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ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
Sep 16, 2006
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What kind of changes should we expect?

Asking because my daughter wants to sell her AW series 3, and I was considering letting her take my 4 and getting a 5, but I really don’t want to do that if there will be big changes with the 6.
 
What kind of changes should we expect?

Asking because my daughter wants to sell her AW series 3, and I was considering letting her take my 4 and getting a 5, but I really don’t want to do that if there will be big changes with the 6.

Blood 02 monitor and sleep tracking is most likely a definite happening at this point. I would expect some sensors, some other health advancements and battery improvements. That said, the Apple Watch is such a mature device now, you really can’t go wrong with the Series 5, It’s a solid device that’s had very few reported issues, [aside from some battery tweaking through watchOS.] Otherwise, I wouldn’t wait if that is something that you would consider at this stage, being the Apple Watch is still another 3.5/4 months out.
 
Not sure is it will be software or hardware changes but there are rumors about a native sleep tracking app and blood oxygen monitoring. Bigger battery for the sleep tracking. There have also been talks of a fingerprint sensor either in the crown or side button and micro LED display but that’s been shifting towards an S7 release.
 
I heard they were eliminating the time function to make room for more useful features. o_O

Right? I don’t even really use most of my features all that much, but do appreciate some of the health ones, so I’d hate to buy now and regret it 4 months from now.
 
Same dilemma. If there was a guarantee that SPO2 and sleep tracking would come to the S5 (apparently the sensors are there) I'd literally buy one right now, but Apple being Apple I'm expecting they'll say "no you need the latest processor for that because reasons" and restrict it to the S6 only. So I'm hanging fire atm.
 
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We’re so deep into the yearly cycle, might as well wait at this point. If you absolutely need an Apple Watch now, get a cheaper used one to sell when the new one comes out. There’s no real definitive way of knowing what the new one will feature or exclude until it’s announced on the big stage.
 
Where do we think in terms of pricing for the AW6?

Roughly the same (for the SS and alumimum) but just updated specs/features?
I wouldn't think they'd go much higher if any.
 
Where do we think in terms of pricing for the AW6?

Roughly the same (for the SS and alumimum) but just updated specs/features?
I wouldn't think they'd go much higher if any.

I doubt they’d be able to raise prices. Demand is expected to be much lower this year for wearables (and probably everything else) with the economy being in bad shape.
 
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I doubt they’d be able to raise prices. Demand is expected to be much lower this year for wearables (and probably everything else) with the economy being in bad shape.

Judging from last quarter I don't believe demand lowering. I just sold my S4 Nike+ for $350CAN (50 less than I wanted) to a 15yr old girl who's father met with me after his shift. She saved all year for one and after speaking to her father and mother ... I couldn't be greedy: and she LOVES it.

That said I don't believe a major design change will occur this year. However there is still a large market of men that require larger watches where 52/56mm is needed (the girls father) and I can tell you that may occur next year.

As a feature the larger size means more information can be displayed yet more fine tuned interaction from finger input as well.

For a MAJOR feature ... I'd love to see Apple implement Accessibility wherein a localized Siri can control on device functions via voice control. You cannot tell me someone that is paraplegic from the waist down does not still want to remain healthy, or needs healthy shared in real time through a third party if only 1 arm/hand works, or fall protection when fallen from a wheelchair.

Come-On Apple this is a DAY 1 implementation need. Every product and service you make SHOULD have Accessibility in mind.
 
Where do we think in terms of pricing for the AW6?

Roughly the same (for the SS and alumimum) but just updated specs/features?
I wouldn't think they'd go much higher if any.

I see the prices for the Apple Watch remaining exactly the same. Apple can’t afford to start raising the prices given the economy. The stainless Apple Watch model has increased in price over the years, which just the detracts away the attention, but that’s more of a ‘luxury’ Apple Watch model per se. I suspect the titanium and ceramic remaining exactly the same.
 
Will be interesting to see if there are any clues from the developers conference later this month. I want the moon on a stick but to be honest my SS series 4 does everything I ask of it except maybe recovery data (firstbeat type stuff). I go on sizeable bike rides so extended battery life would be cool, but tbh I have never run out of battery so far and I just charge all my devices every night anyway. People go on about battery life stopping them from buying an AW, I had a Garmin for a bit which would last a few days without charging but then I would forget to charge it because of that so...
 
Do you guys think they are announcing series 6 at WWDC? I just want to buy a 3 for a friend as a birthday gift, but I don't know if I should wait a couple weeks in case series 6 being announced makes prices on everything else drop.
 
Do you guys think they are announcing series 6 at WWDC? I just want to buy a 3 for a friend as a birthday gift, but I don't know if I should wait a couple weeks in case series 6 being announced makes prices on everything else drop.

I highly doubt they will announce the series 6 at WWDC. They never do that and economically, it makes no sense to. Analysts are now predicting a big drop in demand for wearables this year because of the state of the economy.
 
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I highly doubt they will announce the series 6 at WWDC. They never do that and economically, it makes no sense to. Analysts are now predicting a big drop in demand for wearables this year because of the state of the economy.

Thanks! I may just take advantage of the Amazon sale then.
 
I've been reading up on this and I see several sites saying better battery, but, can't find any sources. It's sort of like, "well, if they sleep track, gotta be a bigger battery". If that's all that's coming battery wise, not good enough.

Seriously, sleep tracking? When there are perfectly good apps for that already? Be a waste of a release.
 
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I highly doubt they will announce the series 6 at WWDC. They never do that and economically, it makes no sense to. Analysts are now predicting a big drop in demand for wearables this year because of the state of the economy.

Take the economy out of the equation, consumers don’t upgrade their smart watch every year regardless. It’s just too expensive for them to do that, [aside from the niche crowd that you see on here]. The reality is, when you look at the Apple Watch, it matured so quickly, it doesn’t need to be upgraded every year from a consumer standpoint, which is probably more likely of why it doesn’t need to be upgraded and it certainly doesn’t warrant a yearly release either, when the Apple Watch probably could be released every 18 months given how quickly it matured with technological leaps.

Apple has complete control of the smart watch market, they have nothing to lose at this point, assuming they don’t Continue with ‘over-inflation’ of pricing.
 
Have not heard of any advances in the battery market that would make a noticeable difference right now. Software and display technology improvement will provide the battery enhancements in the short run.
 
Give me a titanium Hermès and I am in. Only thing I wanted in aw5 which is why this is the first gen I skipped.
 
Give me a titanium Hermès and I am in. Only thing I wanted in aw5 which is why this is the first gen I skipped.

I suspect Apple will keep the stainless models exclusive to Hermès, mainly Because that’s how it’s always been. If you look at your Hermes Apple Watch, it’s a very small demographic of consumers who purchased that combination given the excessive price point. Even though the stainless Apple Watch is not the ‘most expensive’ watch in Apples smart watch array, it has notoriety With the regular 316L stainless pairs so well with a leather band, and I think that’s part of the whole ‘fashion accessory‘ because of that reason.
 
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