My first 24 hours with an Apple Watch.

[tevion]

Never owned an Apple Watch before but recently purchased a mint condition Series 1 42mm on eBay for £190.

I've only ever actually owned one smart watch previously, the Moto 360, which I sold after 2 days.

My thoughts below.

Battery Life:

It was on charge overnight last night, I woke up and put it on my wrist at around 6.40. I took it off at 23:00. So that's over 16 hours of use and when I put it on charge tonight it was at 69%, now that's impressive.

Usage wise, I've been viewing and replying to WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook notifications. Heartbeat monitoring every now and then and Apple Pay. No calls. All motion stuff enabled.

Positives:

- I love the ability to change straps and purchase cheap ones from the likes of Amazon, below you can see the leather one I prefer.

- Having notifications on my wrist is fantastic, I spend a huge part of my day in meetings or on the move to different teams. It's great to be able to quickly check them without bringing out my phone, which can be seen as rude by some. Especially when I'm in 1 on 1 conversations. Also when taking son to cinema this evening to watch Fantastic Beasts, I was able to discreetly check and respond to messages.

- It's an incredibly smooth experience, enjoyed checking my bank balance with it and also used it 3 times for Apple Pay today.

- The fitness stuff is laid out really well, this is something I'll use more in the future - part of my reason for getting it as a motivator.

- Hardware is perfection, it looks and feels nice.. Heart Tracking was accurate, I actually have another heart monitor to compare, finger based one. I take beta blockers (I don't have a heart problem, but I take them due other medication raising my heart rate). Very handy for me to have it on my wrist for a quick check.

Negatives:

I'll be honest, I'm struggling to find any... Ok, on occasion it could be a bit faster, it's a very smooth experience but not instantly responsive for all apps.

My main criticism is the cost, while I know I paid less at £190... At that price or £299 it's still an expensive thing for what it does... For me personally, it's worth it purely for the notifications and ability to reply. As it fits in so well with my work life. I'd argue though that for most, taking your phone out of your pocket will do. For example, when I bought the Moto 360, one the integration wasn't as nice but my work / day to day didn't have as much of a need for it...

If fitness tracking and notifications on your wrist is going to benefit you, buy this. It's worth the price of admission... If not, save your money. It'll be something you'll think is cool initially but then see as relatively pointless later.

 

[Resqu2]

I love mine also, lots of the same reasons you do but the exercise parts of it I use every single day and they make the Watch worth the price for me.

 

[Nick11Mac]

Great review! Thanks for sharing what you use it for. It helps because I had wondered whether it would be something truly useful. It sure seems like it is. I also like the way yours looks as well as the leather band. I'm going to look into getting one now.

 

[xDKP]

Congrats on your new watch and welcome on board. I have loved my first since launch and now series 2 - really enjoy it every day and it just keeps motivating me to get my butt off the couch and keep exercising.

What leather band is that? Looks pretty cool - a link would be appreciated

 

[tevion]

Congrats on your new watch and welcome on board. I have loved my first since launch and now series 2 - really enjoy it every day and it just keeps motivating me to get my butt off the couch and keep exercising.

What leather band is that? Looks pretty cool - a link would be appreciated

Thanks all.

Here is the link on Amazon for the leather strap, it's £15.99.

Apple Watch Band 42mm Series 1 Series 2, Jisoncase Vintage Genuine Leather Strap Wrist

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010Q1QFBK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pGamybZTYR5DS

 

[BarracksSi]

Funny -- your impression of your first 24 hours is almost exactly how I would describe my experience after 15 months. Enjoy!

 

[LaurieAnn]

I'm thinking about buying one for my birthday next month. I want one for the same reasons you stated. I feel like I have to take my phone with me where ever I go at work, home, shopping, etc. I even dropped my phone in the toilet because I forgot I had it in the back pocket of my jeans. The worst part..... it was after I peed in the water. A perfect example of how I feel like the phone is always following me where ever I go. It needs to stop. I think the Apple Watch might be my answer.

 

[BarracksSi]

^^^^^ I don't feel like I have to keep my phone on my person all the time anymore. Indeed, when I'm out with my wife, I usually stuff my phone in her purse. I don't get tempted to fiddle with it while she's browsing, yet I'm still accessible to family or coworkers.

At home, my phone sits on the table much more often than ever before. Out and about, I usually carry it in my backpack or laptop bag instead of my pants pocket, too.

 

[xDKP]

Same here. My phone has moved from my pockets in my pants to my jacket - and it's pretty great. I had an malfunction with my Series 2 (Apple swapped it without any questions) and the brief time without my watch really reminded me of how glued to our phones we have become ... The watch makes a big difference for me in that respect

 

[tevion]

Same here. My phone has moved from my pockets in my pants to my jacket - and it's pretty great. I had an malfunction with my Series 2 (Apple swapped it without any questions) and the brief time without my watch really reminded me of how glued to our phones we have become ... The watch makes a big difference for me in that respect

Yeah it seems everyone on this likes the subtle way notifications now integrate into your life with the Watch, it's an expensive way to integrate it but definitely worth it if (For me and everyone on this thread heh)....

Interesting development.... Wife had an LG G2 Flex, recently bought her an iPhone 7 as a gift. She's not that fussed with technology, she didn't want an iPhone but I wanted to treat her since we've had a 2nd son and she's been mad busy. She actually told me off when I came home from town with it for her, "I don't need an expensive phone!" Hehe.

This weekend she's noticed me using the Apple Watch for notifications, responding quickly and also fitness tracking. She now wants one, just so when she's got baby with her she doesn't have to get phone out of her bag. Plus fitness as she works out most nights on our cross trainer. It's really unlike her to "want" a piece of technology. At least that's her Christmas gifts sorted, I'll get her a Series 1 and Beats solo3 headphones.

 

[xDKP]

Yeah it seems everyone on this likes the subtle way notifications now integrate into your life with the Watch, it's an expensive way to integrate it but definitely worth it if (For me and everyone on this thread heh)....

Interesting development.... Wife had an LG G2 Flex, recently bought her an iPhone 7 as a gift. She's not that fussed with technology, she didn't want an iPhone but I wanted to treat her since we've had a 2nd son and she's been mad busy. She actually told me off when I came home from town with it for her, "I don't need an expensive phone!" Hehe.

This weekend she's noticed me using the Apple Watch for notifications, responding quickly and also fitness tracking. She now wants one, just so when she's got baby with her she doesn't have to get phone out of her bag. Plus fitness as she works out most nights on our cross trainer. It's really unlike her to "want" a piece of technology. At least that's her Christmas gifts sorted, I'll get her a Series 1 and Beats solo3 headphones.

I'm in the same sort of situation here (and congratulations with your new son!)

We had our second daughter this summer and I gave my wife a new iPhone 7, primarily because she takes a lot of pictures of her and her iPhone 5S started to show its age in that respect.

She has also been following my fitness and activity tracking and would like a watch now as well because of the motivation it gives to move more. She thinks the price is a bit steep for now but maybe for Christmas

 

[Night Spring]

Yeah it seems everyone on this likes the subtle way notifications now integrate into your life with the Watch, it's an expensive way to integrate it but definitely worth it if (For me and everyone on this thread heh)....

Interesting development.... Wife had an LG G2 Flex, recently bought her an iPhone 7 as a gift. She's not that fussed with technology, she didn't want an iPhone but I wanted to treat her since we've had a 2nd son and she's been mad busy. She actually told me off when I came home from town with it for her, "I don't need an expensive phone!" Hehe.

This weekend she's noticed me using the Apple Watch for notifications, responding quickly and also fitness tracking. She now wants one, just so when she's got baby with her she doesn't have to get phone out of her bag. Plus fitness as she works out most nights on our cross trainer. It's really unlike her to "want" a piece of technology. At least that's her Christmas gifts sorted, I'll get her a Series 1 and Beats solo3 headphones.

I'm in the same sort of situation here (and congratulations with your new son!)

We had our second daughter this summer and I gave my wife a new iPhone 7, primarily because she takes a lot of pictures of her and her iPhone 5S started to show its age in that respect.

She has also been following my fitness and activity tracking and would like a watch now as well because of the motivation it gives to move more. She thinks the price is a bit steep for now but maybe for Christmas

Congrats on your new family members! I think Apple Watch would be great for new moms. If they get phone calls / texts while taking care of baby, a quick glance at the watch tells them what it is, and you can often respond back with Siri. Another useful feature I don't often see mentioned is the timer. You can say "hey Siri, set timer for x minutes." It's great for cooking, doing laundry, etc.

 

[tevion]

I'm in the same sort of situation here (and congratulations with your new son!)

We had our second daughter this summer and I gave my wife a new iPhone 7, primarily because she takes a lot of pictures of her and her iPhone 5S started to show its age in that respect.

She has also been following my fitness and activity tracking and would like a watch now as well because of the motivation it gives to move more. She thinks the price is a bit steep for now but maybe for Christmas

Haha snap!

Thanks, 15 weeks old now. My other son is 7, so it's a mad house at the min!

I bought my wife one for the exact same reason, photos. Her LG was good but my wife doesn't try and frame a shot or get a perfect snap, so the iPhone 7 camera with the optical image stabilisation will give her a better photo.

I have slammed it in a good case with a tempered glass screen protector, don't know about your wife but mine has managed to destroy a few phones. She always blames her handbag and is mystified on how it happened, typical!

 

[tevion]

Congrats on your new family members! I think Apple Watch would be great for new moms. If they get phone calls / texts while taking care of baby, a quick glance at the watch tells them what it is, and you can often respond back with Siri. Another useful feature I don't often see mentioned is the timer. You can say "hey Siri, set timer for x minutes." It's great for cooking, doing laundry, etc.

Thanks

Agreed. I texted her while she was out with both our kids, was to pick something up from town. She got home, between carrying this and that she didn't check her phone in her bag. So I had to pop back out.

With Watch she'd of seen it, without losing the use of that extra hand when you're controlling two kids. Does make allot of sense. It's the little things

 

[Night Spring]

Thanks

Agreed. I texted her while she was out with both our kids, was to pick something up from town. She got home, between carrying this and that she didn't check her phone in her bag. So I had to pop back out.

With Watch she'd of seen it, without losing the use of that extra hand when you're controlling two kids. Does make allot of sense. It's the little things

Don't expect it to be perfect though. I've had texts come in to the watch, feel the vibration, but be in the middle of something, think "I'll check it later," then totally forget about it.

So to make sure she saw your text, you might need to keep texting her until she responds. But it does increase the possibility she'll see it, as opposed to having the phone in her bag, in which case she'll never see it!

 

[xDKP]

Congrats on your new family members! I think Apple Watch would be great for new moms. If they get phone calls / texts while taking care of baby, a quick glance at the watch tells them what it is, and you can often respond back with Siri. Another useful feature I don't often see mentioned is the timer. You can say "hey Siri, set timer for x minutes." It's great for cooking, doing laundry, etc.

Thanks man.

The timer is actually one of the Siri functions I use the most. It's awesome when cooking and you have greasy hands and can say Hey Siri

 

[tevion]

Loving the iVAPO stand for my iPhone 7 and Apple Watch series 1. Currently in bedroom on my side table.

So much so, I've bought a second one for my home office.

 

[44267547]

Never owned an Apple Watch before but recently purchased a mint condition Series 1 42mm on eBay for £190.

I've only ever actually owned one smart watch previously, the Moto 360, which I sold after 2 days.

My thoughts below.

Battery Life:

It was on charge overnight last night, I woke up and put it on my wrist at around 6.40. I took it off at 23:00. So that's over 16 hours of use and when I put it on charge tonight it was at 69%, now that's impressive.

Usage wise, I've been viewing and replying to WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook notifications. Heartbeat monitoring every now and then and Apple Pay. No calls. All motion stuff enabled.

Positives:

- I love the ability to change straps and purchase cheap ones from the likes of Amazon, below you can see the leather one I prefer.

- Having notifications on my wrist is fantastic, I spend a huge part of my day in meetings or on the move to different teams. It's great to be able to quickly check them without bringing out my phone, which can be seen as rude by some. Especially when I'm in 1 on 1 conversations. Also when taking son to cinema this evening to watch Fantastic Beasts, I was able to discreetly check and respond to messages.

- It's an incredibly smooth experience, enjoyed checking my bank balance with it and also used it 3 times for Apple Pay today.

- The fitness stuff is laid out really well, this is something I'll use more in the future - part of my reason for getting it as a motivator.

- Hardware is perfection, it looks and feels nice.. Heart Tracking was accurate, I actually have another heart monitor to compare, finger based one. I take beta blockers (I don't have a heart problem, but I take them due other medication raising my heart rate). Very handy for me to have it on my wrist for a quick check.

Negatives:

I'll be honest, I'm struggling to find any... Ok, on occasion it could be a bit faster, it's a very smooth experience but not instantly responsive for all apps.

My main criticism is the cost, while I know I paid less at £190... At that price or £299 it's still an expensive thing for what it does... For me personally, it's worth it purely for the notifications and ability to reply. As it fits in so well with my work life. I'd argue though that for most, taking your phone out of your pocket will do. For example, when I bought the Moto 360, one the integration wasn't as nice but my work / day to day didn't have as much of a need for it...

If fitness tracking and notifications on your wrist is going to benefit you, buy this. It's worth the price of admission... If not, save your money. It'll be something you'll think is cool initially but then see as relatively pointless later.

Live the brown leather Watch Strap. Looks awesome with the black stainless steel.