...and I couldn't have been happier with what I saw.
Figured I'd share my experience with you all. I know these threads are ten a penny but someone may find it useful.
On launch day I managed to pre-order a 42mm Sport with White band. At the time I didn't really care too much about the look of the watch, I just wanted to get one within my budget. I've always been a fan of white Apple products and so that's what I went with. Thankfully I was lucky to get the 24/4 8/5 shipping date.
As the week has gone on however I have started to get a bit worried about the whole thing, I'm not a rich man and while I have been saving for the watch since the announcement was made last year, it's still a huge chunk of money to hand over, especially seeing as the GF and I have been saving for a holiday and home improvements. So yesterday I decided to book an appointment at my nearest Apple store (which is Bath, Southgate UK) seeing as we were heading there for a genius appointment anyway.
I arrived at 12.45 and my appointment was 1pm. Like many other MR users I was alarmed to find very few people around the Watch display case, but I did notice that in the Bath store they had A LOT of demo units spread around the whole circumference of the store and it was generally these units that people were playing with.
I grabbed the nearest employee and told them I was due for my appointment. Straight away they took me to the display table, laid out with the soft matts and a unit linked to an iPad showing off the features.
I was told that I could choose three combos to try. Sadly they did not have a 42mm Sport in silver to try so I chose a Space Grey 42mm with black sport band. A SS with classic leather loop and a 38mm Silver Sport with white sport band.
The first I tried was the Space Grey Sport with black sport band and I immediately fell in love. So much so that I almost regretted ordering what I did now, as I found the totally black setup, sporty and yet classy, something that I could wear for any occasion. People are 100% right about the sports band, until you see and feel them in person they look like they'll be cheap, but they're definitely not. Incredibly comfortable and soft to touch.
The guy got me to run through the demo which basically runs through a few apps and shows off the Taptic Engine, which feels weird. I kind of expected the iPhone vibration but on the wrist but it actually feels like someone tapping a pencil on your wrist. It doesn't feel like it'll get irritating over time. The watch was very light and when I let me arm go limp to the side, I pretty much couldn't recognise it being there. The display cannot be believed until seen. It's like the Retina revolution all over again.
We then moved onto the SS with classic leather band. I don't know why and I guess it comes down to personal preference but the SS to me looks cheap. The chrome finish just doesn't do it for me. I didn't notice any discernible weight difference either. The leather buckle strap was also very thin and it actually looked like under pressure it could tear or snap (if you got it caught on something).
Lastly we tried the setup closest to my pre-order. A 38mm silver sport with white sport band. The first thing I thought was that the 42mm was definitely the right choice for me. The 38mm was way to small for my liking and any touching of the screen for interacting just felt clumsy. I'm a very skinny guy but even on my wrist it just looked weird (I don't know my measurements). Some people have said the silver sport looks cheap but I don't agree, it carries itself well but doesn't look as classy as the space grey version.
The one last thing I noted about the hardware was the digital crown. To be honest I thought it was going to suck and feared it'd be overly sensitive or too resistive, but it's glorious. It works almost like a trackpad in that you slide your finger over the top of it and it smoothly adjusts the display with the right amount of inertia.
The software: By this point the appointment was running into the 30 minute mark (the guy didn't seem overly busy and just wanted to keep talking about it) nevertheless he took us to one of the display units and had it communicate via digital touch with another of the demo units so we could see how it worked. I sent my heartbeat and a few drawings to my GF and vice versa. Cute and cool but I think until these things become widespread pretty useless (unless they integrate the animations into iMessage) .
The other apps were to be as expected. If I'm honest, it was a little clumsy to use, I kept zooming into apps to load them, only to realise the home screen was centred on an entirely different app. In the photos and maps apps the digital crown did make it easy to zoom in to where I wanted to be but occasionally went a bit too far. Although I did say it was great and easy to use, I do think the watch is going to require some practice and muscle memory to get it right every time. At no point did the interface ever lag, it was all very fluid and data loaded quickly.
Verdict/My decision: Will I keep my pre-order active? Yes. Do I regret my style choice? A little.
I kinda wish I'd chosen space grey with a black sport band to begin with now, mainly because in that config it looks stylish and understated when worn and I could easily wear it for any occasion without feeling a little self conscious. BUT in the past I've always worn white plastic watches, they suit the style of clothing I wear and I like something with a bit more pop and fun which I think the silver with white will do, plus it'll match my iPhone 6 I guess. One thing I regret not doing is asking to see the silver with a black sport band, just to see how that might work out as a combo. Either way I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm missing out buying the sport, after all it's a £340 watch, which is a big step up from the £20 ones I pick up from Argos!
I know I'm banging on about the sport bands a lot but apart from the milanese loop (which for me just seemed too feminine) and the link bracelet (which is too expensive for me) they actually look more grown up and premium than the other offerings in my opinion. I know that seems mad, but if you haven't seen these things in person it's kinda hard to explain. As for the regret over not having the money for the SS, I'm actually pleased it worked out that way. It just doesn't look as good as I thought it would...if anything it's too bling. The aluminium is way more understated.
-----------------
Anyway that's all from me. If you're waiting for your pre-order and you live close to an Apple Store I strongly suggest you go and see the watch in person before you let your order arrive. The pictures just don't do them justice and as I discovered the combos can be deceiving, I had no interest in the space grey sport and now I really want one. They truly are magical devices, and while I don't have the calendar and contacts of an apple exec to keep the notifications pouring in, I think I'm going to love using this.
Here is a picture of me wearing the 38mm sport:
![f3gqkz.jpg]()
Figured I'd share my experience with you all. I know these threads are ten a penny but someone may find it useful.
On launch day I managed to pre-order a 42mm Sport with White band. At the time I didn't really care too much about the look of the watch, I just wanted to get one within my budget. I've always been a fan of white Apple products and so that's what I went with. Thankfully I was lucky to get the 24/4 8/5 shipping date.
As the week has gone on however I have started to get a bit worried about the whole thing, I'm not a rich man and while I have been saving for the watch since the announcement was made last year, it's still a huge chunk of money to hand over, especially seeing as the GF and I have been saving for a holiday and home improvements. So yesterday I decided to book an appointment at my nearest Apple store (which is Bath, Southgate UK) seeing as we were heading there for a genius appointment anyway.
I arrived at 12.45 and my appointment was 1pm. Like many other MR users I was alarmed to find very few people around the Watch display case, but I did notice that in the Bath store they had A LOT of demo units spread around the whole circumference of the store and it was generally these units that people were playing with.
I grabbed the nearest employee and told them I was due for my appointment. Straight away they took me to the display table, laid out with the soft matts and a unit linked to an iPad showing off the features.
I was told that I could choose three combos to try. Sadly they did not have a 42mm Sport in silver to try so I chose a Space Grey 42mm with black sport band. A SS with classic leather loop and a 38mm Silver Sport with white sport band.
The first I tried was the Space Grey Sport with black sport band and I immediately fell in love. So much so that I almost regretted ordering what I did now, as I found the totally black setup, sporty and yet classy, something that I could wear for any occasion. People are 100% right about the sports band, until you see and feel them in person they look like they'll be cheap, but they're definitely not. Incredibly comfortable and soft to touch.
The guy got me to run through the demo which basically runs through a few apps and shows off the Taptic Engine, which feels weird. I kind of expected the iPhone vibration but on the wrist but it actually feels like someone tapping a pencil on your wrist. It doesn't feel like it'll get irritating over time. The watch was very light and when I let me arm go limp to the side, I pretty much couldn't recognise it being there. The display cannot be believed until seen. It's like the Retina revolution all over again.
We then moved onto the SS with classic leather band. I don't know why and I guess it comes down to personal preference but the SS to me looks cheap. The chrome finish just doesn't do it for me. I didn't notice any discernible weight difference either. The leather buckle strap was also very thin and it actually looked like under pressure it could tear or snap (if you got it caught on something).
Lastly we tried the setup closest to my pre-order. A 38mm silver sport with white sport band. The first thing I thought was that the 42mm was definitely the right choice for me. The 38mm was way to small for my liking and any touching of the screen for interacting just felt clumsy. I'm a very skinny guy but even on my wrist it just looked weird (I don't know my measurements). Some people have said the silver sport looks cheap but I don't agree, it carries itself well but doesn't look as classy as the space grey version.
The one last thing I noted about the hardware was the digital crown. To be honest I thought it was going to suck and feared it'd be overly sensitive or too resistive, but it's glorious. It works almost like a trackpad in that you slide your finger over the top of it and it smoothly adjusts the display with the right amount of inertia.
The software: By this point the appointment was running into the 30 minute mark (the guy didn't seem overly busy and just wanted to keep talking about it) nevertheless he took us to one of the display units and had it communicate via digital touch with another of the demo units so we could see how it worked. I sent my heartbeat and a few drawings to my GF and vice versa. Cute and cool but I think until these things become widespread pretty useless (unless they integrate the animations into iMessage) .
The other apps were to be as expected. If I'm honest, it was a little clumsy to use, I kept zooming into apps to load them, only to realise the home screen was centred on an entirely different app. In the photos and maps apps the digital crown did make it easy to zoom in to where I wanted to be but occasionally went a bit too far. Although I did say it was great and easy to use, I do think the watch is going to require some practice and muscle memory to get it right every time. At no point did the interface ever lag, it was all very fluid and data loaded quickly.
Verdict/My decision: Will I keep my pre-order active? Yes. Do I regret my style choice? A little.
I kinda wish I'd chosen space grey with a black sport band to begin with now, mainly because in that config it looks stylish and understated when worn and I could easily wear it for any occasion without feeling a little self conscious. BUT in the past I've always worn white plastic watches, they suit the style of clothing I wear and I like something with a bit more pop and fun which I think the silver with white will do, plus it'll match my iPhone 6 I guess. One thing I regret not doing is asking to see the silver with a black sport band, just to see how that might work out as a combo. Either way I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm missing out buying the sport, after all it's a £340 watch, which is a big step up from the £20 ones I pick up from Argos!
I know I'm banging on about the sport bands a lot but apart from the milanese loop (which for me just seemed too feminine) and the link bracelet (which is too expensive for me) they actually look more grown up and premium than the other offerings in my opinion. I know that seems mad, but if you haven't seen these things in person it's kinda hard to explain. As for the regret over not having the money for the SS, I'm actually pleased it worked out that way. It just doesn't look as good as I thought it would...if anything it's too bling. The aluminium is way more understated.
-----------------
Anyway that's all from me. If you're waiting for your pre-order and you live close to an Apple Store I strongly suggest you go and see the watch in person before you let your order arrive. The pictures just don't do them justice and as I discovered the combos can be deceiving, I had no interest in the space grey sport and now I really want one. They truly are magical devices, and while I don't have the calendar and contacts of an apple exec to keep the notifications pouring in, I think I'm going to love using this.
Here is a picture of me wearing the 38mm sport:
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