones use the same glass but it sits slightly below the rim and we all are able to protect the phones better.
I know that in my normal day I would definitely run into a wall or something else and impact the screen.
----------
I have a Movado Valor that was made with Tungsten and BOY it's heavy but it been tough to scratch as well!
I went with SS because I felt it would look equally great in both formal and informal situations. I think it'd be harder to pull off formal with the sport, except maybe the space grey model. But the problem with SG (and sport in general) is the limited band options.
And to me, the swappable band is one of the best features of Apple Watch... I can quickly change the look of the watch and SS offers almost limitless possibilities. To me, that flexibility and the more refined look is what sold me; sapphire was just an added bonus.
And to me, the swappable band is one of the best features of Apple Watch... I can quickly change the look of the watch and SS offers almost limitless possibilities. To me, that flexibility and the more refined look is what sold me; sapphire was just an added bonus.
How are you getting notifications on your iPhone before the watch? If my iPhone isn't in use, all notifications get routed to my watch. If I'm using my iPhone, then all notifications show up on my iPhone... the watch doesn't get them... as it should be. Maybe there's something screwy with your settings?
Notifications must come into your phone first then routed to your watch. Regardless if i'm using my phone or not notifications still come into my phone first. If i'm inside the app of course its not going to send a notification that's just standard but as i said the iPhone will receive a notification first then a few seconds later it will show up on the phone. That's just how it works. Nothing screwy is going on. Wasn't talking about being on the phone.
Ok, but if you don't know you got a notification on the phone until you get a tap on the wrist, why does it matter that it hit the phone a fraction of a second earlier? The whole point is to make things more convenient. Rather than you're phone buzzing in your pants or on the kitchen table, the notification comes right to your wrist and all you have to do to view it is turn your watch towards you. It's the ultimate in convenience.
I knew I wanted SS. So yes, the premium is worth it.
1) Better quality and more durable case.
2) sapphire on front and back
3) ceramic back, not plastic
4) dunno how long the refresh cycle is. Could be years.
5) DLC coating will be phenomenal
6) my sapphire mechanical watch is scratch free after daily use, 5 years later.
7) i like the heavier feel vs feeling lighter
1) Better quality and more durable case.
2) sapphire on front and back
3) ceramic back, not plastic
4) dunno how long the refresh cycle is. Could be years.
5) DLC coating will be phenomenal
6) my sapphire mechanical watch is scratch free after daily use, 5 years later.
7) i like the heavier feel vs feeling lighter
I don't really know how you can say there is limited band options for the sport and the SS is limitless. Yes it's true there are "less" pre packaged options on the sport, but you can buy and use any band you wish on the sport casing. (As long as you buy the correct 38mm or 42mm sized band.)
the important notifications such at text messages can be heard while on the phone. I'm not on the phone 24/7, but even if I was the notifications that come in aren't all that important. I just timed how long it takes for a message to appear on my watch after being showing on my phone, 10-13secs.
I love the watch, but I'm not blind to the fact that I will need my phone with me to use majority of the features/apps. The glance and wrist wakeup feature is perfect to see what a notification is... but you will always be tied to your phone. I willing to bet people spend more time looking at a Watch notification then grabbing there iPhone to response/handle that notification.