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It might be incremental in terms of speed performance for opening apps but the upgrade of standalone GPS and water resistance for swimming has made the 2.0 Watch much much more valuable for people who have fitness as a priority.

In my opinion the watch was not even worth getting until these features were brought in. Swimming and running with the Apple Watch has been really, really enjoyable for me.

I got the S0 in October mainly because of the double cost difference for just the added feature of GPS and BETTER water resistance. Could not justify the price difference,

However I do hope the next Watch release might get very interesting ..
 
I got the S0 in October mainly because of the double cost difference for just the added feature of GPS and BETTER water resistance. Could not justify the price difference,

However I do hope the next Watch release might get very interesting ..

The First Gen Watch and Series 1/2 are physically the same, with Series 2 being slightly thicker for the increased battery. March 2018 is likely the next major revamp for the Third generation Apple Watch.
 
I am on a Series 0 and honestly, paying more money for a watch that looks the same and does everything apart from being a bit quicker and uses GPS. Seems a bit pointless!

I will wait till the next version:)
 
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The Series 2 should really have been the watch Apple first introduced in April 2015.

A lot of little things add up (including GPS and waterproofing), plus extra battery life to make it a better watch than the original.

That may not be enough for the OP to consider worth upgrading from the original, though; I found mine to be excellent if a little slow.
 
I was thinking about upgrading to the Series 2 but I just know there will be another Series coming soon. My launch one works fine so I just don't wanna talk the plunge just yet. The extra battery life and GPS are awfully tempting though...
 
I have a S0 Aluminum Sport. I just purchased a S2 Space Gray. I really have seen very little difference between them. The battery on both last two days. The S0 does have the least left at the end of day two.

As for the GPS - I haven't had a reason to get outside and try it yet. It is very cold (14 degrees) here so outside exercise is not happening.

I have been surprised how dependant I have become on the watch. I have always worn a regular watch for the time and date. Now with the AW add the ability to get text and calls plus calendar reminders and it becomes for me - priceless.
 
There's always another series coming soon
Agree with above comment. Hopefully, Apple will release LTE capable edition on the next series so the wearers can use it independently from iPhone.
I will upgrade mine only if significant changes occur, especially LTE capability.
 
People always make a big deal about needing GPS and then run once a month. Seems a bit pointless!

My watch is fine. The only thing I want is sleep tracking natively and none of the Apple Watches do that yet!
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I did just place an order to upgrade my wife's Series 0 aluminum to an S2 Stainless. Her birthday is coming up in January and I think just the upgrade to stainless alone (to go with the Milanese Loop she already has) is a nice step up for her, and the other features and speed improvement will be icing on the cake.

But for me, I already have a stainless, so the upgrade (if I went for it) would be mostly about performance. The added outdoor brightness is another plus, and the ability to swim with it is a perk I'd take advantage of occasionally.

As for my main question, whether the speed increase alone is significant, I do realize it is an incremental improvement. But when I tried an S2 in Target the other day, there was definitely quite a bit more smoothness in the interface than on my S0. Enough that I might just splurge on one for myself. I don't expect Apple to release a Series 3 for at least 12 more months, and I use this watch every day. There are plenty of "little frustrations" with lag and stutters, enough so that there are times I don't bother to do something on the watch simply because of that. If the S2 upgrade knocks those stutters and lags down significantly, I'd enjoy the watch a whole lot more.

So I'll wait for my wife's watch to arrive, and run some extended side-by-side comparisons, then make the decision on my own upgrade. I'll post my finding here.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I did just place an order to upgrade my wife's Series 0 aluminum to an S2 Stainless. Her birthday is coming up in January and I think just the upgrade to stainless alone (to go with the Milanese Loop she already has) is a nice step up for her, and the other features and speed improvement will be icing on the cake.

But for me, I already have a stainless, so the upgrade (if I went for it) would be mostly about performance. The added outdoor brightness is another plus, and the ability to swim with it is a perk I'd take advantage of occasionally.

As for my main question, whether the speed increase alone is significant, I do realize it is an incremental improvement. But when I tried an S2 in Target the other day, there was definitely quite a bit more smoothness in the interface than on my S0. Enough that I might just splurge on one for myself. I don't expect Apple to release a Series 3 for at least 12 more months, and I use this watch every day. There are plenty of "little frustrations" with lag and stutters, enough so that there are times I don't bother to do something on the watch simply because of that. If the S2 upgrade knocks those stutters and lags down significantly, I'd enjoy the watch a whole lot more.

So I'll wait for my wife's watch to arrive, and run some extended side-by-side comparisons, then make the decision on my own upgrade. I'll post my finding here.

That's a nice gift for your wife. I think the Series 2 Stainless was a nice choice. Let us know if you upgrade.
 
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Well, I was going to wait to upgrade until after seeing how my wife's upgrade turned out, but then yesterday I saw the news about Series 2 refurbished watches coming available in the Apple Store, so I jumped on that before they were all gone (42mm SS Series 2). Comes with free one-day shipping as well!

Unfortunately they don't have any 38mm SS refurbs left, so I can't switch her order to a refurb. Her new watch arrives between Dec 30 - Jan 4.

Now here's the dilemma. I don't want her to know about her gift until her birthday, but I'm sure not going to wait until then to swap my watch out. She can't know that I upgraded or else she'll ask "what about me?".

Since mine is the same size and material, she won't see the difference. So I guess I'll just swap to the new watch without her noticing, and keep it a secret for a few more weeks.

I'll report back tomorrow on my impressions. I know it won't be a night-and-day difference but I'm anticipating I will definitely notice and appreciate the speed increase, better outdoor brightness, and battery life.
 
I am on a Series 0 and honestly, paying more money for a watch that looks the same and does everything apart from being a bit quicker and uses GPS. Seems a bit pointless!

I will wait till the next version:)

Do you view the watch as a fashion statement or a fitness tool? If you new it as a fashion statement then I suppose your comments makes sense.. People won't look and instantly be able to see it's a series 2....

You might be the 1st person ever to say an electronics device getting quicker is pointless...

People always make a big deal about needing GPS and then run once a month. Seems a bit pointless!
GPS pointless? Garmin makes billions selling GPS watches. Run, swim, bike, walk, hike, ect, ect, ect.... I dunno, sounds to me like you are just looking for any reason to say it's pointless..

I work out daily and after having my S0 for a few days (got it at launch) it was returned... I now have the series 2 and my Garmin Fenix 3 HR is probably going to get sold...
 
Do you view the watch as a fashion statement or a fitness tool? If you new it as a fashion statement then I suppose your comments makes sense.. People won't look and instantly be able to see it's a series 2....

You might be the 1st person ever to say an electronics device getting quicker is pointless...


GPS pointless? Garmin makes billions selling GPS watches. Run, swim, bike, walk, hike, ect, ect, ect.... I dunno, sounds to me like you are just looking for any reason to say it's pointless..

I work out daily and after having my S0 for a few days (got it at launch) it was returned... I now have the series 2 and my Garmin Fenix 3 HR is probably going to get sold...
I would say pointless having a standalone GPS function since I bring my phone with me anyways (music, emergency calls, etc). In other words, not worth a $100 premium to have the ability to use GPS without your phone (since you're never gonna be without your phone).
 
I would say pointless having a standalone GPS function since I bring my phone with me anyways (music, emergency calls, etc). In other words, not worth a $100 premium to have the ability to use GPS without your phone (since you're never gonna be without your phone).

I know a lot of people (and like I said Garmin makes billions selling GPS units) who do not bring a phone when they run or cycle.. Also what about open water swims?

I dunno.. Thats why I asked if it's a fashion statement or a fitness tool. If it's a fitness tool then GPS is an absolute MUST have for most..
 
If it's a fitness tool then GPS is an absolute MUST have for most..
It really depends on what someone wants to do with the GPS data.

For myself, I stopped caring very much about the data I've been logging with my Garmin the past five years. It was good for knowing how far I went, and I suppose it can be good for knowing where I went -- but I remember where I went, right?

So, then, what do I do afterwards -- do I show it off? I'm not going to post my routes on Facebook or anything like that.

All my running and cycling routes, then, are just taking up space at Garmin Connect. Maybe, if I really wanted to dig deep into my data, I could see where my slowest sections were and how steep the climbs were... but I just don't care. After doing enough rides, all I wanted to know was my heart rate and the time of day.

Okay, let's say that I'm training for a 5k/10k/half marathon/Ironman tri/Tough Mudder. Am I in the hunt for winning my age group? No, I'm not. What I really want to learn are two main things: what I should eat beforehand (so I don't die), and what I should wear (so I don't chafe). Besides that, running the race is simple: follow everyone else and run until the finish line. If my watch is inaccurate and thinks I've traveled five kilometers when I'm actually 0.1 km from the finish line, am I really going to stop running? Duh... NO.

I honestly believe that GPS isn't a necessary tool for exercising. It's entertaining (which I suppose helps people enjoy exercising), but it's not like people haven't gotten faster without it. I think it's a market created by gadget manufacturers who made compact, low-power GPS chips and wanted to sell them. Basically, consumerism with -- hopefully -- health benefits.
 
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I bought used AW Series 0 just to see if I like it or not but I like it very much WatchOS 3 speed it up a bit so I am not planning to upgrade until AW Series 3 comes out then I will.
 
It really depends on what someone wants to do with the GPS data.

For myself, I stopped caring very much about the data I've been logging with my Garmin the past five years. It was good for knowing how far I went, and I suppose it can be good for knowing where I went -- but I remember where I went, right?

So, then, what do I do afterwards -- do I show it off? I'm not going to post my routes on Facebook or anything like that.

All my running and cycling routes, then, are just taking up space at Garmin Connect. Maybe, if I really wanted to dig deep into my data, I could see where my slowest sections were and how steep the climbs were... but I just don't care. After doing enough rides, all I wanted to know was my heart rate and the time of day.

Okay, let's say that I'm training for a 5k/10k/half marathon/Ironman tri/Tough Mudder. Am I in the hunt for winning my age group? No, I'm not. What I really want to learn are two main things: what I should eat beforehand (so I don't die), and what I should wear (so I don't chafe). Besides that, running the race is simple: follow everyone else and run until the finish line. If my watch is inaccurate and thinks I've traveled five kilometers when I'm actually 0.1 km from the finish line, am I really going to stop running? Duh... NO.

I honestly believe that GPS isn't a necessary tool for exercising. It's entertaining (which I suppose helps people enjoy exercising), but it's not like people haven't gotten faster without it. I think it's a market created by gadget manufacturers who made compact, low-power GPS chips and wanted to sell them. Basically, consumerism with -- hopefully -- health benefits.

Agree partially BUT......

Most runners I know want no part in lugging a phone with them and it's kind of hard to lug a phone during an open water swim... For these, and many other activities, stand alone GPS is a must have..

To each their own I suppose but calling stand alone GPS functionality pointless, as a few have done, is well, ummm, kind of laughable..

I would not have purchased if it didn't have a stand alone GPS and it's why my S0 was quickly returned... Again, fashion statement or tool?

If someone wants to count steps or run around the block then yes GPS probably is pointless... I cycle 30-40 miles a day, 3 days a week and then I run 4-6 miles and swim 2 days a week.. I have zero interest in lugging a phone with me..

With he S2 I have GPS and music right on the watch. I do not need to lug a phone for anything.. Stand alone GPS is nowhere even close to being pointless unless someone is trying to justify NOT buying the S2, which is fine but find a different reason.. LOL
 
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Agree partially BUT......

Most runners I know want no part in lugging a phone with them and it's kind of hard to lug a phone during an open water swim... For these, and many other activities, stand alone GPS is a must have..
Well, let's go with this...

What good does a standalone GPS do if it can't tell you where you are?

This is something my Garmin could kinda do -- although it couldn't load route maps, it could give me an arrow pointing to a given location (which, if it wasn't the origin of the workout, took some time to program into its memory, but UI issues aside...).

But if it can't download location data -- maps, POIs, etc -- then what's it good for during the run? Without a phone for data, a Series 2 can't tell you where you are, right?

Sure, yeah, I used my Garmin to record my metric century rides -- but my non-GPS bike computer can tell me how far I've gone, too.

So you go run and come home. Did you forget where you were?
 
Well, let's go with this...

What good does a standalone GPS do if it can't tell you where you are?

This is something my Garmin could kinda do -- although it couldn't load route maps, it could give me an arrow pointing to a given location (which, if it wasn't the origin of the workout, took some time to program into its memory, but UI issues aside...).

But if it can't download location data -- maps, POIs, etc -- then what's it good for during the run? Without a phone for data, a Series 2 can't tell you where you are, right?

Sure, yeah, I used my Garmin to record my metric century rides -- but my non-GPS bike computer can tell me how far I've gone, too.

So you go run and come home. Did you forget where you were?

You are obviously NOT using it to work out so question answered. Its a fashion piece to you and that's cool, nothing at all wrong with viewing it that way...

Sure I'll navigate during my next open water swim.......

Now aside from the lunacy of that, GPS for fitness is not generally used to navigate you anywhere! The Garmin Fenix 3 for instance will give you breadcrumbs to follow but that's not useful to a runner or a cyclist.. Someone hiking? Sure the breadcrumb would work to get them back on track or back to start..

GPS's main use in a device like this is to calculate speed, pace, distance ect and NOT to act as navigation... Can the GPS on your phone do that and transmit the info to a dumb watch?? Yup it sure can but like I said, I know a lot of runners who do not want to run with a phone and I'm not quite sure how you are going to manage this on an open water swim..

If you truly think GPS is worthless in a fitness device then billions of people are complete idiots (including me) for buying Garmin devices over the years.... I've been using Garmin GPS units (watches, fitness trackers, cycling computers) for 15+ years now....

Here is my 1st 8 months of this year on Garmin Connect. (June was vacation so there a few weeks there with nothing). I work out almost every day and I hardly ever have a phone with me so any fitness device that does not have built in GPS is an instant pass for me and I won't even consider them..

My .02
 

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GPS on the Apple Watch is useless for some, and quite useful for others. This is pretty much true of every feature on the Apple Watch, and true of the watch itself.

I'd say the usefulness and value of the Apple Watch varies more by individual than the iPhone or the Mac or any other Apple product.

Whether or not it's worth upgrading from a Series 0 to a 1 or 2 follows the same logic. If you have the means, and one or more of the feature improvements are worthwhile to you, go for it, and tell us about it. If not, that's fair too. But what bothers me is when one attacks the others position here, or makes a blanket statement about the value of the watch as though it's true of everyone. There's no point in that.
 
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