Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
to some it might be an important difference.

Right. It is significant if you are keeping music on your watch, but it is limited to 8 GB on the 5, less on the 4. I'm using 11.3 GB out of 15.7 GB, but 8 GB of that is music so only using ~3GB for non-music stuff.
 
I just bought a new 40mm AW4 for $300 from Best Buy last weekend. You sure you can't find any?

I was getting ready to type the same thing. I purchased my AW S4 Nike + addition for $329 (Black Friday deal) but was told they still had quite a few of the S4 in stock.

I believe you can also still order it online and have it shipped to you via the Best Buy website as well.
 
There is no ‘good alternative’ to the Apple Watch, because the Apple Watch is it’s own entity. If you want something that’s a ‘middle ground’ smart watch that would be considered universal for both android/iOS, then look at a Fitbit as an example.

I think people seem to misunderstand, what makes the Apple Watch so unique isn’t necessarily just all the functionality that it offers, [because it is a great multi tool], but it’s how it’s synchronized watchOS is with iOS. It’s not just an extension of your iPhone anymore, it’s also on the most advanced health tracker on the market. There’s a reason why the Apple Watch is dominated so greatly over the past 24 months, with great features like fall detection/wheelchair accessibility/EKG, ect.

Not many of the competitors are on the level the Apple Watch is right now, which is why it’s wearables for Apple has skyrocketed in the last year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jbachandouris
Aren't fall detection and emergency SOS standard even on the non-cellular models? Mine has it and it's just the wifi-GPS model.

I bought my Series 3 in August, and then it was that and the Series 4. The Series 5 started showing up on display around September but I thought if I wait until the next year the 4 would be on discount.

I saved enough to change my mind so when I went back in October to get a Series 4 there was zero trace of it. Just the prices for 3 and 5, and the Best Buy guys just said they couldn't sell the 4 any more. I asked if it were recalled but they didn't know. I assumed incorrectly it had been recalled and the new Series 5 was its replacement.
 
The S4 wasn’t recalled. They were left over from last years production and what was available sold out. Apple has only sold the S3 and S5 since S5 was released. At least that’s my understanding.
 
Yeah someone else cleared that up before. I was trying to explain why the Series 4 vanished from our local Best Buy.
 
For the sheer all round utility of the Appe Watch with an iPhone I would suggest not wasting your time with anything else. S3, even second hand Aluminium, would be my recommendation if you can't justify the latest.
 
  • Like
Reactions: uknation87
As far as smart watches go, I would say the Apple Watch Series 3 is an excellent buy. Of course I’m biased since I just bought mine today, and I never considered any alternative devices since I’m completely invested in Apple (see my signature for current devices in use not including old ones I have lying around).

That said, I had a Fitbit Flex a while back and was using a Garmin Vivofit until I got the Apple Watch. Both were decent activity trackers. Syncing the Fitbit was easier, but it needed to be charged every few days and was solely an activity tracker. The Vivofit is also a watch and runs on a watch battery (Garmin says it lasts a year; I got three before I had to change it out). But it lacks smart watch features and doesn’t continuously sync steps. Good for phone battery life. Not good for keeping steps current.

I’d say it entirely depends on your price point and what you want to use it for. If you want an all around good smart watch that seamlessly communicates with your iPhone, get an Apple Watch. Otherwise shop around for other options.
 
I have since upgraded to the series 5 but there is nothing wrong with the series 3. It’s a great watch all around for a good price (compared to the new ones)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.