Series 7: Is the Stainless Steel version more durable than Aluminum?

[Mity]

I currently have a S5 SS and it has no scratches despite me working out with it. Actually, I only use it to play music while at the gym. I have bumped metal objects with it and it shows no scratches at all.

I'm thinking about upgrading to S7 and I can't decide between Aluminum or Stainless Steel. I've seen lots of posts on Reddit and here on Macrumors about the screen being scratched very easily. Does that happen on both the Aluminum and SS models or just Aluminum?

 

[pixelements]

It only happens to Aluminium models, since Aluminium models do not have saphire crystal. Saphire crystal is very very hard to scratch. This is one more reason I would NEVER buy the Aluminium version again. I had it for once and hat a lot of scratches after 1 year. And yes - I am not babysitting my watch, I do workouts etc regardless.

 

[Howard2k]

I only buy aluminium. No scratches so far. I wear it 23/7 but I don’t abuse it. My current feeling is that selling the aluminium annually is a far better option than SS, as long as you’re careful. The sapphire on the SS is less likely to scratch (more likely to crack) but don’t believe the “breathe on it and it will scratch“ nonsense reputation of the aluminium watches that you read about on here. All the same, if I was planing to keep for 3 year and/or required cell then I’d be more likely to consider SS.

 

[Mity]

It only happens to Aluminium models, since Aluminium models do not have saphire crystal. Saphire crystal is very very hard to scratch. This is one more reason I would NEVER buy the Aluminium version again. I had it for once and hat a lot of scratches after 1 year. And yes - I am not babysitting my watch, I do workouts etc regardless.

I only buy aluminium. No scratches so far. I wear it 23/7 but I don’t abuse it. My current feeling is that selling the aluminium annually is a far better option than SS, as long as you’re careful. The sapphire on the SS is less likely to scratch (more likely to crack) but don’t believe the “breathe on it and it will scratch“ nonsense reputation of the aluminium watches that you read about on here. All the same, if I was planing to keep for 3 year and/or required cell then I’d be more likely to consider SS.

SS looks much nicer but I agree that these things are relatively disposable since we have to upgrade every 2-3 years. I'll try the S7 Aluminum and if it scratches, perhaps I can return it and buy the SS version.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

SS looks much nicer but I agree that these things are relatively disposable since we have to upgrade every 2-3 years. I'll try the S7 Aluminum and if it scratches, perhaps I can return it and buy the SS version.

Add to the fact if you use it for the gym then aluminum is obviously lighter. I’m a micro scratch snob so the most I would do is wipe it with a cotton t-shirt and if has micro scratches then you know it will be trouble. You’re correct about disposability as the resell value of any Apple watch is about as much as a pack of gum so buying the cheapest Apple has on any product line is the best move usually.

 

[newellj]

I've been wearing AWs daily since Series 3. Other than a Series 7, all were aluminum Sport watches. I'm very active and the watches get banged into all sorts of things. I've never cracked or had a noticeable scratch on any of the crystals and never had any noticeable wear on the cases. The same is true for my wife, who has only had the Sport watches (also since Series 3).

I like the looks and feel of the SS watches better, but the polished SS case will definitely show a lot of very fine scratches. The black/gray finishes don't show any wear unless you really scratch or bang them hard. The current sapphire crystals also look better to me - I think the color transmission is better than the Sport watches. That wasn't always true. I had a SS Series 4 for two weeks and it was hard to read outdoors, so Apple has apparently improved the anti-reflection coatings.

Resale value is poor on all of them, but you get almost nothing additional for the SS watches, compared to the Sport watches.

I think your plan sounds like the best approach.

 

[bobjonesco]

Add to the fact if you use it for the gym then aluminum is obviously lighter. I’m a micro scratch snob so the most I would do is wipe it with a cotton t-shirt and if has micro scratches then you know it will be trouble. You’re correct about disposability as the resell value of any Apple watch is about as much as a pack of gum so buying the cheapest Apple has on any product line is the best move usually.

So you need a lighter watch to go the the gym to lift heavy stuff?

 

[Mity]

So you need a lighter watch to go the the gym to lift heavy stuff?

My first AW was SS so I had never actually held the aluminum version. I just tried it last month at the Apple Store and I couldn't believe how light the 45mm aluminum was compared to my 40mm SS. It felt like a toy.

I just picked up the 45mm aluminum midnight for $380 + tax at Target. I did an order pick up and the box didn't have any plastic wrap around it - is this normal?

 

[drew0020]

The SS is much more durable than the Aluminum. The sapphire screen is almost impossible to scratch (it can happen, but very difficult, while the ION glass is a scratch magnet (search the threads on here). I don’t doubt that some people may not have scratches on the ION glass, but it’s the same with the iPhone every year. People are like I got a scratch out of nowhere. That rarely if ever happens on the SS.

Either way good luck!

 

[haruhiko]

Yes of course, the normal glass on the aluminum version is scratched just when you look at it.
The sapphire crystal on the SS model or above is very very hard (if ever) to be scratched.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

So you need a lighter watch to go the the gym to lift heavy stuff?

Same reason most avid gym goers don't wear any other weighted clothing/accessories (e.g. vest, ankle, wrist, waistband, elevation mask, etc) as it can get in the way and not the focus of the workout. Find me a marathon runner who would prefer stainless steel over aluminum if all other things were equal.

 

[CMoore515]

My first AW was SS so I had never actually held the aluminum version. I just tried it last month at the Apple Store and I couldn't believe how light the 45mm aluminum was compared to my 40mm SS. It felt like a toy.

I just picked up the 45mm aluminum midnight for $380 + tax at Target. I did an order pick up and the box didn't have any plastic wrap around it - is this normal?

Yes, it's normal.

 

[DemonBob]

SS 4 life. I've worked on cars, machinery, farm, trips to water parks, beaches, other extreme activities and all of mine still looked brand new. I've had the SS versions since the 4 series and my dad who is a professional diesel mechanic for heavy equipment inherited it when I upgraded to a series 5. It still looked brand new up until the day it was stolen. He only took it off when he couldn't get his hand in a tight spot with it on. Someone stole it off the seat of his truck on the job site. He's replaced it with a series 6 SS that he wears every day.

My daughter has the AL series 6... screen cracked in the first 3 months. Which further enforces I'll only buy the SS version from now on.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes of course, the normal glass on the aluminum version is scratched just when you look at it.
The sapphire crystal on the SS model or above is very very hard (if ever) to be scratched.

It’s not that easy to scratch lol. I’m into year 4 with my S5 and no scratches yet. It’s down to the wearer, not the Watch.