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S3 for $199 on Black Friday
- Thread starter satchmo
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BestBuy will have the Series 3 for $50 off. Some good deals for those wanting a S3 - the S4 is a nice leap forward, so it does all come down to if you are okay with not having the latest and greatest.
Since I don't have a Series 3, I can't say how well it handles OS 5. I know my Series 2 saw an overall improvement with OS 5 but there were some native apps that specifically that I noticed open very slow-Timer and Workout. It's still perfectly serviceable for sure so in that regard, I'd have to believe a Series 3 is a great way to get into Watch on a budget. Really hard to complain about a getting a great deal!
Coming from Series 2, I've found Series 4 is massive leaps forward. Screen size and speed are amazing. I updated both watches to 5.1.1. Series 2 took about an hour + to update and Series 4 was maybe half of that. The Series 4 has a 64 bit processor which will hopefully make the watch handle updates better long term. The case re-design is also something I appreciate. Height wise, it's slimmed down yet it's stretched just a bit from side to side. My wrist is roughly 8 1/4 and with Series 2 I'm wearing my bands on the next to last hole on the M/L sport band. With Series 4, I can get the same fit by going to the 3rd hole from last or I can wear it incredibly comfortably on the same 2nd to last hole. Something to consider for those with larger wrists.
Coming from Series 2, I've found Series 4 is massive leaps forward. Screen size and speed are amazing. I updated both watches to 5.1.1. Series 2 took about an hour + to update and Series 4 was maybe half of that. The Series 4 has a 64 bit processor which will hopefully make the watch handle updates better long term. The case re-design is also something I appreciate. Height wise, it's slimmed down yet it's stretched just a bit from side to side. My wrist is roughly 8 1/4 and with Series 2 I'm wearing my bands on the next to last hole on the M/L sport band. With Series 4, I can get the same fit by going to the 3rd hole from last or I can wear it incredibly comfortably on the same 2nd to last hole. Something to consider for those with larger wrists.
Series 3 runs very smoothly with watchOS5...
S3 is definitely a good buy at half the price of an S4. If $400 S4 is a stretch to your budget, then this sale is very compelling.
On the hand, S4 is really MUCH better with its larger screen and reduced bezels. If you can comfortably afford it, I'd get an S4. In fact, I didn't even consider any AW until the S4, which is my first. To me, all of the previous models were spec/sensor bumps of the S0, and only the S4 is the first truly "next gen" model.
The AW S4 is next gen in every single way. And most importantly it’s 64bit. I would say Apple will be dropping support for the rest of the series soon, as they are all 32bit.
I never considered the Apple Watch until the 4. Which is on order and will be my Christmas present
I never considered the Apple Watch until the 4. Which is on order and will be my Christmas present
The AW S4 is next gen in every single way. And most importantly it’s 64bit. I would say Apple will be dropping support for the rest of the series soon, as they are all 32bit.
I never considered the Apple Watch until the 4. Which is on order and will be my Christmas present
I doubt they'll be dropping the previous series' anytime soon just because they're 32bit.
Agree the Series 3 especially is a very good chip with lots of headroom still - my prediction is Series 1/2 gets 2 or 3 more years of updates and the Series 3 gets 4 or 5 more years of updates.
Agree, there are still many users who've got older watches. They can't drop support until the product matures more than it has even with Series 4.
S3 is going to be the iPad Air 2. It will probably be sold next to the S5 and S6. It runs watch OS5 perfectly.. I've played with the S4 and don't find it that much quicker than the S3.
If the design wasn't different.. I am not sure how many people would have jumped ship for the S4.
If the design wasn't different.. I am not sure how many people would have jumped ship for the S4.
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It will be like everything else, Apple will release newer software where a lot of the features won’t work unless you have 64bit which will cause a lot of people to upgrade. When they get most people converted they will drop 32bit.
Yeah... it’s very tempting at half the price, but my middle-aged eyes are ready for an increase in display size. I wear a 38mm (the 42mm just didn't feel comfortable on my wrist), so I will be going for the 40mm.
For anyone who is Watch-curious, $199 for an S3 is going to be very tempting if the higher price has been holding them back.
For anyone who is Watch-curious, $199 for an S3 is going to be very tempting if the higher price has been holding them back.
I still think consumers are holding out for the Series 4 shopping deals they might find. Series 3 is still very much a viable watch, but truthfully, it is dated in terms of what the Series 4 is offering with the larger display, advanced health sensors, etc.
I think consumers when they see the Series 3, they still think of the first GEN watch, Series 1/Series 2 due to its aging design, the Series 4 for first time is offering something ‘different’ over the Series 3 design in over three years.
I think consumers when they see the Series 3, they still think of the first GEN watch, Series 1/Series 2 due to its aging design, the Series 4 for first time is offering something ‘different’ over the Series 3 design in over three years.
Yeah. I have a first gen and all I use my watch for is fitness tracking and telling the time (I HATE that thing vibrating all the time so it’s always on DND). Oh, and pinging my iPhone when I can’t find it (life saver!) and Apple Pay.
I always (always!) have my phone with me so i really don’t give a flying **** about GPS or Cellular. I don’t need more than my S0 (and honestly am thinking about ditching it for a regular watch).
I’m only interested in the S4 because it looks different. And that’s it. Apple hit the mark with this one
That's a great deal, definitely worth a purchase for people who don't have an Apple Watch yet. I am holding out for a 4, likely won't have any deals at all this year but I am wanting that extra jump in performance from a 2 to a 4.
Aging design? It still looks the same as a series 4 pretty much at first glance ...
Honest question, do you own a Series 4? Because I can tell you when I see them out in public, there is a clear difference when you see the Series 4 of the Series 3 just in terms of how it dwarfs it in size. Yes, the form factor is the same, I think that’s already quite obvious, but in terms of the first GEN three through Series 3, the Series 4 is the first _real_ change the Apple Watch that makes it quite obvious, maybe it’s the overall display/casing size increase that makes it more substantially noticeable.
I went from a series 2 to various Google wear and Samsung gear watches to a series 4 and tbh don’t see a huge difference. I probably could of saved the $100 and got a series 3 but I rather spend the $100 for it to last longer and why not for the “bigger” screen. Sure a difference for sure but a different design ? That’s reaching tbh
I just got a 38mm series 3 on a similar sale for a similar price
It is my first Apple Watch and I like it a lot (native sleep tracking is still missing though, wake up Apple)
To be honest, I fell in love with the series 4, but not at that price
I do not think they will discount the series 4 by much, but who knows ..
I am happy with what I got
I came here specifically with this question. I've been intrigued by the Apple Watch, but never enough to ditch my Polar watch. The S4 is the first time I said I want that Apple watch and I was planning to ask for it for Christmas. But seeing the S3 at $199 (I'm guessing $229 for the 42mm) and realizing that I'm not concerned with falling down or ECG readings--I'm questioning what I really want/need. At $309 for the 42mm S3 vs $399 for the 40mm S4, I'd get the S4, but $170 is not a small amount.
I tried on the 40mm and 44mm S4 at the Apple store and liked the 40mm better on my smaller wrists (about 6.5"). I didn't even try the S3, but I think I need to go back and at least try on the 38mm and 42mm S3.
I tried on the 40mm and 44mm S4 at the Apple store and liked the 40mm better on my smaller wrists (about 6.5"). I didn't even try the S3, but I think I need to go back and at least try on the 38mm and 42mm S3.
Same here
in the end I went with a series 3 38mm
(uh, already posted that, it has been a long week)
I stopped by the Apple store on my way home from work and decided the 38mm still looks better on my wrist. Hopefully the Black Friday specials aren't super limited door buster types. I'm not one to get in line at Target at noon, or madly hit refresh on my browser when the sale is supposed to go live.
