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Sports edition looks cheap and like a knockoff

After finally trying on the Apple Watch today in Shibuya, I have to say I totally agree with the OP. The Sport model looked really cheap to me, almost like it was made out of metallic plastic. The SS was gorgeous.
 
I was undecided between the sports and the SS with classic buckle: I wanted the durability and lightness of the sports for when I'm playing sport (such as squash, running, etc) but thought it might look a bit out of place in a more formal setting such as business meetings, particularly the bright band colours with everything except the SG one.

In the end I settled on an SG Sports model and waited for the pre-orders to start. I was on within a minute but there were already huge delays for the SG sports model. Because of this, I went for the SS with the classic buckle and ordered a separate blue sports band to go with it for when I'm playing sport. Yes, it cost me a few hundred more than I was planning on spending, but I've been waiting for the watch since September and am not known for my patience :)

If they'd had more stocks of the SG Sports, I'd have got that and would be delighted with it. As it is, I've got the SS one and will be delighted with that one instead - IMO, the finish makes little difference to the quality of the watch and it's certainly not worth getting into a flame war over!

Interestingly, the SS with classic buckle strap is actually lighter overall than the sports models with sports strap (although once I put the sports strap on it, it will obviously be heavier :))
 
darthbane2k said:
This bickering is exactly why I hate the direction the 'new Apple' is going in. Something Jobs would have hated. Whether it's the product itself, difference in packaging or the customer experience in store , this is just classist, elitist nonsense.
The sports is the sports - it's cheaper and more lightweight but how can it possibly look like a knockoff - it's a genuine apple watch. By that rationale the SS looks like a knockoff compared to the gold, and how many of you will be rocking that model?!

Will this time next year , you be looking down at the lowly peasants who own aluminium iPhones?!

At the end of the day, no apple watch can compare to a genuine Jewelry timepiece , and functionally every collection model does exactly the same thing.
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I agree with you that there's this class war being started and because someone likes the entry level model they are labeled as not being able to afford any other models.

As for the bickering and whether Jobs would have hated it is something I don't agree with you. Having read his bio and other articles, he indeed had an elitist attitude that he would spread amongst his product teams to foster competitive drive and meet deadlines. The whole Mac team versus Apple computer. Apple computer versus IBM. Even how he marketed the iPhone against Google/Android. Telling would be Apple CEO Sculley does he want to sell sugar water... All of those appear as an elitist us versus them approach. I think with the new leadership and outward compassion shown by Mr. Cook, we like to think we are above those tactics that made Apple Computers and their users "Think Different".

Please forgive my off topic and it was not intended to be a personal character attack or flame war. I was just sharing what that post brought to my mind.

On topic, if the product lifecycle for the first Apple watch extends beyond a year I may upgrade to the SS model. Currently the sport fit what I was looking for at the price point I wanted to spend. It may look cheaply made, but some folks like that look. It'so funny but we haven't seen any posts from edition purchasers about how inferior the SS model is, yet. I joke a lil.
 
I've had a shocker then haven't I?

I've got the 38mm Sport Watch with Blue band which the masses on here have deemed a girls watch, and now the Sport is deemed to be cheap and a knockoff....

I wonder why I've even bothered to get one.... lol
 
CooKieMoNs7eR said:
Just the simple fact that a new one will be out in a year makes me not spend the extra $200-$600 for a ss version.
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This.

But that doesn't mean that I think that someone is wrong for buying the SS (or even Edition), that's a personal choice. I ordered the Space Grey Aluminum partly because I like the look and partly because I'd like to wait for the next gen before splashing down too much money -again, personal choice.

And for those using the childish argument that Sport buyers "can't afford" the SS, I also preordered the new MacBook at the same time. Just because you can afford something doesn't mean that you should buy it.
 
BMox said:
I've had a shocker then haven't I?

I've got the 38mm Sport Watch with Blue band which the masses on here have deemed a girls watch, and now the Sport is deemed to be cheap and a knockoff....

I wonder why I've even bothered to get one.... lol
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Well, you could always exchange it for a masculine, more awesome model. ;)
 
Quick question about the Sport edition (and I don't think it looks cheap at all).

Can I swap the bands if lets say I buy the blue and decide that I'd like to try the black or green band?
 
JonnyIreland said:
This.

But that doesn't mean that I think that someone is wrong for buying the SS (or even Edition), that's a personal choice. I ordered the Space Grey Aluminum partly because I like the look and partly because I'd like to wait for the next gen before splashing down too much money -again, personal choice.

And for those using the childish argument that Sport buyers "can't afford" the SS, I also preordered the new MacBook at the same time. Just because you can afford something doesn't mean that you should buy it.
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Exactly, if the Apple Watch 2 is anything like the iPhone 3G and the iPad 2, expect some major updates based on user feedback. After that I think the Apple Watch will follow a 2/2S/3/3S release schedule. But with major product releases, Apple has pretty consistently put out significant improvements for Gen 2.
 
JonnyIreland said:
This.

But that doesn't mean that I think that someone is wrong for buying the SS (or even Edition), that's a personal choice. I ordered the Space Grey Aluminum partly because I like the look and partly because I'd like to wait for the next gen before splashing down too much money -again, personal choice.

And for those using the childish argument that Sport buyers "can't afford" the SS, I also preordered the new MacBook at the same time. Just because you can afford something doesn't mean that you should buy it.
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I agree with this. I can afford several SS watches, however I've decided the sport perfectly meets my needs and I'll probably buy the next watch next year. Hopefully then it will be thinner and have more senses and I won't get too much of a guilt trip from my wife for updating :D
 
2015MacPro said:
Like my buddy said " The Sport is like the 5C of the Apple Watch " Same colors and same cheapness. I'm glad he talked me into getting the Watch instead.

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You can't put ANY band on a SPORT watch except a SPORT band.
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Well, you can put the ribbed magnetic closure leather band on the sports watch if you don't want to wear plastic in a ritzy place. That band does not have a buckle which is SS next to an aluminum body, so it does not look out of place at all.

As for people looking down their noses at me for not buying the more expensive SS model, both models do the same thing. You don't get any features on the SS model that you don't get on the Sport model. And if you do play sports (instead of just talk about it) you might actually want a Sports model.
 
Probably looks cheap cause it is cheap. Or cheap compared to the other models. That said I got it cause I liked the weight and I prefer the finish over something shinny. Just not my taste. Everyone's needs are different from financial or looks and Apple has done a decent job making something that most people can find a model they like. If you can't afford the model you prefer it's your fault not Apples. Some people will settle for a the cheaper one for multiple reasons and some will just prefer it.
 
Anyone else think the sport watch felt light and poorly fitted?

So I finally went into the Apple store today to try on the Apple Watch Sport. I don't know if it's because it's a demo version or because I'd just taken off a big mechanical watch, but the Apple Watch Sport felt really light and seemed to badly fit. Tried both sizes but it just didn't sit right for me.

The band felt cheap, too. Is it just me or have others felt the same? Will the version that is shipped feel different?
 
Oh! I thought it felt nice and quite classy. I already like my Pebble original Kickstarter edition watch strap, enough that I didn't change it, and the Apple watch sport band is far nicer still.
 
I thought the weight was perfect for what I will use it for (which is everything, including working out). And I was pleasantly surprised by the sport band - it felt very high quality and was much nicer than I was expecting.
 
It was definitely light, which is kind of the point with the sport model, but I thought it fit the same as the SS. I thought the band was extremely comfortable though I'll be getting another one for more formal occasions.
 
AdamA9 said:
So I finally went into the Apple store today to try on the Apple Watch Sport. I don't know if it's because it's a demo version or because I'd just taken off a big mechanical watch, but the Apple Watch Sport felt really light and seemed to badly fit. Tried both sizes but it just didn't sit right for me.

The band felt cheap, too. Is it just me or have others felt the same? Will the version that is shipped feel different?
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I'm not a fan of the sport. Feels less substantial. Don't like the glass, either.
 
In all seriousness, did you wear the band tight enough?

Ask the specialist to tighten the band as much as possible. Not only did it feel much better for me, it looked it too.
 
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