Is the current Apple watch that slow?

[techiebug]

Hey guys, I'm planning on buying an Apple watch. Of course the upcoming 2nd gen will be better, but rumor has it it has the same design. The GPS is kinda big deal but I don't really run or anything. The current gen is also much cheaper, possibly half the price of the new one if I got a used one. Plus next year it's very likely the watch will be redesigned. Is the current watch really that slow? Ive read some reviews and most say it's not fast enough and apps take long to load, etc. This is a deal breaker if true. If the watch takes longer to load app than getting the phone put of my pocket then there is really no point for me to get one

 

[shimy1984]

I have an Apple Watch and yes its pretty slow and has a tendency to lag. That said, I can't go a day without wearing it. The big features for me are the complications (especially the Dark Sky weather complication) and the notifications. Those are just way to handy to let go of once you have them.

I suggest you wait for the new version. I'll definitely upgrade.

 

[Julien]

Today mine took almost 10 seconds to respond after hitting the End on the Workout app. Then it hesitated and 'jump' scrolled as I scrolled down to Save. We want know for sure for at least a few hours but I bet the Watch 2 is analogies to the original iPhone and iPad too their replacements.

 

[exxxviii]

The answer depends a ton on what you will likely be doing with it. For example, I do not notice a lag in things I do most frequently, like reading notifications, Dark Sky (except when updating a forecast), Apple Pay, Wallet app for travel (Delta tickets), looking at calendar entries, etc. I do not use the Workout app anymore, which is very laggy. Occasionally Hey Siri is slow, but it is not a deal breaker in practical use. And a few other apps are laggy, but they are also very occasional use for me.

 

[Thai]

With OS3, i put my Workout in the DOCK and it launches quickly and easily.

 

[exxxviii]

With OS3, i put my Workout in the DOCK and it launches quickly and easily.

Quick OS3 question about this... Workout is sometimes slow to launch. But the other problems I have seen (and Julian noted above), are that Workout is also occasionally horribly laggy when it is already active and slow to respond to end and scrolling down to save. Does OS3 and the dock improve this behavior as well?

 

[Julien]

With OS3, i put my Workout in the DOCK and it launches quickly and easily.

If responding to me then please reread my post. While opening the Workout app is sloooooow as hell on wOS 2 I know that is not going to be a problem in wOS 3 so I did not make any reference to launching it. I was ending a workout and the touch response was slow and then the Digital Crown/screen scrolling was slow. Also selecting a Workout type can be slow. There are many other things I could say too like slow to boot up, slow to update, slow Siri/voice recognition/response, etc.

 

[Thai]

Answer to both...with OS3, launching is easy as i wrote above. As for during and after workout, it is pretty responsive 90% of the time. Occasionally, it will lag, but usually because it also has to do other things, like an incoming text message at around time of you ending the workout for instance.

But, yes, OS3 latest beta for me improves responsiveness all around. And no, above post by me was just quick response in general, not to specific person(s).

Even though i "SAVE" workout, i believe that Watch automatically saves it if you just click on crown after ending workout.

 

[UAV]

so far the best lag free watch i have used has to be the gear s2. 100% lag free can't wait to see what the new gear s3 will be like. i got rid of my apple watch the first week.

 

[Thai]

There are many other things I could say too like slow to boot up, slow to update, slow Siri/voice recognition/response, etc.

Slow boot, i agree. Slow update...i agree, but doesn't the software have to download to iPhone first and then transferred via BT to Watch? So, IF so, then things are gonna be slow regardless of hardware.

At some point, OS2 ruined Siri for me. WatchOS3 makes it useable again. Siri now understands full commands much better.

Oh, and Scribble rocks!
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so far the best lag free watch i have used has to be the gear s2. 100% lag free can't wait to see what the new gear s3 will be like. i got rid of my apple watch the first week.

Unfortunately, that is not true...should have given AW more chance. S2 does lag and stutter. Screw that bezel fast enough and there is lag galore! Waking screen up also stutters b/w always-on dim and full brightness when raise arm.

 

[Julien]

...Even though i "SAVE" workout, i believe that Watch automatically saves it if you just click on crown after ending workout.

It does, I just have a little OCD and like to hit Save.

I don't doubt that it is an improvement I just remember when the iPhone 3G and iPad 2 came out. People thought the originals were good until they saw the replacements. Since it has been 18 moths I bet the Watch 2 is going to make the original look like a tortoise overnight. I actually hope I'm wrong and can survive the Apple hype and keep mine.
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...but doesn't the software have to download to iPhone first and then transferred via BT to Watch?....

This happens very quickly. It is the processing, preparing and installing that takes soooooo long. A faster processor will speed this up substantially.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Current wOS 3 beta testers are saying it's significantly faster (at least in the dock) and feels like a new watch. We'll find out if AW2 feels even faster like going from iPhone 3G to 3GS, or from 4 to 4s.

 

[Arran]

With OS3, i put my Workout in the DOCK and it launches quickly and easily.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[techiebug]

Thanks guys. Seems like the current watch is not practical enough for me to use on a daily basis. I used to own a LG G watch and it was slow as hell, the only thing I used was checking notification and time. We'll see how the watch 2 is like

 

[jbachandouris]

Today I ran a 5k. On my left was my Garmin watch and on my right was the Apple Watch. I started the run on the Garmin. While STANDING STILL, I pressed start on an open run. When I finished the race, the Apple Watch hadn't even started.

Hurry up Watch OS 3.0!

 

[daviedave]

Another point: some lag of the interface, for example when opening the app launcher on os2 depends on the chosen watchface. So if you, for example, set a photo as your watchface there is no lag in animations. Just my 2 cents but apps load not that fast currently, true story :/

 

[daijholt]

Hey guys, I'm planning on buying an Apple watch. Of course the upcoming 2nd gen will be better, but rumor has it it has the same design. The GPS is kinda big deal but I don't really run or anything. The current gen is also much cheaper, possibly half the price of the new one if I got a used one. Plus next year it's very likely the watch will be redesigned. Is the current watch really that slow? Ive read some reviews and most say it's not fast enough and apps take long to load, etc. This is a deal breaker if true. If the watch takes longer to load app than getting the phone put of my pocket then there is really no point for me to get one

Right now, yes it's slow. In 2 weeks time when watchOS 3 is released? No it won't be.

Watch is 3 is absolutely rapid, it fixes every problem the watch has with speed.

 

[fischersd]

Today mine took almost 10 seconds to respond after hitting the End on the Workout app. Then it hesitated and 'jump' scrolled as I scrolled down to Save. We want know for sure for at least a few hours but I bet the Watch 2 is analogies to the original iPhone and iPad too their replacements.

Ah, but was your finger sweaty? (we all know how frustrating it is to try to use the touch screen with wet hands)

(they really need to develop a touch screen that works wet!)

 

[Thai]

(they really need to develop a touch screen that works wet!)

There's a patent for that....

 

[Julien]

....I pressed start on an open run. When I finished the race, the Apple Watch hadn't even started....

Impressive, but can you cut the light with off and be in bed before the

Ah, but was your finger sweaty? (we all know how frustrating it is to try to use the touch screen with wet hands)

(they really need to develop a touch screen that works wet!)

That was not it and I have (do) use workout 6x a week and 1 (2 days a week) and up to 5 (3 days week) different workouts per day since launch. I was just citing a specific example that happened yesterday. In that specific example I hit END and then backed away and it responded several seconds later. Wet fingers can cause it to not respond and need another tap but don't result in a very delayed touch response. That appears to be more of a slow processor at work. Also I sited slow/hesitating/choppy Digital Crown scrolling that is TOTALY unrelated to the screen.

Just sitting here typing this post and I switched on the Workout app and hit Stair Stepper (by chance) and it took almost a full second to respond and then when I the back key it took 2 hits and a couple of seconds to respond. 1st world problems but evidence that the S1 is slow.

I very skeptical that the type of issue can be addressed in the OS and believe we will all see the current Watch as a slug in 24 hours. However I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Thai]

I very skeptical that the type of issue can be addressed in the OS and believe we will all see the current Watch as a slug in 24 hours. However I hope I'm wrong.

Yet, i do the same...and it is instant via DOCK. FYI.
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Today I ran a 5k. On my left was my Garmin watch and on my right was the Apple Watch. I started the run on the Garmin. While STANDING STILL, I pressed start on an open run. When I finished the race, the Apple Watch hadn't even started.

Hurry up Watch OS 3.0!

OS3 won't correct the fact that you did not press START in an open run....

 

[Julien]

Yet, i do the same...and it is instant via DOCK. FYI....

Having in the Dock is only related to opening/accessing the app instantly with current/updated data. After that being in the Dock is irrelevant to any app functions (unless it was preloaded/updated data) like I'm referring to. All my examples are after the Workout app is opened/loaded.

 

[Thai]

Having in the Dock is only related to opening/accessing the app instantly with current/updated data. After that being in the Dock is irrelevant to any app functions (unless it was preloaded/updated data) like I'm referring to. All my examples are after the Workout app is opened/loaded.

Huh? Maybe i am not understanding your issue. I have NEVER EVER used Stair Stepper until just now above. My Workout app is in DOCK. I click side button. Click on Workout. Scroll down to Stair Stepper. Click on it. And i am presented with "Active Calories" with plus and minus sign...and i am ready to go.

Again, i have NEVER used Stair Stepper...thus, no preloaded or updated data needed.

 

[sean000]

I think the original Apple Watch will be the better value if you don't need GPS. Even with Watch OS2, slow is subjective. I'm still on OS2 and personally I do no find it slow or laggy most of the time. The issue is that some apps are better than others. I have a number of core apps I access frequently that are quite snappy (Fantastical 2 Calendar, Carrot Weather, Lose-It, Bring grocery app, etc.) I'm certainly looking forward to the OS3 dock that allows these apps to stay loaded in memory, but even as it stands with OS2 I wouldn't say I'm losing patience with any of them. There are some apps I access less frequently that do take longer to load and update, but overall things are much snappier than they were a year ago. That makes me pretty confident that I will not be tempted to upgrade to the new watch (I don't need GPS). I'm also excited for Scribble and the ability to swipe between faces without having to do a press+swipe+tap.

Sean

 

[jbachandouris]

Yet, i do the same...and it is instant via DOCK. FYI.
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OS3 won't correct the fact that you did not press START in an open run....

I DID PRESS START! The point is that it did not recognize my press. I believe iOS 3 uses one of the side buttons.