Is Series 2 really that much better than 1st Gen?

[mjschabow]

Hi all, I'm moving back to the iPhone and I'm looking to get an Apple Watch. My previous complaint with the Apple Watch is that it just took so long for all the apps to load in the dock. For example, by the time Yahoo Fantasy Football would update I could have taken my phone out of my pocket and checked my scores.

My question is, is my above problem solved with Series 2? I understand the waterproof and gps enhancements but I'm wondering if the watch actually runs faster than 1st gen. If not, I'll probably just go with 1st Gen based on the deals I can find.

Thanks!

 

[Thai]

WatchOS 3 has improved speeds and loading times a lot...even on the original Watch. So, i would not worry much especially if you get Series 2.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Hi all, I'm moving back to the iPhone and I'm looking to get an Apple Watch. My previous complaint with the Apple Watch is that it just took so long for all the apps to load in the dock. For example, by the time Yahoo Fantasy Football would update I could have taken my phone out of my pocket and checked my scores.

My question is, is my above problem solved with Series 2? I understand the waterproof and gps enhancements but I'm wondering if the watch actually runs faster than 1st gen. If not, I'll probably just go with 1st Gen based on the deals I can find.

Thanks!

Do not use a lot of apps with my AW but I can tell that my AW2 is faster when doing things like re-pairing or updating than my older AW. Not sure if it was worth the price or not, that really depends on you.

 

[mjschabow]

Thanks folks. How about battery life?

 

[44267547]

Thanks folks. How about battery life?

Series 2 has a 30% larger battery over the first Generation Apple Watch and Series 1. It's one of the reason for a thicker casing on the Series 2. It's definitely noticeable over the other versions.

 

[Thai]

Series 2 has a 30% larger battery over the first Generation Apple Watch and Series 1. It's one of the reason for a thicker casing on the Series 2. It's definitely noticeable over the other versions.

True, but this is offset somewhat by GPS and brighter display.

 

[redman042]

I upgraded to Series 2 and speed is definitely better, as is the overall smoothness of navigation. I would not go back.

But there is still some delay with launching third party apps. It's much better than Series 0 but there are times that the wait still seems borderline worth the trouble (in the context of one holding up their wrist the whole time). Depends on quality of app, whether it is already in memory, and how much data must be pulled down.

Best to test a Series 2 at the store before pulling the trigger to see if it's worth the upgrade for your use case.

 

[the future]

True, but this is offset somewhat by GPS and brighter display.

Not really. The Watch GPS is only used if you don't have your iPhone with you and the display only gets brighter in really bright sunlight; at all other times the display is exactly as bright as the S0. So both features rarely use extra battery power. Overall the S2 battery lasts significantly longer.

 

[Thai]

Not really. The Watch GPS is only used if you don't have your iPhone with you and the display only gets brighter in really bright sunlight; at all other times the display is exactly as bright as the S0. So both features rarely use extra battery power. Overall the S2 battery lasts significantly longer.

Oh ok good to know. Apple states same battery life i think...thus my confusion.

 

[44267547]

True, but this is offset somewhat by GPS and brighter display.

The brightness can be adjusted and the GPS can be disabled, thus taking advantage of the additional 30% battery life if one wants the extra battery life.

 

[lclev]

I had a Series 0 and now have a Series 2. The battery life is significantly better with the Series 2. My Series 0 would last about 18 hours. My Series 2 will last two days easily. Supposedly the Series 1 has the same battery life as the Series 2.

I will also say the ability to answer a call using the watch is much better. People would say they could not hear me and I had trouble hearing them on my Series 0. Not so with the Series 2. The Series 2 has the direct fire speaker and microphone which is not in the Series 0 or 1.

Lisa

 

[clauzzz203]

My previous complaint with the Apple Watch is that it just took so long for all the apps to load in the dock. For example, by the time Yahoo Fantasy Football would update I could have taken my phone out of my pocket and checked my scores.

My question is, is my above problem solved with Series 2?

With Series 2 you lose the dock altogether by default with watchOS 3. It has been replaced by a task switcher doubling up with pinnable apps.

 

[perezr10]

The performance increase isn't that noticeable unless you are using some kind of 3rd party app like the Yahoo Fantasy Football. But a lot of those 3rd party apps run pretty crappy on the Series 2 also. Flipboard takes over 30 seconds to load on my Series 2.

If you are using the Apple Watch mainly for the stock apps like messages, mail, and reminders then the Series 0 is just as good. I'd rather have a stainless steel Series 0 then an aluminum Series 2 if I had to choose.

 

[mjschabow]

The performance increase isn't that noticeable unless you are using some kind of 3rd party app like the Yahoo Fantasy Football. But a lot of those 3rd party apps run pretty crappy on the Series 2 also. Flipboard takes over 30 seconds to load on my Series 2.

If you are using the Apple Watch mainly for the stock apps like messages, mail, and reminders then the Series 0 is just as good. I'd rather have a stainless steel Series 0 then an aluminum Series 2 if I had to choose.

See that's where I'm kind of leaning too. When it comes down to it, normally I only use smart watches for notifications and steps. Basically anything that can give me a quick glance. It sounds like specific apps like sports and news still take a lot of time to load.

I'm seeing some amazing deals on Stainless Steel Series 0 which makes it very tempting to buy.

 

[MDePew24]

I just came from an series 0 SS model (sold it for $200 a week ago) and bought a series 2 SS. I use it for notifications, steps and score updates. The reason I went for a series 2 is that it will last longer through WatchOS updates longer. I bought the series 0 to see if I would use a smart watch and since I like it, I really like the upgrade on a series 2 that I get.

 

[44267547]

Not really. The Watch GPS is only used if you don't have your iPhone with you and the display only gets brighter in really bright sunlight; at all other times the display is exactly as bright as the S0. So both features rarely use extra battery power. Overall the S2 battery lasts significantly longer.

This is incorrect. Series 2 has twice the Brightness as The First Generation Watch/Series 1, which is at 450 NITS. And Series 2 is the only Apple Watch offering 1,000 NITS of brightness.

http://m.imore.com/whats-difference-between-apple-watch-series-0-series-1-and-series-2

 

[SparkFlash]

I was wondering the same thing. But since I want to swim with mine, the series 2 is crucial if it really does handle the water well.

 

[the future]

This is incorrect. Series 2 has twice the Brightness as The First Generation Watch/Series 1, which is at 450 NITS. And Series 2 is the only Apple Watch offering 1,000 NITS of brightness.

http://m.imore.com/whats-difference-between-apple-watch-series-0-series-1-and-series-2

Yes, the S2 is much brighter, but only when it needs to be, i.e. in very bright sunlight. In normal lighting conditions it does not get brighter than the S0 because that would be an unnecessary waste of battery.

 

[Thai]

I am waiting for S3 or something major design changes...my S0 is working fine.

 

[Bigdog9586]

WatchOS 3 has improved speeds and loading times a lot...even on the original Watch. So, i would not worry much especially if you get Series 2.

I still use both. Original and 2. The 2s battery life is twice what original is and faster besides.

 

[44267547]

Yes, the S2 is much brighter, but only when it needs to be, i.e. in very bright sunlight. In normal lighting conditions it does not get brighter than the S0 because that would be an unnecessary waste of battery.

The Saphirre display is reflective, hence for various lighting conditions and adjustable brightness. Normal lighting conditions are irrevelant. The brightness is adjusted based on what the user sets it at. So, that doesn't necessarily make it a waste of battery, if someone sets the brightness accordingly. Especially Being the 30% additional battery makes up for the brightness, if GPS is disabled well.

 

[Birddog1]

Thanks folks. How about battery life?

I've had my series 2 on since 6:30 this morning, battery life is still at 79%.

 

[chuyn]

When it needs to be? The Saphirre display is reflective, hence for various lighting conditions and adjustable brightness. Normal lighting conditions are irrevelant. The brightness is adjusted based on what the user sets it at. So, that doesn't necessarily make it a waste of battery, if someone sets the brightness accordingly. Especially Being the 30% additional battery makes up for the brightness, if GPS is disabled well.

What he means is, say you're indoors and it isn't very bright and you have both series 0 and series 2 set to min brightness, they'll look the same. Change then to max brightness, where they are almost too bright for the amount of ambient light, they'll look the same. The series 2 won't be 2x brighter at every setting. It's when you go outdoors or there's very bright ambient lighting and the auto-brightness is ramping up either display to as bright as they can go, the series 0 will top out and the series 2 will have more room to go and will then reach the 2x brightness.. "when it needs to be".

 

[44267547]

What he means is, say you're indoors and it isn't very bright and you have both series 0 and series 2 set to min brightness, they'll look the same. Change then to max brightness, where they are almost too bright for the amount of ambient light, they'll look the same. The series 2 won't be 2x brighter at every setting. It's when you go outdoors or there's very bright ambient lighting and the auto-brightness is ramping up either display to as bright as they can go, the series 0 will top out and the series 2 will have more room to go and will then reach the 2x brightness.. "when it needs to be".

I was also indicating the battery life is much improved with the Series 2, even with the brightness increased. The larger battery offsets the brighter screen, where the first Generation Apple Watch would likely suffer. At least this has been my comparison of owning both models.

 

[chuyn]

I was also indicating the battery life is much improved with the Series 2, even with the brightness increased. The larger battery offsets the brighter screen, where the first Generation Apple Watch would likely suffer. At least this has been my comparison of owning both models.

True, I'm not disagreeing that the battery life is better. Just agreeing that having the screen twice as bright all the time under normal conditions is an unnecessary drain. I don't think Apple intended for the majority of people to disable GPS to reserve all extra battery capacity for the screen