True, but I've never had a visible scratch on the aluminium in four years. When I had a stainless, I'd polish it and a couple of days later it'd have micro scratches again.
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SS Series 4 vs Aluminum Series 5?
- Thread starter jazzer15
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I'm curious ... what color was it? I don't think I've seen any complaints about micro scratches on space black ... only fingerprints.
If micro scratches on the SS bother you you can polish it with a Cape Cod cloth from Amazon. No reason not to get SS if that’s what you like. I’ve had two and loved them. Never felt a need to polish them.
I’ve got a Series 5 aluminium and it’s a decent watch. I wouldn’t be too fooled TT these exaggerated accounts of it scratching easily because it really doesn’t.
It’s a tough one if they are the same price though. Go for which one you like the look of best. I prefer the space grey aluminium personally.
It’s a tough one if they are the same price though. Go for which one you like the look of best. I prefer the space grey aluminium personally.
I have owned aluminum, SS, SBSS and now titanium. I agree accounts of scratches on all watch cases are exaggerated .
No one seemed to mention a key change in the apple watch 5. It has 32 Gb of storage in comparison to 16 Gb on the AW 4. This may not be a huge difference, but may increase the lifespan of the device as it can handle more Watch OS updates. Also, it can store more apps, or more music.
Right, as I mentioned the differences between the aluminum casing and stainless casing, is _if_ the aluminum is scratched, it’s permanent, and the stainless can be polished. Keep in mind, the Ion-X glass on the aluminum is garbage, that scratches very easily, which is one the reasons why the sapphire is pretty much impervious to damage.
Various scratch test videos have debunked the suggestion the Ion-X Glass is rubbish. I didn’t scratch my S2 significantly in 3 years of wear and my S5 has experienced a few bashes in recent weeks through general wear and no scruffs yet. It’s plenty good enough for everyday use.
When people regurgitate the exaggeration that the Ion-X is rubbish it falsely encourages people to perhaps spend more money out of fear when in fact they don’t have to.
When people regurgitate the exaggeration that the Ion-X is rubbish it falsely encourages people to perhaps spend more money out of fear when in fact they don’t have to.
Is the 316L stainless steel on the S4/S5 darker or more black than the S4/S4 Nike+ Aluminum? I don't understand why the more 'fashionable' model gets the sapphire display when it's more likely that the more 'sports / active' model would get a hit on the display in the Aluminum Nike+ versions. I really REALLY hope Apple brings the Nike+ up with a sapphire display option. Then again the AppleCare+ keeps me satisfied, for now.
I like the watch faces of the Nike+ editions. Now that we have the option for customizing the band with some options it's getting better.
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I guess you or these testers have not showered with either the S2 or S3 like I have. you know that horrendous soap dish in the bathroom (yo vivo un apartmento)? Yeah hit the Nike+ or Sports watch onto that once in a while and you'll quickly see just how non-durable the Ion-X Glass can be. at work when moving users from one desk to another ... a scuff here or there on the desks ... yup.
It's resistant but I feel scratches and scuffs, although very small occur and are noticeable. Seems to be more common on the aluminum than the screen ... yet when the screen gets bigger in future versions I'm sure it'll be more common.
The space black stainless is a high gloss black, compared to the aluminum is more of a flat-matte black space gray. They look very much different from each other.
I’ve never showered with it on and wouldn’t anyway. I never shower with a watch on. I have whacked it against plenty of desks and walls though which is why I am confident it’s durable enough for everyday use.
While Apple says showering with Apple Watch 2 and newer is OK, they specifically state that you should avoid soap or soapy water when bathing. I know, it makes no sense but then again showering with a watch doesn't make sense to me either.
About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support
Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch and what to do if your device gets wet.
Regarding the Sapphire vs. IonX, yes it's true, IonX will scratch before Sapphire. Sapphire Crystals are used in traditional high end watches for that very reason as opposed to quartz. The main benefit if sapphire is that it is more scratch resistant, however it is also much more prone to shattering or chipping than quartz so there's that trade off. In traditional watches, this is why you'll often see sportier watches have quartz crystals because they are more impact resistant than sapphire. I believe that's what Apple has tried to implement with the IonX in the aluminum versions as they were more likely intended for "sport" use as opposed to the SS versions with sapphire and a dressier, more sedentary type of wear. Does that mean you can't wear either SS or Aluminum for active or non active situations? Absolutely not!
Whether or not IonX glass holds up as well as quartz crystals, I'm honestly not sure but I also don't believe it's garbage either. Could there be a better material for Apple to use in Aluminum watches? Perhaps. I also can't say whether Apple's sapphire is as durable as the sapphire crystals used in traditional watches. Quite frankly, I've had problems with both sapphire and quartz crystals in traditional watches so those aren't impervious to issues either. It's the nature of wearing a watch on your wrist that will bang into things. It happens.
To me, both watches have their place and both can hold up well if common sense is applied. We have difference use cases and different budgets so at least we have options. With all that, I undoubtedly believe the Stainless cases are aesthetically superior yet I also appreciate the lightweight feel and more subtle look of the aluminum models.
Nobody denies it will scratch, that’s a fact due to its material properties. It’s not as fragile as a few here like to promote though otherwise the screen would be illegible within months. I think I had 3 hairline scratches on my Series 2 in 3 years of wear. These could only be seen if tilted in certain lights. I don’t obsess over scratches though. An Apple Watch is a throwaway gadget with a very short life and should be worn and enjoyed. If it’s scratched after 3 years then it’s been worn and used. No point worrying over scratches like some of the hilarious threads on here when putting a pristine watch in a drawer at the end of its life offers no advantage anyway.
I agree that if the Apple Watch lasted more years and was not so quickly obsolete, I would care more about keeping it in mint condition.
My OCD stage with a device only seems to last about 3 months, anyway. Then it just becomes a tool I want to keep in functional condition.
My anecdotal evidence. I don't baby my watches, they get worn for everything, and often get brushed against something, and in the case of my current one, often get banged against a glass sink which is perilously close to the toilet!
My first series 0, which I had for the best part of 2 years, had to be replaced half way through its life due to a smashed screen after a light brush against a wall. The second one was a year old when I got rid of it, and it had a few marks/dents, and a couple of deep scratches in the screen.
My current S3 is SS (black). After 2 years, it's pristine. Not a mark on the screen, or on the casing.
As always - YMMV, and I think, from talking to my friends, the black SS seems to be less susceptible to noticeable scratches than the silver one. That said, I would not hesitate to buy another SS one. I don't baby it like an expensive watch, and quite frankly, it gets abused (I even wore it while I was servicing my motorbike), yet it's still in the same condition as when I took it out of the box.
I wouldn't say the ION-X is rubbish. I would just say it's more susceptible to cracking on impact or deeper scratches than the SS or above. You pays your money, you make your choices. But, you could effectively upgrade your aluminium twice as often as the SS for the same cost.
My first series 0, which I had for the best part of 2 years, had to be replaced half way through its life due to a smashed screen after a light brush against a wall. The second one was a year old when I got rid of it, and it had a few marks/dents, and a couple of deep scratches in the screen.
My current S3 is SS (black). After 2 years, it's pristine. Not a mark on the screen, or on the casing.
As always - YMMV, and I think, from talking to my friends, the black SS seems to be less susceptible to noticeable scratches than the silver one. That said, I would not hesitate to buy another SS one. I don't baby it like an expensive watch, and quite frankly, it gets abused (I even wore it while I was servicing my motorbike), yet it's still in the same condition as when I took it out of the box.
I wouldn't say the ION-X is rubbish. I would just say it's more susceptible to cracking on impact or deeper scratches than the SS or above. You pays your money, you make your choices. But, you could effectively upgrade your aluminium twice as often as the SS for the same cost.
Further to Brian's comment above, others with SS watches, did you buy them for exercise, etc., or is the use primarily for other watch/ iphone - like functions? Just wondering if people generally choose aluminum for fitness activities.
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I use mine for fitness and just basic notifications. that and the nike watch faces.
Both. I like the stainless because I can dress it up or down outside the gym with a link band/leather loop, but it’s perfectly suitable for the gym as well with a fluoroelastomer band, and with the Sapphire display and the 316 L stainless can take a beating.
Both. I would think that others that went with SS decided for aesthetics, aluminum or SS... both provide the same functions.
I’ve had the S2 SS and upgraded to the S4 SS, skipping on the S5... but when I do upgrade to the S6 it’ll most likely be for the SS.
I went with the Nike+ space grey as I love the Nike watch faces, the Nike run app and I like the appearance of the aluminium. It’s pretty durable too and has had plenty of bangs so far.
I was debating the same issue. I just ordered the Series 4 SS Silver. Love the shiny look that as someone else said, you can dress it up or down. I had the series 3 SS silver and never a scratch. Got the Best Buy deal $399.