Upgrading to WatchOS 4 has been incredibly frustrating. My watch struggles to even open the workout app now. Doing what I've always done which is play music while running the workout at the same time (favorite feature of the Apple Watch) has become nearly impossible since the upgrade. Considering that I never had issues with this before OS 4, I'm confident Apple has throttled my device due to the age of the battery. I want to give it one more year before upgrading so I'm thinking about replacing the battery on my own. Is this totally insane or a reasonable option? Thoughts?
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My Series 0 might as well be a paper weight...
- Thread starter bixbycanyon
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I agree.
When I got the Series 0 with Watch OS 2 it ran fine - slow for 3rd party apps - but it ran its core functions well enough. Watch OS 3 was more or less the same, though animations were more jittery.
With Watch OS 4, the series 0 is functional, but frustrating. My biggest gripe was that when I go out for a run, I want my watch ready ASAP. Even with the workout app in my dock I'd launch it...wait 5 seconds until the app showed up...tap outdoor walk...wait...wait...wait...keep tapping because there's no GUI feedback...wait...then it would crash so I had to open it again and...wait...wait...wait...wait...I'm angry by the time I start the walk.
There's no evidence that Apple has throttled the Apple Watches. You can try a battery swap, but it was slow when it was released. It's had 4 OS upgrades on the S1 chip that was underpowered on Watch OS 1. I think it's just slow.
When I got the Series 0 with Watch OS 2 it ran fine - slow for 3rd party apps - but it ran its core functions well enough. Watch OS 3 was more or less the same, though animations were more jittery.
With Watch OS 4, the series 0 is functional, but frustrating. My biggest gripe was that when I go out for a run, I want my watch ready ASAP. Even with the workout app in my dock I'd launch it...wait 5 seconds until the app showed up...tap outdoor walk...wait...wait...wait...keep tapping because there's no GUI feedback...wait...then it would crash so I had to open it again and...wait...wait...wait...wait...I'm angry by the time I start the walk.
There's no evidence that Apple has throttled the Apple Watches. You can try a battery swap, but it was slow when it was released. It's had 4 OS upgrades on the S1 chip that was underpowered on Watch OS 1. I think it's just slow.
How necessary are the watch OS upgrades? It seems to me that there really isn’t a huge need to be running the latest version. The series 0 was already underpowered when it came out.
Apple has not Throttled your Apple Watch, I think your logic is skewed thinking Apple May have otherwise. . Reason being is, watchOS 4 across the board has not been the most promising for the first generation Apple Watch. If you read across the Apple Watch threads in the forum, you will find out there are hundreds of Apple Watch users who have had similar experiences. The first generation Apple Watch needed speed refinements, which actually was addressed with watchOS 3.
From my own experiences with my first generation Apple Watch, it runs perfectly stock applications with no issues, just doesn't have the speed that the Series 3 has with the faster dual core processor . The first generation Apple Watch is just under powered compared to the latest watchOS that's available.
Spot on
, my sentiments entirely.Had my series 0 since day one and although it has on the occasion given me a ‘temper tandrum’ it has though in it’s main been an excellent product.
Just as Relentless says ~ Give the watch any of the stock apps and it’ll happily handle them. Even notifications come through without any issue. It’s only when you install an app which is heavy on the processor that it struggles but that doesn’t mean it’s the OS or the watch’s fault! Programmers will take advantage of the latest features in a watch and code accordingly. Older watches however will only be coded for compatibility not speed.
Same experience here. Decided to upgrade to S3 and it’s night and day. A much better watch experience.
Yeah, since upgrading to the latest OS, performance has been horrible. I'm living with it, for now. I'm not sure I'm wiling to spend $$ and buy another AW.
The issue with Series 0 could be that apps are handled over Bluetooth instead of NFC and Wifi? Or did they change that with software
That battery on my 0 is struggling to make it through the day and if I work out, forget it. Went for a couple mile run and lifted weights and by 6 PM my battery was dead.
I was thinking of looking into replacing the battery but a better investment might be to get a refurbished Series 2 or a new 3.
I was thinking of looking into replacing the battery but a better investment might be to get a refurbished Series 2 or a new 3.
watchOS 4 decimated battery life on our series 0 watches. We both got new series 3 a few months ago. As a comparison my wife’s series 0 after OS 4 would be about 25% or less in the evening. Her new one is at 75% or better, usually better, by the same point in the evening
Same issue. I am trying to hold out for whatever series 4 will bring.
Until battery chemistry changes there is no way you can pack more power into the same size battery.
Now I'm leaning towards doing a trade in for roughly $50 at best buy and getting a Series 3 Nike watch.
What @Beards and @Relentless Power says. My Series 0 is running just fine and battery life is unchanged since I got it. But I haven’t bothered to update to Watch OS 4. My apps—including apps like Clear or MedSafe—perform as they always have and I’m continuing to rely on my Watch for notifications, messages, workouts and calls.Spot on, my sentiments entirely.
Had my series 0 since day one and although it has on the occasion given me a ‘temper tandrum’ it has though in it’s main been an excellent product.
Just as Relentless says ~ Give the watch any of the stock apps and it’ll happily handle them. Even notifications come through without any issue. It’s only when you install an app which is heavy on the processor that it struggles but that doesn’t mean it’s the OS or the watch’s fault! Programmers will take advantage of the latest features in a watch and code accordingly. Older watches however will only be coded for compatibility not speed.
Because I’ve only known the Series 0 I’m happy with the performance (favorite Apple device ever). But I’m planning on getting a Series 3 sometime this spring.
i'll upgrade eventually, problem is I can't stand the 'aluminum' watch, has to be SS... expen$ive!
So why exactly is my logic "skewed" when Apple just admitted they throttle iPhones with aged batteries? I never had any issues until Watch OS 4. It's crazy to think a device I bought 2.5 years ago can no longer perform functions it could less than 6 months ago.
To those of you who aren't experiencing any slowdown on your series 0 Apple watch, have you tried using the stock workout app? My experience is the same as Traverse described - almost unusable with extremely slow response and crashing. Sometimes I can't get it to start a workout and other times I can't get it to stop or pause. Notifications are OK and I only use the included stock apps now but my battery life has taken a hit. I have to charge midway through the day if I expect to run in the evening.
For $50, I would just keep it to use as an overnight sleep tracker.
As You can see, there are differing experiences with everybody using the first generation Apple Watch in this thread. First, if you're experiencing issues, then I would suggest unpairing your Apple Watch and setting up as a new device to see if that helps Eliminate any issues.
Second, the first generation Apple Watch has never been fast, at all. It's always been slow, it's just certain versions of watchOS allowed it to be more fluid than what it was before. And contrary to your experience with your Apple Watch, my first generation Apple Watch still forms exactly as it should without issues. However, it open stock applications not any quicker than it did in watchOS 3, but the first generation Apple Watch is always been slow to load, power on, load third-party applications, etc.
Third, I don't have any reason to believe Apple is starting to throttle the Apple Watch. To Me, that sounds like paranoia starting for those to ponder conjectured theories. As I said before, the first generation Apple Watch was never fast to begin with. Regardless, I don't see the Apple Watch being supported with watchOS 5 as it is, because of the subpar performance that has always followed it from its inception back in April 2015.
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Whilst I can appreciate that for you and others where a similar applies, using the workout app is frustrating with your series 0 watch, I on the other hand have no issues. I tap on the workout app and it brings the menu up straightaway. I can then easily scroll through, select and tap to start. Even doing the workout I can easily interact with it and eventually slide across and stop the workout again without issue.
Under no illusion does this mean there is no difference between a series 0 to the latest model, but what I am saying is part of the issue ‘may’ be down to other sources ~ be that other apps on the watch or your phone, both interfering with the day to day running of the workout app.
Yeap, Series 0 is a pain these days. I workout almost everyday and start with 10 minutes on the rowing machine. The workout app just freezes. I can’t select the Row option for more than 10 seconds. When I actually manage to tap it, the screen turns off without me getting a visual confirmation that it’s actually running. By this point, I’ve started the workout and just hope that it will eventually start.
Hope they fix it soon on next updates. I wasn’t planning on getting a new one so soon.
Hope they fix it soon on next updates. I wasn’t planning on getting a new one so soon.
That's a good suggestion. Thanks! Apple makes it pretty easy to "auto switch" between watches.
I’m still on a 0, I tried the workout app it booted fine. Have you every restored the watch as new and repaired? it will do wonders for many slow ones. I also get full day with spare battery life.
Well I’ve had my series 0 since launch day so it’s 2.5 years old now. Battery life is not very good and at best I get 12 hours. It’s quite sluggish as well when navigating.
Anyhow I’ve purchased a series 3 gps and cellular watch and it’s being delivered today. It was time to upgrade.
The series 0 has served me well. It’s 2.5 years old. I got a good run out of it.
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I don’t mind spending the same or more for my iPhone every year or even the same for an iPad which will get upgraded every 2-3 years because they are primary devices. The Apple Watch is an extension to my iPhone.
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Anyhow I’ve purchased a series 3 gps and cellular watch and it’s being delivered today. It was time to upgrade.
The series 0 has served me well. It’s 2.5 years old. I got a good run out of it.
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Well this time I’ve just gone for the sports version. The price of the Apple Watch has gone up in my country and I don’t plan on spending £700 every 2 years for SS. I spent a lot of my SS series 0. I like the Apple Watch and I wear it every day but it’s not worth spending £700 even if I only upgrade every 2 years.
I don’t mind spending the same or more for my iPhone every year or even the same for an iPad which will get upgraded every 2-3 years because they are primary devices. The Apple Watch is an extension to my iPhone.
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I’m also keeping my series 0 as it’s only worth £50 now. Not worth selling.