I would say barely worth. Apple Watch 3 is like iPhone 8 and 8 plus. The design is outdated and due for a change. The design has been 4 years old. Wait until next year when a redesign Watch body changes. Rumors are going to circulate when the announcement is getting closer as always.
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Is the AW3 worth the upgrade over the AW2?
- Thread starter jamin00
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I could easily justify waiting for the S4, if somehow apple could manage to improve speeds of the workout and music app again on the S2...
I would say Apple will improve current Apple Watch 3 features in the next year cycle along with the design. Apple knows they need to improve the watch design and features next year to make it more attractive to sell it. Apple Watch is like an iPhone which at some point, it will be a mature product and need to be changed on design and improved on functionalities. AW 3 is the mature 4 year old design and its features would be perfected in the next cycle.
We could expect the following:
Increased battery capacity, increased battery life (use and standby)
Better OLED using even less power
WatchOS App Store - this will truly have it as an independent unit from the iphone (spurring even more sales)
* Probable: Watch Case design change and size offerings:
The issue with this is, increased costs (cases, leathers, bands), adding more confusion to the product mix, marketing costs.
- this could place existing S1, S3 and any left over S2 stock into an iPhone 8 type of revenue path vs the S4 like the iPhone X revenue path. S1 is now essentially an S2 .. we'll see the S3 bleed out of stock just before announcement, shipping and in-store availability when the S4 is announced.
We're STILL waiting for iMessages in the Cloud!
- Apple is resting on laurels here!
We're STILL waiting to DELETE ALL messages on Watch!
We're STILL waiting for multiple DELETE messages on Watch!
Let's see what Apple has in store.
No, the Apple Watch is under three years old. It launched in April 2015, Series 1/Series 2 in September 2016, Series 3 in September 2017.
I don't necessarily think the Apple Watch looks dated, but It could use a refresh with some changes with the display and overall casing when we do see Series 4.
No, the S3, being the first to have cellular will probably age pretty quickly. The battery is apparently pretty awful when it’s using only the cell network. It’s definitely worth it for S0 owners, and if you really need the cellular connectivity now. However, I think if you were to upgrade from series 2 or series 1 to series 3, then you might be kicking yourself in a year’s time when something much better is released.
What I meant was 4 releases if you count from series 0, 1, 2 and 3. The watch case design/form has been the same for all releases. The case form/ design cannot be differentiated between all releases, except for the cell version in series 3 has a red dot. Hence, in general, the case form looks outdated for several years, as more than a couple of years.
Respectfully, the guy you spoke to on the Apple Store is wrong. There might be a lot of same functionality with a similar form factor, but with the added GPS, LTE, much faster dual core processor, larger storage, brighter display, 50 m water resistance, audible Siri are all huge improvements to make the Apple Watch a well rounded experience.
However, in order to justify the price point, one would need to appreciate those features.
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Disagree. I think the rectangular design is more contemporary and modern looking when compared to a lot of watches today. I think Apple did a really good job here with the design between Marc Newson and Jonny Ive. The main complaint is the thickness of the Apple Watch, which I also don't have an issue with.
One thing you have to understand About Watches, it's not often the casing actually changes physically a lot over the years. Generally watches retain their current form factor as it is, but in the case of the Apple Watch, it might see some subtle changes physically if there is a Series 4 in 2018.
Impressive time to write up all of these
the write up does show the relentless power of words 
To be fair the guy did ask me how I use my Apple Watch and I did tell him that I use it mainly when I go for a run, to check the time, I don’t really use apps on it, LTE isn’t something I need as I always have my iPhone with me and waterproofing again isn’t something that I use because I rarely go swimming (except on holidays) it was then that he said “i’d stick with your current one and see what’s announced next year”
Don’t get me wrong I love my Apple Watch it’s a great device and Apple have done a great job with it.
Im pretty much just like you. I use it for notifications and for my nightly or morning walks and all the other health apps.
I have three series 2 Apple watches and I'm in no hurry to release them and I surely don't have a need to replace them. Maybe next update. I bought Apple Care for all my watches expecting to keep them for at least during that time.
Fair enough for your own uses, but your original statement was not appropriately conveyed that way, which Is why initially disagree based on what you stated below.
Also, The core functionality Apple Watch is not going to change that m much, such as with Messages and fitness. But the rest of the improvements With Series 3 is exponentially better over the first generation Apple Watch. In order to understand that, you have to experience Series 3.
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I don't plan on having a car accident but stuff happens
. I do want LTE on my watch. If my watch is on my wrist there is almost zero chance I will forget it or god-forbid lose it. Indeed I switched back in Feb from an AW2 to an LG Sport watch (Android Wear). I didn't really like that LG Sport, but the LTE did come in handy. It's nice to not bring my phone on a run. But also there are times I did forget my phone when running out to the store or whatnot, or forgot it in the car. Prior to LTE on my watch I usually returned to get my phone. It's nice to not have to do that (I do need to stay in contact).Now I have an AW3 LTE and an iPhone X and LOVE them both. For one thing, Apple did LTE right on the AW3. My LG Sport had a separate phone number that was supposed to be married to my cell number through NumberSync. So I didn't need to use that separate number. But in practice NumberSync didn't work well for me--texts always stopped working. And, since I had a separate number I would get robo calls to my watch's number, ugh. Worst of all, battery life with LTE turned on was really bad, since it always used LTE for SMS and calls. The battery life on my AW3 LTE, with LTE always on, is better than even my AW2 (which in turn was way better than that LG Sport, which couldn't even make it through the day). My AW3 LTE really is married to my cell number, with no issues at all--and it will only use LTE as the last resort.
All that said, at this point my iPhone X is so good that I too have no intention of leaving it behind.
Mike
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lol... the guy probably had a series 0. The day he gets a newer version his tune will suddenly change. The series 0 is still a great watch, no doubt about it. But it is slow, has dimmer display, less battery life, and no GPS. Those reasons alone make even the series 2 a good upgrade.
Mike
He was an Apple store employee and said that he had the series 3.
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I was trying to keep it short and to the point, but yea he recommended waiting until the next version, I asked as I was interested in the black stainless steel version for my next upgrade. I was actually surprised that an Apple store employee would recommend not upgrading (and not spending money on the store).
Then he was an idiot. There is a huge difference between series 3 LTE and series 0.
Mike
That's the one thing I could never understand why isn't the thickness of the Apple Watch correlate to big battery estimates? I could understand a thinner watch giving you 1.5 days but why wouldn't the current thickness equal to 3 or 4 days?
The design is already a classic and instantly recognisable from far away without a single logo on it. A 45 mm option and some other colours is my bet for the future
This. I currently have a 42mm Series 2 and I like the form factor and don't understand the desire by some to have a round Apple Watch. I definitely would purchase a larger version.
I don't believe Apple has any future considerations for a round Apple Watch. In terms of the user interface, rectanglar design makes more sense and the overall design itself is more elegant my opinion. Jony Ive also commented that a round design wasn't really something that they considered or made sense to them when designing the Apple Watch. So if there is a Series 4 in 2018, it will likely be an expanded or upgraded version of the rectangle design currently.
Hold the phone.....you have a 100GB Phone plan? If you don't mind me asking - did you have to sell your kidney to afford that or are our plans in the US that far behind? I've got a 5GB plan and it costs more that I'd like.
In addition, the radio and music apps are only available on the series 3. The improvement in performance is very noticeable. When doing something as simple as switching watch faces, there was a lag on my series 2 that is not there on my series 3.
