I have had most apple watches since their initial launch. I don't keep them for more then a month or so usually.
They are great fun, nicely made, and it is very useful to have phone calls, messaging and the steps, heart and other things recorded. I am not a big user of apps, but apps such as stocard, maps, a simple calcuator and others have become very useful to have around. Especially since the watch became water proof and it can be kept on for swimming and rough days. It is really nice to go for walks /runs or wander around the house or office without taking the heavy phone, and not miss calls and essential messaging.
So why not keep for longer ? Essentially the major and minor elephant in the room. The minor one first, the apps. Although the app icon display is logical and looks nice, it is really fiddly to use. It takes ages to remember the icons for apps you need and is still fiddly, especially in rain. The Garmin system is much more limited in terms of apps, but the multi-buttons, once used to, make speeding around the system ultra fast. Perhaps in the future Apple can add another wheel, or a few more buttons, and do some kind of hybrid system, despite its minimalistic strategy.
The major elephant is of course the battery life. I am not a heavy user. I just use for seeing the time (every 15 mins or so as I have adhd), occasionally apps like apple pay or stocard or maps, messaging, and measuring work outs (which it does in the background). It hasn't been until the 7 where I have managed to get a whole day out of it. I would say the 8, and especially the 9, are now, for my usage a solid day. Still it has ruled out any usage on holiday, no way can i be stranded in the evening with no time or diary. Compared to my Garmins, with 7-16 day battery, depedning on usage, it has been just too annoying to have to charge every night.
So I was looking for my annual apple watch hit, and I was looking at the 9 in stainless steel, I mean I liked the gold colour. Then I realised that the Ultra 2 was the same cost, but for the money, you get a larger brighter screen, a titanium case, an extra button and, wait for it, double sized battery (or at least the life). No brainer! As I am used to wearing swiss mechanical watches, the weight difference feels pretty irrelevant, and it fits nicely on my smallish 6.7" wrist.
The one disadvantage is the thickness. It is fine for all but the slimmest cuff shirts, but that does preclude the type of shirt I wear if using it at the office. The new marine rubber straps are excellent, comfortable and robust, although it was a bit unerving on a supposedly tough watch, that when I slid it on originally the metal catch in the middle shot out from the strap, including the spring underneath. The apple shop were super quick to give me a new one however.
The main impression on wearing it is of a premium device, with some clear water between it and the standard 9. Firstly the larger and brighter screen. Secondly the dull lustre and lightness of the titanium. Thirdly the cermaic back. Cermaic and crystal/glass have clear advantages for the back of a watch. They are cooler in summer and warmer in winter then metal.
To end on the elephant. I have now 2 clear days of usage. That doesn't mean you can't charge it every night, but I don't need to. Which is where we are generally with battery life. I think Apple is 1/3 of the way there with the Ultra 2. That may sound harsh, but my goal would be for a clear 5 days working week and a clear weekend with no charge. That would make the Apple Watch fully come of age.
So am I keeping it, ? I think it may just have pipped my Garmin as my main electronic watch. Only time will tell
They are great fun, nicely made, and it is very useful to have phone calls, messaging and the steps, heart and other things recorded. I am not a big user of apps, but apps such as stocard, maps, a simple calcuator and others have become very useful to have around. Especially since the watch became water proof and it can be kept on for swimming and rough days. It is really nice to go for walks /runs or wander around the house or office without taking the heavy phone, and not miss calls and essential messaging.
So why not keep for longer ? Essentially the major and minor elephant in the room. The minor one first, the apps. Although the app icon display is logical and looks nice, it is really fiddly to use. It takes ages to remember the icons for apps you need and is still fiddly, especially in rain. The Garmin system is much more limited in terms of apps, but the multi-buttons, once used to, make speeding around the system ultra fast. Perhaps in the future Apple can add another wheel, or a few more buttons, and do some kind of hybrid system, despite its minimalistic strategy.
The major elephant is of course the battery life. I am not a heavy user. I just use for seeing the time (every 15 mins or so as I have adhd), occasionally apps like apple pay or stocard or maps, messaging, and measuring work outs (which it does in the background). It hasn't been until the 7 where I have managed to get a whole day out of it. I would say the 8, and especially the 9, are now, for my usage a solid day. Still it has ruled out any usage on holiday, no way can i be stranded in the evening with no time or diary. Compared to my Garmins, with 7-16 day battery, depedning on usage, it has been just too annoying to have to charge every night.
So I was looking for my annual apple watch hit, and I was looking at the 9 in stainless steel, I mean I liked the gold colour. Then I realised that the Ultra 2 was the same cost, but for the money, you get a larger brighter screen, a titanium case, an extra button and, wait for it, double sized battery (or at least the life). No brainer! As I am used to wearing swiss mechanical watches, the weight difference feels pretty irrelevant, and it fits nicely on my smallish 6.7" wrist.
The one disadvantage is the thickness. It is fine for all but the slimmest cuff shirts, but that does preclude the type of shirt I wear if using it at the office. The new marine rubber straps are excellent, comfortable and robust, although it was a bit unerving on a supposedly tough watch, that when I slid it on originally the metal catch in the middle shot out from the strap, including the spring underneath. The apple shop were super quick to give me a new one however.
The main impression on wearing it is of a premium device, with some clear water between it and the standard 9. Firstly the larger and brighter screen. Secondly the dull lustre and lightness of the titanium. Thirdly the cermaic back. Cermaic and crystal/glass have clear advantages for the back of a watch. They are cooler in summer and warmer in winter then metal.
To end on the elephant. I have now 2 clear days of usage. That doesn't mean you can't charge it every night, but I don't need to. Which is where we are generally with battery life. I think Apple is 1/3 of the way there with the Ultra 2. That may sound harsh, but my goal would be for a clear 5 days working week and a clear weekend with no charge. That would make the Apple Watch fully come of age.
So am I keeping it, ? I think it may just have pipped my Garmin as my main electronic watch. Only time will tell
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