Sport is cheap compared to SS

[Pez555]

I received the 38mm sport the first week after launch. Been using it ever since, use it at work, use it for playing golf. Absolutely love the thing.

As of yesterday I have upgraded to the 42mm stainless steel. It just feels so much more of a premium product. It's heavier, the materials are so much nicer to look at and feel.

Those of you that are thinking of getting one, personally I would spend the extra money and get the SS.

 

[The Game 161]

I received the 38mm sport the first week after launch. Been using it ever since, use it at work, use it for playing golf. Absolutely love the thing.

As of yesterday I have upgraded to the 42mm stainless steel. It just feels so much more of a premium product. It's heavier, the materials are so much nicer to look at and feel.

Those of you that are thinking of getting one, personally I would spend the extra money and get the SS.

It still does exactly the same things as the SS though and people can’t afford the extra amount. I have the SS and wanted the SS due to the look. I won’t be able to afford to upgrade to the SS every year due to price. The sport verison I could. It just depends on your budget. Personally I could see himself sticking with my apple for a good 2-3 years. That way over a space of 2 years it wouldn’t cost me loads over a longer period of time

 

[daviddth]

I bought the sport because of one main reason - weight. The weight of the SS version is a lot more than the sport version, and add a heavier band, you are talking just shy of twice the weight. My Fitbit was barely noticed on my wrist, and the 42mm sport has taken its place, and while the difference in weight is noticeable, I think it's way less than the 70 to 120 gram difference of the sport to the SS with Steel band (Which does look oh-so-nice!!!).

I keep my phones for 2 years then hand them down to the family, so I think it's acceptable to do the same for the watch.

 

[Cowboy1629]

I've always worn a heavy watch and when I purchased the Sport I noticed it was considerably lighter. During the test drive period I upgraded it for the SS model once I was sure the Watch was for me. I did notice the weight difference the first day or two after exchanging but after that you don't even notice it's there.

 

[convergent]

SS is cheap compared to gold.

Sorry, couldn't resist. ;-)

Be happy that Apple has given us choices for different price points. The Edition is a bit over the top too me, but there is a market for it I would guess. They probably should have something in between, but the Hermes is probably designed for that niche.

The weight thing seems kind of silly to me, but this is all personal preference. I wore a watch before I got the Apple Watch SS, and it was about the same weight... certainly after wearing it for a few days I don't notice it. The difference in band material is going to have a much greater impact on the "feel" of it than the weight of the watch... to me. I love the look of the SS and it goes with nearly ever band... and its the most durable because if it gets scratched it can easily be buffed out.

This is all personal preference... and like I said, be glad that we have choices.

 

[GaryNoine]

So you're saying the one that costs less is not as high quality as the more expensive one?

 

[sean000]

I have had the 38mm Sport for 4 months. I do like the blue Sport band that came with it, but usually I wear it with a nicer brown leather buckle strap from Clockwork Synergy, or a leather loop knockoff. I tried on the SS with a leather loop in the store, and yes...I agree that it is a big step up in terms of look and feel. Yes there is a weight difference, but one would get used to that quickly. The SS version is easy to covet... especially since one of the things I like about the Apple Watch is that it looks less sporty or tactical than many smart watches and fitness bands on the market.

Personally I wish that I had spent the extra money on the SS, but I am probably going to wait until the next version of the Apple Watch. I went with my head more than my heart. I could sell my sport and upgrade, but now isn't the time for me to spend hundreds of dollars I don't have to spend. Besides, I usually don't think about it. I think the Sport looks fantastic. It does not look cheap to me, unless you are looking at it sitting right next to a stainless steel model. The Sport with a leather band also fits my casual (but not too casual) mode of dress. However the SS model would fit my style even better, and it is nice to splurge a little every now and then... especially when it's something you wear every day for 15 to 18 hours straight. When you look at it from a daily expense perspective (spread out over two years), it's just a difference between roughly 50 cents a day and a dollar a day (even less if you sell the watch after 2 years). Based on all the little conveniences I get out of my watch every day, what's an extra 50 cents?

Of course you have to pay up front, so when you look at it that way you really are paying twice the price for a device that does exactly the same thing. The SS will be more durable, but Apple Care + is cheaper. My advice to people who want an Apple Watch: If you are on a budget, the Sport is still a great smartwatch for half the price; and it dresses up nicely with inexpensive third party bands. If budget is not a huge concern, try them both on in the store. If your heart says "meh" about the SS, get the Sport. If your heart wants the SS, ask yourself if you can spend the extra 50 cents a day.

Sean

 

[Deeznuts.]

A apple watch is a apple watch. Idc if you have a stainless steel & I have a sports. Its still a watch.

 

[convergent]

I have had the 38mm Sport for 4 months. I do like the blue Sport band that came with it, but usually I wear it with a nicer brown leather buckle strap from Clockwork Synergy, or a leather loop knockoff. I tried on the SS with a leather loop in the store, and yes...I agree that it is a big step up in terms of look and feel. Yes there is a weight difference, but one would get used to that quickly. The SS version is easy to covet... especially since one of the things I like about the Apple Watch is that it looks less sporty or tactical than many smart watches and fitness bands on the market.

Personally I wish that I had spent the extra money on the SS, but I am probably going to wait until the next version of the Apple Watch. I went with my head more than my heart. I could sell my sport and upgrade, but now isn't the time for me to spend hundreds of dollars I don't have to spend. Besides, I usually don't think about it. I think the Sport looks fantastic. It does not look cheap to me, unless you are looking at it sitting right next to a stainless steel model. The Sport with a leather band also fits my casual (but not too casual) mode of dress. However the SS model would fit my style even better, and it is nice to splurge a little every now and then... especially when it's something you wear every day for 15 to 18 hours straight. When you look at it from a daily expense perspective (spread out over two years), it's just a difference between roughly 50 cents a day and a dollar a day (even less if you sell the watch after 2 years). Based on all the little conveniences I get out of my watch every day, what's an extra 50 cents?

Of course you have to pay up front, so when you look at it that way you really are paying twice the price for a device that does exactly the same thing. The SS will be more durable, but Apple Care + is cheaper. My advice to people who want an Apple Watch: If you are on a budget, the Sport is still a great smartwatch for half the price; and it dresses up nicely with inexpensive third party bands. If budget is not a huge concern, try them both on in the store. If your heart says "meh" about the SS, get the Sport. If your heart wants the SS, ask yourself if you can spend the extra 50 cents a day.

Sean

Or now... you can pick up mint condition used AWs for several hundred below new price. I went with the SS & Leather Classic band w/AC+, and was about the same as a new AW Sport. This is something to consider since its mid product cycle.

 

[dljor]

Or now... you can pick up mint condition used AWs for several hundred below new price. I went with the SS & Leather Classic band w/AC+, and was about the same as a new AW Sport. This is something to consider since its mid product cycle.

Where did you find that deal?

 

[convergent]

Where did you find that deal?

I found a reputable commercial seller on eBay that sells used Apple gear. I also found a similar deal locally on Craigslist, but felt more comfortable with the eBay seller.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I bought the sport because of one main reason - weight. The weight of the SS version is a lot more than the sport version, and add a heavier band, you are talking just shy of twice the weight.

Not necessarily. While the SS case is heavier than the Sport case, the Classic Buckle and Milanese Loop straps are lighter than the Sport bands. The SS with the Classic Buckle is actually lighter than any of the Sport models.

 

[maflynn]

Weight does not make it feel premium to me. I'm extremely happy with the sport model. I personally don't want to pay the premium price for the watch when it does nothing more. That is you're paying for the sapphire and stainless steel, that's it.

 

[convergent]

Weight does not make it feel premium to me. I'm extremely happy with the sport model. I personally don't want to pay the premium price for the watch when it does nothing more. That is you're paying for the sapphire and stainless steel, that's it.

True, but that "it" has value. Sapphire resists scratches, and SS can be buffed out easily if it gets scratches. I was concerned with the durability of the Sport, because the aluminum coating will get nicked and chipped... it happens to all my iPhones with regular use. And, the face will probably get scratched.

I also like the appearance of SS looking more like the non-smart watch that it was replacing. I work in business, and prefer the SS with leather band when in the office, but like to be able to use the sports band when I'm at the gym and doing yard work.

Good that we have choices!

 

[maflynn]

Sapphire resists scratches, and SS can be buffed out easily if it gets scratches.

True, though the scratch resistance comes at the expense of it being more prone to shatter and I don't have to worry about the scuffs with my sport.

My point is that I paid less money for the AW, it works wonderfully and has all the same functionality as the SS model. It seems the sport model is much more popular then the SS, and I think apple see this occurring which is why we saw them release the rose gold sport model and didn't do anything for the more expensive model.

If you're happy with the SS, that's great, I'm very happy with mine

 

[Neodym]

As a side note: The sapphire bottom on the SS sports (pun not intended) a slightly sharp edge around its protruding sensor area, whereas the AW Sport with the plastic dome sees a softer slope there. May make a difference for people with sensitive skin and/or wearing the watch rather loosely.

 

[Pez555]

So you're saying the one that costs less is not as high quality as the more expensive one?

Yes but bear in mind this isn't consistent with any other apple product. To the point where there is a huge difference.

To me the sport just feels cheap - I've never felt like that with any other apple product.

To enhance the premium feel of a sport they could have at least used Sapphire.

 

[Applenoob34]

My sport has held up great. I'm not against getting a ss version, but I decided to wait until the 2nd gen AW to go big. To many unknowns for a first gen watch. The 2nd gen will be a huge step up I bet.

 

[mchlwise]

True, though the scratch resistance comes at the expense of it being more prone to shatter and I don't have to worry about the scuffs with my sport.

My point is that I paid less money for the AW, it works wonderfully and has all the same functionality as the SS model. It seems the sport model is much more popular then the SS, and I think apple see this occurring which is why we saw them release the rose gold sport model and didn't do anything for the more expensive model.

If you're happy with the SS, that's great, I'm very happy with mine

I'm happy with my sport too!

Haven't worried about scuffs, the screen isn't scratched, AND the screen is more readable in direct sunlight than the sapphire crystal is. (Oh, and I saved a couple hundred bucks)

 

[savagewatts]

I usually max out every apple product I buy but with the watch, I like the dark look of the sport better. I'm not a bling bling type of guy. Plus the watch is lighter. I myself would spend the extra to get the sport if I had to.

 

[CKtoph]

I may be wrong, but amongst my friends and colleagues, I've found that those who typically wear watches preferred the SS while those who didn't wear watches said they would get the sport model. This seemed to be a pretty consistent consensus.

Here are my reasons:

- Those that have been wearing watches and are particularly used to wearing relatively nicer ones are used to the weight and feel of the SS watch. My Tag Heuer automatic and regular watches are both still heavier than my SS 42mm, so it feels light to me anyway.

- Those who typically wear watches are also aware of the significance behind a sapphire crystal screen that doesn't scratch. It makes a huge difference only a couple months into ownership and particularly when reselling.

Just my thoughts...

 

[Laserducky]

I received the 38mm sport the first week after launch. Been using it ever since, use it at work, use it for playing golf. Absolutely love the thing.

As of yesterday I have upgraded to the 42mm stainless steel. It just feels so much more of a premium product. It's heavier, the materials are so much nicer to look at and feel.

Those of you that are thinking of getting one, personally I would spend the extra money and get the SS.

I have the SS and while I like my wife's Sports one, mine feels premium (to me at least).

Having said that, to each his own, as money is about as relative a concept as opinions. A Honda is cheap compared to my BMW M but that doesn't make it a bad car (or the people who buy it 'cheap').

Cheers !

 

[eastamherstbias]

I received the 38mm sport the first week after launch. Been using it ever since, use it at work, use it for playing golf. Absolutely love the thing.

As of yesterday I have upgraded to the 42mm stainless steel. It just feels so much more of a premium product. It's heavier, the materials are so much nicer to look at and feel.

Those of you that are thinking of getting one, personally I would spend the extra money and get the SS.

NOPE - sport is the way to go. Don't pay a cent more for the same end user experience. I bought the sport and do not regret it. If the battery is superior and the watch sleeker I may think about going to the SS with gen 2 but right now it is a waste of money... in my opinion. The money I saved will go towards GEN 2.

 

[dannyyankou]

Come on, the Sport still looks nice. And this is coming from someone who got the most expensive SS model.

 

[Night Spring]

may be wrong, but amongst my friends and colleagues, I've found that those who typically wear watches preferred the SS while those who didn't wear watches said they would get the sport model. This seemed to be a pretty consistent consensus.

That is an interesting theory. I've never worn a stainless steel watch -- when I used to wear watches, they were much smaller than the Apple Watch and some kind of gold-brown metal that I never bothered to find out what it was. So I'm not used to having shiny silver thing on my wrist. As far as iPhones, I've always preferred the black models. So for me, the Space Grey and Space Black watches feel more to my taste than the silver colored ones. I may have given the Space Black more thought if it had been available with the Sports band when the watch first came out, but since back then, it was only available with the link bracelet, I went for the Space Grey Sport and never looked back. That the Sport watch is the cheaper model is a bonus! But if I had to pay a litte extra to get the darker color, I think I would have paid that.