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vapourtrails

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 18, 2016
207
76
Is the Apple watch screen too small for older eyes? I tend to wear reading glasses for my phone so I'm wondering if the smaller screen of the Apple Watch will be a paint o check info on. Anyone over 50 using an Apple watch? What is your experience?
 
Yes. I find some items tough without my readers. Others, knowing/expecting what should be there, are easier. But at 58 I do find I need my Walmart reading glasses at times.
 
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Yeah, I wear my readers but if you are borderline, don't forget you can adjust the font size. You might have to scroll more, but then such is life, no? <s>
 
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Most definitely too small.
When an alert on my watch goes off, my instinct asks:”Where are my readers?”.

Still wouldn’t give up my watch, though; it’s way too convenient for alerts.
 
At age 72, my eyes are definitely aging, but I have the watch set up so that I've got custom watch faces with my own photos and the only complication included on there is the time of day, so this works for me when it comes to a quick glance at the time of day or night. When I get notifications I can usually read them OK on the 38mm watch but I don't worry about it if I can't, as at some point I can always reach for another device instead such as an iPad or computer. I LOVE the Apple watch and just recently updated from the first-generation Series 0 (which I can still use, too) to the Series 3.
 
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Old and bad eyes. (Trifocal wearer). I have no trouble with the text on my 42mm Watch. More importantly, as @DotCom2 says, you can adjust the font size.

Apple is a leader in accessibility. Just one more reason I love their products.
 
I’m 71 and wear glasses. I have serious floaters which can cause blurred spots in my vision at times. I have no trouble seeing the watch face. I use the default font. I just upgraded from a series 0 to series 3 also.
 
That was a concern of mine too and the main reason I waited so long to get one. I need readers, +1.5. But, it's really not that big a deal. I need readers for my phone, need them for the watch. As others have stated, I too wouldn't give up the watch. It's too handy for notifications and when I'm home, don't feel the need to have the phone by my side all the time.
 
Older eyes. I've had an AW0 42 for 2 years. I don't do much without corrective lenses. But I do walk in the morning, and can poke at the right buttons to start/stop exercise/itunes, plus read the time. But everyone's eyes are different.
 
Late 40s. Progressives. Retinal issues.
I have no problem reading the Apple Watch. In fact, I find most of the displays to be intentionally simple with graphically bold presentation.

There are six text size gradations and a toggle to increase boldness. I have mine a notch above the middle size setting and it’s great.
 
I’m 49, wear readers for most any reading but with the font set to large on my AW I can see what I need to without readers.
 
I didn't adjust the font size but turned on bold text, made a big difference as this is applied to all areas of the phone and not just notifications
 
I'm 59. I wear bifocals. No trouble reading the text on my watch. My mother is 83, and she sees a lot better than I do - she also has a 38mm Apple watch that she has no problem seeing.
 
The main watch display is very easy to read. But most/all complications use tiny fonts and can be difficult to see, so that includes reading the date as an example. Most apps or info displayed in an app is larger (I have the font set to larger), so for me, the readability issue without readers is almost entirely complications.
 
I'm 53 and near sighted so reading any screen is find for me. I do need glasses to read things far and for driving at night.

I do have text set to the largest setting on my watch though just because I want to be able to read things quickly.
 
I’m in my thirties, but terrible eyes (-9 and -10 contact prescription, plus astigmatism). I’m terrible with fine print, generally speaking. I went with the 42 instead of the 38 for that reason, in the Apple Watch, and it’s fine for what I use it for. Obviously I’m not reading anything lengthy on it.
 
The complications may be the deciding element between me getting a 38 or 42. If there’s a difference in my ability to see the entire face at a glance without peering under my progressive bifocals, I’ll have to go 42.
 
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