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Best of both :cool:

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You can always do what I did - buy the aluminum sport and get the Milanese Loop separately. It saves you about $230 and you get 100% of the same functionality and ~80% of the look.

Then when the next gen comes out, you can buy the cheapest SS and pair it with your existing Milanese Loop. That model should last much longer, the way 2nd-gen Apple products usually do (look at original iPad vs iPad 2).

And I had this idea as well but was worried that the bands would not be compatible with V2. While this sounds unlikely, it is still a concern of mine.

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I am basically at the point where, instead of waiting, I will be going for the model I really want. Yes there is chances that the next model will be a substantial upgrade but I would rather wear a watch for 1-3 years that I love instead of wearing one I am too crazy about but saving $465.

While that may be foolish, $465 is really not a lot of money in a years' span.
 
I think the band style is amazing on the Apple Watch. Apple would be stupid to change it. They could make a lot of money off bands using this method and the ease of swapping is pretty much unmatched by any current watch I have seen.

I just can't see them changing it for a few generations at least. At that point I would expect the Watch to be thin enough to maybe need it improved upon but even then I doubt it would be necessary. You don't want a watch that is TOO thin or they just look awkward or feminine.
 
I'd say get the model you want. Personally I went for the sports because 1)I have 2 nice watches and 2)I will probably get a nicer one on the next revision but just wanted one to try out/fitness tracker.
 
I've been tempted to upgrade to the SS model, but have came to the conclusion that I'll be sticking with my sport model.

The AW is by no means cheap. If I were in your shoes, I would continue to use the sport, then upgrade when supply is plentiful and second hand SS models begin popping up on classifieds for reasonable prices.
 
AW is not a timepiece, but it still has to live on my wrist. I care how I look in a professional setting (it's part of my job), so regardless of whether or not it's timeless, it needs to look good. This is why I spent the extra on a SS model.

I disagree the Apple Watch is a timepiece as well as a gadget. I expect that it will keep time better than other watches that I have owned over the years as the time is likely constantly upadated (which is why many of us stopped wearing watches and started using the phone).
 
I have spent hours upon hours, weighing the differences and I have still yet come to a concrete decision in regards to whether I want the Sport model or the Watch model.

I ordered the Sport first and found that I LOVED the watch. The software, the appearance, and the capabilities. However, in the back of my mind, I knew that it looked less like a timepiece and more like a gadget. Working in a formal environment this was a slight concern (I want to wear it daily). I spotted the 38MM SS with the Milanese Loop and I was in love.

Now, the sport came out to be $565 Canadian (with taxes and AppleCare) and the SS with ML is an absurd $1030 (with taxes and AppleCare). There are two ways to look at this:

  1. It's only $460 more for the model I really want but;
  2. I am concerned V2 will knock this watch out of the water and affect its apperance as a fashion item (usually spending $1K on a watch means it'll last a lifetime and won't go "out of style").

And I honestly keep swaying back and forth between the two watches. $565 is a LOT to spend on an aluminum/non sapphire watch and $1030 is a lot to spend on something that may only have a lifetime of 3 years. I know it's ultimately up to me to figure this out but I was hoping I would be able to gather some opinions from you all.

Thoughts?

I have struggled with this,too. I ordered a SS but now I'm having second thoughts for all the reasons you gave. I may cancel the order and get a Sport but i still can't really make a decision.
 
I had a tough time deciding as well, but what finally helped me choose was knowing that one of the important features of the watch was the activity tracking, and that was going to need a watch I would wear every day. I prefer the look and feel of the SS over the sport. I am more apt to wear (every day) the watch I love, than the watch that's the second choice. So I went with SS and I couldn't be happier!
 
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I was prepared to get the SS predicated on wether or not I liked the floroelastimer band and the classic buckle appealed to me. However, it turned out that the rubber band felt wonderful on my wrist and I liked not having finger prints show up on the aluminum so it was a no brainier for me to pick the aluminum model.

The SS version really isn't about the SS, it's about the bands.
 
I have been wearing a SS / sapphire crystal watch for about 15 years and it has survived a lot of rough abuse. I guess I was sort of drawn to the SS Apple watch for similar reasons and I was worried about the durability of the sport.
 
It all boils down to if scratches bother you or not. The sport has the same level of scratch resistance as an iPhone. If you're ok with your watch looking worse than your phone than buy the sport. I say worse because it's much more vulnerable due to being swung perilously close to walls, tables, railing etc.

I'm the kind of guy who hates scratches on my phone screen. Knowing that there was a watch version that wouldn't scratch was music to my ears.

They all are gonna look fabulous when new. 6 months from now? Not so much.
 
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I bought the sports because I actually love me mat finish ! And anyway ,less is more. It is not what you are wearing that counts but the way you wear it !
 
It all boils down to if scratches bother you or not. The sport has the same level of scratch resistance as an iPhone. If you're ok with your watch looking worse than your phone than buy the sport. I say worse because it's much more vulnerable due to being swung perilously close to walls, tables, railing etc.

I'm the kind of guy who hates scratches on my phone screen. Knowing that there was a watch version that wouldn't scratch was music to my ears.

They all are gonna look fabulous when new. 6 months from now? Not so much.

Yeah, I'm the type of person who would smash it against things or drop it on the floor while taking it off.
 
I tried using the search, and there are just too many threads. Are there any notable or megathreads about the watch vs sport?

I'm on the fence right now between a stainless steel WSB and a space grey sport BSB(plus a WSB on the side). The price difference is decent for me, although it won't break the bank. My main thing now is that I like the look of the black watch, but won't spend 1100 on the black steel one. Also, I've heard the stainless scratches really easily. Finally, I like that the sport is much lighter.

On the other side, the stainless steel obviously looks much nicer. It's more of a jewellery piece than a technology piece. It's heavier, which might be bad at times, but also makes it feel more substantial. Although the sport is also a status symbol, the SS is definitely a stronger one.

The watch comes out on Friday here in Taiwan. I'm going to the Apple authorized reseller first thing in the morning. At first, I was thinking go for the black sport, and if they don't have it in stock, go with the stainless steel. Now I'm trying to get a few more opinions before I go with that kinda strange plan haha.
 
I got a space grey sport after looking at them in store: I prefer the subtle look of the SGS to the far "blingier" jewellery look of the stainless one.

Before I saw them in person thought I would prefer the stainless one, but I'm not really someone who wears jewellery and while the stainless is undoubtedly gorgeous, it simply wasn't for me. The SGS does look more like a gadget than the stainless one does, but that's not necessarily a bad thing and with a leather loop on it is definitely smart enough to wear with a suit in my opinion. I can't comment on whether any of the watches are a "status symbol" because it's not something I've ever considered about anything!


Of course, everyone is different and what one person loves another might hate so you really need to see them in person to make the best decision for you
 
Hmm... you seem to have about equal points in favour of each model, so it might be best to hold off on making a final decision until you see them in person and try them on. Hopefully they would have some demo models at the reseller.

I originally had a 38mm Space Grey for around two weeks and I did really like its look. Some people thought that it looked almost purple-ish under certain lighting conditions, but I didn't mind as I like purple anyways. Ultimately, I am now using a 42mm Stainless Steel and I am very happy with it, if nothing else for the more band options. Had a 42mm Space Grey been available in-store when I went there, hard to say which way I would've went.

One thing I had considered before getting the Apple Watch was that I was unsure how often I would replace it and how much I wanted to spend on a first-gen product. After using it for two weeks, I knew it was something that would be useful in my life and had no issues whatsoever with spending a bit more money on an upgrade. I work in hospitality and am always in a suit during working hours, so the SS model with the Milanese Loop is a really nice compliment to my attire, plus I have the Black Sports Band to use for working out and the weekends. I'm probably going to pick up a Leather Loop at some point as well when I want something in-between the professional look of the ML and the more casual look of the BSB.

In your case, perhaps go with the cheaper Sports model the first time 'round? Then, if you find it to be something very useful in your day-to-day and you want to upgrade to something nicer, you can do that when gen 2 rolls around.
 
To me, the weight difference felt significant. And, I wanted black but was not willing to pay the $700 USD premium for black SS.
 
Initially had the apple sport 42 mm, just switched to SS BSB. I really liked the sport, barely could tell it was on your wrist. I, however, was always paranoid about scuffing it up. I tried screen protectors (Armor suit), Orzly Invisible case but they all took away from the experience of the watch. I wanted to enjoy the beauty of the watch. I got the SS BSB and could not be happier. I can enjoy it "naked" and has an incredible premium feel. Haptic strength is great (was worried about reports of it being weaker on SS). The only downside is the slightly increased weight. Already spending 400$ on the sport watch, it made sense to spend 200$ more for premium components (sapphire glass, stainless steel, ceramic back). My initial thought with the sport was to get AppleCare+, wear it naked and then replace it once it gets too scuffed up to be usable. But you pay 70 or 80$ to get it replaced, might as well pay 200$ more now and get the SS.
 
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I think I will be going with the sport just because the matt finish on the sport will show less fingerprints than SS..
 
Thanks for all the replies. I actually went back to the beginning and read the whole thread all the way through, and then all of your replies...

Now I'm even more lost than I was when I made the post.

I'm going to the store after work in a couple hours, and will ask them about the launch tomorrow. Hopefully they'll have display/try on models.
 
Hey All,

Couple of questions..

I'm looking at the SS vs Aluminum with the sport band, $399 vs $599, is the upgrade worth it? The better glass and stainless vs Aluminum, also what about 38 vs 42mm?

One question I had is the pedometer in the watch, when you're not near the phone obviously steps taken will be more. Does it sync the phone's pedometer against the watch or how does that work?

I was looking at buying a top tier fitness watch, which is $249, am I dumb to do that when I can have an apple watch with fitness and a more capable watch, especially with future software updates.

Greg
 
Hey All,

Couple of questions..

I'm looking at the SS vs Aluminum with the sport band, $399 vs $599, is the upgrade worth it? The better glass and stainless vs Aluminum, also what about 38 vs 42mm?

One question I had is the pedometer in the watch, when you're not near the phone obviously steps taken will be more. Does it sync the phone's pedometer against the watch or how does that work?

I was looking at buying a top tier fitness watch, which is $249, am I dumb to do that when I can have an apple watch with fitness and a more capable watch, especially with future software updates.

Greg

Better glass is debatable. Sapphire is a lot more reflective. And stainless vs. aluminum depends on whether you like shiny things. Or not.

38 vs 42? Depends on your wrist and your preference.

Yes, the Watch keeps track of your steps away from your phone.

And yes, it would be dumb to buy a "fitness watch" when the Apple Watch can do the same.
 
Honestly, some of the top tier fitness trackers have slightly better app interfaces for fitness than the apple watch. That's just my opinion anyway.
 
Does it sync the phone's pedometer against the watch or how does that work?

I was looking at buying a top tier fitness watch, which is $249, am I dumb to do that when I can have an apple watch with fitness and a more capable watch, especially with future software updates.
The watch and phone figure out how to count steps and it uses then watch when available. If you have only the phone and no watch, it uses the phone's steps. So, the quick answer is that the total steps are pretty accurate.

The AW is a horrible fitness tracking and sport watch. If that is a priority for you, then do more research. As a fitness tracker, it is fun and has some motivational goodness. But it is missing a lot of core features that every other fitness tracking device has had for 2 to 5 years. (No web UI, no way to track calories, no way to manually enter activities, no social component, no data or app integration, etc.).

As a sport watch (running watch), it is also inadequate. Basic sport watches have GPS and the ability to map workouts and give you drill down by splits into pace, elevation, heart rate, cadence, etc. data. The AW cannot do any of that.

I still carry my Fitbit zip, because it is a better all-around fitness ecosystem that connects with other fitness enthusiast friends. I exercise with my AW alongside my Garmin 910XT, but it is just for novelty value, because my Garmin is a far more capable running watch.

I think that Apple will bridge many of the gaps above, but I don't think it will be in the OS2 update in the fall. They had years to know about and decide not to build these features. For whatever reasons, Apple did not judge them a priority.
 
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