Should I buy an Apple Watch?

[mm26]

Hi guys!
I've always been an Apple fan since the first iPhone. In my family we all have Apple stuff (iPhone, MacBook, Apple TV, even my parents have an iMac), but I never had an Apple Watch.

I'm very generous when I buy gifts for someone else, but every time I'm about to buy something for me I have an inner voice that says "You're wasting your money. You're not going to use it. You don't need it". And this is one of those times.

I never had a regular watch since I was like 12 or so. I go running almost every day and to attach my iPhone at my arm seems a little "old gen" for me. But I can't find any other reasons I could enjoy my new Apple Watch. Which are the reasons why you love it?
Can you convince me to buy it or not to?

 

[fridayxiii]

I love my AW; it's quickly become maybe my favorite Apple device. As a runner, I think it'd be great for you: you can leave your phone behind and use the watch to play music & track your runs.

I love being able to leave my phone behind but still have call capability if I need it. Apple Pay is huge plus for me. Notifications for text, email, WhatsApp, etc. are nice. I like the Mindfulness app for reminders to take a mental break during work. The Stand reminder is nice as I'm a work-from-home computer guy/desk jockey. The nudge to get up & move is helpful and healthy. I like the challenge of closing my rings each day, so the watch is a motivator to strive for better health.

I didn't wear a watch for many years, but for the past two, my AW is the first thing I put on in the morning and last thing I take off at night. I was skeptical of the use case & need for a smart watch, the real world value when the first Apple Watch was released, but now in retrospect, I can't believe I waited so long.

 

[addamas]

Pros:

• Lots of health data
• Wake up by haptic is nice
• Siri to be asked whatever you want
• Possiblity to answer the call and have a call without looking for a phone
• Probably the best watch you can get to get health reports (pulse, gps, sleep tracking)
• You can control music playback from iPhone / AirPods and audio without touching phone
• Easy to trigger iPhone finding
• Paying by wrist / opening stuff (not using as I think is not safe enough)
• Running with phone will not deplete that much the AW battery
• Running shortcuts to log water drunk, other stuff directly from wrist
• Flashlight using AW screen is very nice

Cons:

• Battery life is max 1,5day (2x sleep without AOD and cellular) or Ultra 3-4 days if I remember posts
• Expensive compared to other watches in terms of having notifications
• Worse battery than other smart watches (ok maybe Pixel is bigger crap)
• You will buy more than one band / strap for it
• Build in Maps / Activity App is crap as you can’t use 3rd party or offline maps - you have to use another apps on AW (lots are shown on this forum)

 

[ArchEtech]

IF you're unsure, but a used series 6 base model and see how it goes. Then you can upgrade if you think its worth it as the newest models are a pretty big upgrade.

 

[weeesss]

Love mine for all the same reasons.

 

[russell_314]

Hi guys!
I've always been an Apple fan since the first iPhone. In my family we all have Apple stuff (iPhone, MacBook, Apple TV, even my parents have an iMac), but I never had an Apple Watch.

I'm very generous when I buy gifts for someone else, but every time I'm about to buy something for me I have an inner voice that says "You're wasting your money. You're not going to use it. You don't need it". And this is one of those times.

I never had a regular watch since I was like 12 or so. I go running almost every day and to attach my iPhone at my arm seems a little "old gen" for me. But I can't find any other reasons I could enjoy my new Apple Watch. Which are the reasons why you love it?
Can you convince me to buy it or not to?

Just get the base model Series 8 unless you can find a Series 7 for cheap. If you like to run it will do a better job tracking your workout than the iPhone will.

Worst case scenario is you buy it and realize how much you hate wearing a watch and return it to Apple within the 14 day return window.

 

[Shirasaki]

Just the freedom to not carry iPhone with me worth the experience. And a bit more comprehensive health Tracking,
though nowadays I carry iPad with me instead of iPhone lol, and Apple Watch is used for NFC stuff and phone call in a pinch (i go with cellular on day 1 and never regret).

 

[ArchEtech]

Its not going to be lifechanging. A smart watch really doesn't give you a whole lot of stuff over the cellphone other than health tracking.

It does offer some flexibility and convenience.

If you like watches in general it gives you the fun of changing bands and faces. The apps for fancy faces are really pretty awesome.

If you get cellular with it you have even more ways to use the watch.

I like tracking my workouts and monitoring my vitals. I like monitoring my noise levels to protect my ears. I have all of my notifications turned off because I don't want my watch bugging me, but it does provide a really easy way to stay updated. I have cellular and its fun to take calls on. Going on long runs without a phone is fun. I don't do it all that often though.

Its a fun gadget. If you like gadget and technology you'll like it.

 

[eddie78]

I'd highly recommend it. The only drawback is that you can never go back to regular watch... Excellent for exercise and health tracking. Notifications on your wrist. A plethora of watchfaces. The battery lasts 1.5 days. You can also track your sleep and charge it during your morning shower or whenever you want. A basic sports band is sufficient, especially if you use it in the gym or while running. And basic aluminum chassis also, no use going for the more expensive ones unless you got the money.

 

[Nhwhazup]

I am a big Apple fan and have had their products since 2008. However, the watch was something I never wanted. More recently I wanted something to track my sleep. The hand-me-down Fit Bits in the family had zero battery life. So I bought the 45 size 8 series watch. I am loving it. Is it life changing? No. But I do like the convenience of getting notifications on my wrist.

 

[jwolf6589]

Hi guys!
I've always been an Apple fan since the first iPhone. In my family we all have Apple stuff (iPhone, MacBook, Apple TV, even my parents have an iMac), but I never had an Apple Watch.

I'm very generous when I buy gifts for someone else, but every time I'm about to buy something for me I have an inner voice that says "You're wasting your money. You're not going to use it. You don't need it". And this is one of those times.

I never had a regular watch since I was like 12 or so. I go running almost every day and to attach my iPhone at my arm seems a little "old gen" for me. But I can't find any other reasons I could enjoy my new Apple Watch. Which are the reasons why you love it?
Can you convince me to buy it or not to?

I would buy one. I held back at first and then bought the series 2 when it was new and now have a series 7 that I love. It’s a very useful gadget that keeps track of your exercise, heart rate, among other things.

 

[BenGoren]

Especially since I upgraded from a S4 to the Ultra, I’m not carrying my phone with me unless I expect to use the camera. The phone pretty much stays in the backpack or gets left behind altogether; and, when the phone is in the backpack, it’s mostly just a mobile hotspot for the laptop. I do use the phone as an e-book reader / browser, mostly at bedtime.

All the other smartphone things, like messages and calendar and grocery lists (and, of course, phone calls@) … I’m using the watch.

Plus, of course, all the watch-specific things, like activity and sleep tracking.

I can’t imagine how annoying it would be to run with a full-sized phone strapped to my arm. That’s what a watch is for! It’s a phone strapped to your wrist, except it’s literally the size of a wristwatch. Plus, it’s far superior at the job of tracking your run.

b&

 

[jwolf6589]

Especially since I upgraded from a S4 to the Ultra, I’m not carrying my phone with me unless I expect to use the camera. The phone pretty much stays in the backpack or gets left behind altogether; and, when the phone is in the backpack, it’s mostly just a mobile hotspot for the laptop. I do use the phone as an e-book reader / browser, mostly at bedtime.

All the other smartphone things, like messages and calendar and grocery lists (and, of course, phone calls@) … I’m using the watch.

Plus, of course, all the watch-specific things, like activity and sleep tracking.

I can’t imagine how annoying it would be to run with a full-sized phone strapped to my arm. That’s what a watch is for! It’s a phone strapped to your wrist, except it’s literally the size of a wristwatch. Plus, it’s far superior at the job of tracking your run.

b&

I agree with everything you have posted except for using your phone as a ebook reader. I use a iPad mini as one.

 

[1557750]

I use mine for the gym (so no phone in pocket and can still play music) and for sleep tracking. I wear a timepiece out. I find when I do wear the AW around the house I pick up my phone less, because I know I’ll get notifications on my wrist. Which is nice.

Being it’s been so long since you’ve worn any watch, it could take a little getting used to. But it won’t take long for you to enjoy glancing at your AW real quick for weather, notifications or activity.

Post #3 pretty much said it all for details on Pros and Cons. Good luck! 👊😎👍

 

[fanboy-ish]

As for my usage, I bought it, originally, because I needed a sleep tracker, with the latest watchOS you get even more sleep data, which, having epilepsy, is very important, because of my condition fall detection is also very nice to have.

I’ve come to really appreciate other features like notifications, making phone calls, maps on the watch and Apple Pay, paying with the watch was really nice to have when we had to wear masks, the same can be said regarding showing my vaccine certificate’s QR code.

I don’t use it to control Apple Music because it’s so sensitive that many times I was changing song or raising/lowering the volume involuntarily.

 

[BenGoren]

I agree with everything you have posted except for using your phone as a ebook reader. I use a iPad mini as one.

I have a non-pro iPhone XS, and I definitely agree that it’s a sub-optimal ebook reader. But my iPad is the full-sized Pro model … it’s lovely to read books on, but seriously annoying to hold in bed.

Especially now that I have the Ultra, I’m in no rush whatsoever to get a new phone. But, when I eventually do, I’ll get the biggest model available at the time. It won’t exactly be an iPad mini, but there’s no way I could justify an iPad mini and a phone and the full-sized iPad and and and ...

b&

 

[usmaak]

Coming from Samsung, I am new to the iPhone/Apple Watch thing. I really like my phone a lot but I think that the watch might be my favorite device. I keep finding new things to do with it all the time. Today I got a call and didn’t feel like getting up to get my phone, so I listened to the voice mail on my watch. I use RoboForm for storing passwords and one of the annoying things about it is having to type in a password on my Mac to use it. Now I can just double press the button on my watch and it automatically logs the computer in. My job uses Oita for SSO and I can tap Yes on my watch instead of having to do it on the phone. The other day I forgot my phone when I ran out to get food. I hooked up to cellular on the watch and sent my friend a message that I was on my way. It also does a good job at tracking my walking, though it has gotten somewhat less accurate on the GPS over time. And I can use a Bluetooth chest strap when I work out, for more accurate heart rate measurements. It’s just so handy, especially when coming from a GARMIN Venu.

I just have a 45mm black aluminum series 8.

With extended holiday return in effect at most places, you can get it and have more time to try it and see if it is for you.

 

[JCCL]

IF you're unsure, but a used series 6 base model and see how it goes. Then you can upgrade if you think its worth it as the newest models are a pretty big upgrade.

How is a series 8 a big update from the Series 6? I am using a series 5 and haven't found a reason to upgrade, despite it being generally slower.

 

[ghanwani]

Please spend as much money as you can on Apple gear. I don’t own a watch but I think you and everyone else in the world should get one.

 

[TheRoadRunner]

For running, I would not recommend an Apple Watch. I say this as a runner who used to have an Apple Watch but now wears a Garmin.

- The lack of buttons makes it difficult to use for recording splits, starting/stopping a workout etc
- The battery life is very poor especially in cold weather, when it has died on me mid workout despite being fully charged beforehand.
- The software for runners is outdated, with Apple constantly playing catch up with Garmin. For example, only now are they adding track mode to Apple Watch but Garmin has this feature already.

So to summarise, for general smartwatch use, Apple Watch is better. But for runners, it’s not.

 

[aries81]

Cons:

• You will buy more than one band / strap for it

this is very true. 😆

 

[mm26]

Thanks a lot for your answers and advices. So, since the things you wrote, I suppose that buying the version that can connect, call etc. all by itself without having the iPhone nearby is kind of mandatory, right?

 

[Isamilis]

deleted

 

[Jackbequickly]

Hi guys!
I've always been an Apple fan since the first iPhone. In my family we all have Apple stuff (iPhone, MacBook, Apple TV, even my parents have an iMac), but I never had an Apple Watch.

I'm very generous when I buy gifts for someone else, but every time I'm about to buy something for me I have an inner voice that says "You're wasting your money. You're not going to use it. You don't need it". And this is one of those times.

I never had a regular watch since I was like 12 or so. I go running almost every day and to attach my iPhone at my arm seems a little "old gen" for me. But I can't find any other reasons I could enjoy my new Apple Watch. Which are the reasons why you love it?
Can you convince me to buy it or not to?

Buy one, you got till January to return it. You have nothing to lose by trying.

 

[BenGoren]

Thanks a lot for your answers and advices. So, since the things you wrote, I suppose that buying the version that can connect, call etc. all by itself without having the iPhone nearby is kind of mandatory, right?

That’s pretty much the iPod / iPhone question of today.

If you’re always going to have your phone with you, at the absolute most the cellular abilities of a watch would be an emergency backup in case something happened to your phone.

And if, when you’re without your phone, it’s because you don’t want any sort of connectivity, the same applies.

But, for me, the watch is my phone, mostly, and I wouldn’t be nearly as interested in it if I had to have the phone in my pocket anyway.

b&