Is the AW3 worth the upgrade over the AW2?

[jamin00]

Hi guys,

I have the AW2 and I must admit, I love it. Use it all the time in the gym and listening to music when doing bits around the home and garden etc but so far I have needed it to have a cellular ability.

I'm not sure I even need it now so wanted to ask, have you upgraded form the AW2 and is it better or does having cellular make a difference to you and how you use the watch?

I get a good deal on them with my Vitality health plan here in the UK which is the only reason Im considering the upgrade.

Also, on EE, to have cellular do I have to pay for an extra monthly subscription with it?

 

[44267547]

Hi guys,

I have the AW2 and I must admit, I love it. Use it all the time in the gym and listening to music when doing bits around the home and garden etc but so far I have needed it to have a cellular ability.

I'm not sure I even need it now so wanted to ask, have you upgraded form the AW2 and is it better or does having cellular make a difference to you and how you use the watch?

I get a good deal on them with my Vitality health plan here in the UK which is the only reason Im considering the upgrade.

Also, on EE, to have cellular do I have to pay for an extra monthly subscription with it?

The Apple Watch Series 3 is primarily a lot of What the Apple Watch Series 2 is, with the exception of the faster dual core processor, audible Siri and LTE with the Series 3. If you think you would appreciate independence away from your iPhone, then LTE might be for you. But as far as core functionality, both are very similar in that respect.

It's just nice to have LTE for those moments when you don't want to have your iPhone on for you for a brief phone call or a quick response to a message. Or simply if you are going for a run and you want to stream your music from your Apple Watch to your AirPods for example.

 

[jamin00]

I guess the only time I could benefit from this is on the weekends when I go for a fun ride on my motorbike with mates I could leave my phone indoors and maybe when in the gym having 4G as I dont have my phone with me means I could still listen to the radio app I like to listen too and still get messages etc as the mrs always tends to contact me when Im in the gym, maybe that would actually be a bad thing lol
[doublepost=1509969411][/doublepost]Anyone in the UK have a 100gb usage price plan with EE, do they just add this to your current plan or do you have to pay extra to have the watch?

 

[le.bouch]

EE Apple Watch data plans are added to your iPhone’s existing plan. It’s free for the first 6 months then £5 a month thereafter.

 

[a.y.n]

Sounds like you can get it at a discount, I would definitely recommend upgrading, it won't cost you that much. I upgraded from AW2 to AW3+LTE and only cost me $150. Sounds like you use your AW2 a lot, the LTE will definitely be useful and everything is better on the AW3.

 

[Nhott]

I was a bit skeptical about upgrading from a series 2 to 3 and also skeptical about paying for LTE but after using it I’m glad I did. Firstly I use Siri a lot to send messages and also controlling my lights and thermostat at home. Siri is much more responsive and having Siri speak is great. As far as LTE goes, I find myself leaving my phone at home or in the car when I’m out. I particularly find it useful when I take my daughter to the park or on a hike. For some, having the ability to stream radio or music while using LTE is great. I really don’t do that much but for the reasons listed above I personally feel like it’s a great upgrade.

 

[anticipate]

All of what everyone said about LTE, except I also find the increased sped VERY noticeable. Apps load quick enough to actually use them now. Networking is faster too. It makes the watch a little phone replacement when you need it to be without pulling out your hair.

 

[The Game 161]

To be honest the speed is very noticeable for me

 

[tassyk]

I have the series 3 - it’s my first Apple Watch and I love it. But being honest about the advantages - who among us is ever without their phone? The other advantage of speed, and Siri that speaks back are probably bigger advantages over the series 2

 

[JulesK]

I've had my AW S3 LTE for several weeks now. I'm not sure how often I will use the LTE feature, but not needing to bring a phone with me to stay in touch for important calls/messages is nice. But day-to-day, despite what many say, the additional speed/responsiveness is noticeable and much appreciated. Using the watch is a much more seamless experience compared to even the AW S2 (I had the AW0, too). I know, objectively, that the speed increases are small and that, conceptually, it shouldn't make a difference. But after several weeks with the watch, I can say that I have no regrets and wouldn't have any even without the LTE feature. (Now if they only could find a way for the watch to show even just the time continually, the watch would be close to perfect.) Of course, one has to balance that with cost, as the upgrades are far from free.

 

[Dontcallmetiger]

Yes. The speed increase is amazing. Animations and my gym apps work soooooo much better.

 

[PHILIP1193]

I upgraded from a 2 to a 3 LTE. The LTE is useful for me and the speed increase is noticeable. It's really a case of how much you use it though. I'd only do it again if i had the spare cash.

 

[MrGuder]

I'm on the fence whether to get the series 2 or the 3. I don't really want the LTE and won't pay the 10.00 more a month but I do want the extra storage since I'm always listening to music and have Siri talk back is cool. I don't know what to do.

 

[gsucyclist]

I went from an S2 to an S3 and I think its worth it. Having the LTE is nice, but I do notice a speed increase which is even better

 

[44267547]

I'm on the fence whether to get the series 2 or the 3. I don't really want the LTE and won't pay the 10.00 more a month but I do want the extra storage since I'm always listening to music and have Siri talk back is cool. I don't know what to do.

If You purchase a Series 3 with LTE capability, you don't have to enable it. You still can take advantage of the other features Series 3 has without the LTE option.

 

[BillGates1969]

I went from a S2 to a S3 LTE and couldn't be happier. The speed increase to me is noticeable and as others have said, it makes the watch more useable. I have enabled the LTE on my EE plan (it is free for 6 months then £5/month).

It is great going to walk the dogs and just taking my AirPods and leaving the phone at home. I have also gone out and forgotten my phone on a few occasions - the other day I went to the local convenience shop and i had forgotten my phone and wallet. My other half called me whilst I was there, told me to get some additional stuff and I paid contactless for it from the watch

If you have the finances to do it, I recommend it. I have mentioned before on here that this is my favourite Apple purchase in a long while.

 

[44267547]

I went from a S2 to a S3 LTE and couldn't be happier. The speed increase to me is noticeable and as others have said, it makes the watch more useable. I have enabled the LTE on my EE plan (it is free for 6 months then £5/month).

It is great going to walk the dogs and just taking my AirPods and leaving the phone at home. I have also gone out and forgotten my phone on a few occasions - the other day I went to the local convenience shop and i had forgotten my phone and wallet. My other half called me whilst I was there, told me to get some additional stuff and I paid contactless for it from the watch

If you have the finances to do it, I recommend it. I have mentioned before on here that this is my favourite Apple purchase in a long while.

Excellent post. And I agree. That said, many carriers (U.S.Carriers) are actually offering a free 90 day trial with LTE on the Apple Watch if somebody wasn't sure if they wanted to use it or experience it. So it's a nice advantage to take for those who are undecided if they would like LTE or not.

 

[MsRandall]

I returned my AW3 SS watch on Fri and I’m back to my AW2 SS LTE just didn’t add that much value to me because I don’t plan on leaving my iPhone X at home/ car or my office - that bad boy is going everywhere With me

For what I use my watch for - the AW2 works just fine

 

[44267547]

I returned my AW3 SS watch on Fri and I’m back to my AW2 SS LTE just didn’t add that much value to me because I don’t plan on leaving my iPhone X at home/ car or my office - that bad boy is going everywhere With me

For what I use my watch for - the AW2 works just fine

And if anyone wanted a Series 2, now would be be time, as there are quite a few Black Friday sales discounting both the stainless and aluminum model Series 2. But I agree, the Series 3 Apple Watch is more of a lateral grade from the Series 2, but one would have to appreciate LTE to upgrade from Series 2.

 

[MsRandall]

And if anyone wanted a Series 2, now would be be time, as there are quite a few Black Friday sales discounting both the stainless and aluminum model Series 2. But I agree, the Series 3 Apple Watch is more of a lateral grade from the Series 2, but one would have to appreciate LTE to upgrade from Series 2.

I havent seen many stainless deals for the AW2

 

[MrGuder]

I'm thinking about the series 2 but the main worry for me is Apples stopped selling it so does that mean support will end quicker, will it no longer get updates in a yr or 2?

 

[44267547]

I'm thinking about the series 2 but the main worry for me is Apples stopped selling it so does that mean support will end quicker, will it no longer get updates in a yr or 2?

I project the Apple Watch Series 1/Series 2 will see at least two more years of watchOS support. And that's about the lifespan of an Apple Watch as it is used on a daily basis. So if you find a decent sale price, I would take a advantage of it.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Yes. The speed increase is amazing. Animations and my gym apps work soooooo much better.

THIS! What gym apps are you using?

I’ve in particular noticed after 3.1.3 the following annoyances on my Apple Watch S2 Nike+

Gym apps (Gymaholic/ Strong) tend to freeze when transitioning from a completed rest countdown and alarm notification (vibration only) and accepting that in order to go into my next set.
Music display: seems to lag from .5 est to 2 seconds to show the correct track playing as I switch once in a while from the gym app (I alternate between either on different days).
Bluetooth headset stability: has worsened both on AW S2 and iPhone 7! I’ve come very close to wanting to through my Jabra Sport Pulse headphones and my iPhone 7 into a wall! I’ve actually through my wrist at a wall only to realize AW is fastened to my wrist. Imagine how funny that looked
All have the latest firmware updates.

I’ve unpaired the Jabra from Watch and Phone and paired to either first to see if pairing sequence was the cultrpit. Nothing resolved it. In a roll I hear “connected, disconnected, connected, ...” yet the phone STILL shows Jabra being connected he entire time but sound from Music app is note routing.

PS: anyone else with an IPhone 7 notice that although with Vibration and silent notification you’ll still hear a silent pause in your music when you get a new email, sms, etc and nothing in settings is set to do this?

 

[Dodgeman]

Based off what you said, the only reason I would upgrade is for the cellular if you need it.
I personally don’t need cellular. The watch is only so I don’t miss notifications and checking things on the fly when the phone my not be around me.

 

[chfilm]

Im debating an upgrade myself as the hang ups in the S2 workout and music apps are killing me sometimes! It’s so weird, why are these particular two apps so awfully slow when they worked perfectly before Watch os 4??