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The merged "I returned/sold my Apple Watch because..." thread
- Thread starter jeek
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Plenty of metal ones too. Just never use any of them. Sport bands much more comfortable
Just want to post and say I've change my mind about the Watch, for what it's worth. I purchased one for full price a while ago but only had it for a couple of days before returning it. However, last week I was able to obtain a silver Sport model for a little over $100 off regular price, bringing me around the $200 price point I think the watch is worth.
I now have to agree with the watch advocates - this is not a try it for the first day and make a decision device. Buy one, learn all you can about it (read the Apple manual online, watch videos, and read the 'all the little things' thread here'), go through every possible setting and set it up with all of your personal preferences, and really use it for a week. Most of my concerns were no more by the end of the week.
The sports strap can be a pain to try to fasten by yourself with one hand, but I found a video that had a great tip on how to do this easily.
Have found the apps to launch faster than their initial launching. In other words, don't go by the first time you open an app as your gauge for how fast it will open in the future. They are not instant like on the iPhone, but they are fast enough. There is definitely room for improvement with the software, that I can't deny, but it really is not bad. My one big request would be longer battery life and the ability to use a small onscreen keypad to make calls or select options from on call menus.
Can't wait for my screen protector to get here so I can use it in the classroom and not have to worry about a student somehow bumping into me and scratching the glass. I'm planning on using the timer feature to time the kids with different assignments and having the watch give me a discrete tap to alert me instead of constantly checking the clock or setting and audible timer that would disturb the kids. Already thinking of a number of other ways I might use it.
I now have to agree with the watch advocates - this is not a try it for the first day and make a decision device. Buy one, learn all you can about it (read the Apple manual online, watch videos, and read the 'all the little things' thread here'), go through every possible setting and set it up with all of your personal preferences, and really use it for a week. Most of my concerns were no more by the end of the week.
The sports strap can be a pain to try to fasten by yourself with one hand, but I found a video that had a great tip on how to do this easily.
Have found the apps to launch faster than their initial launching. In other words, don't go by the first time you open an app as your gauge for how fast it will open in the future. They are not instant like on the iPhone, but they are fast enough. There is definitely room for improvement with the software, that I can't deny, but it really is not bad. My one big request would be longer battery life and the ability to use a small onscreen keypad to make calls or select options from on call menus.
Can't wait for my screen protector to get here so I can use it in the classroom and not have to worry about a student somehow bumping into me and scratching the glass. I'm planning on using the timer feature to time the kids with different assignments and having the watch give me a discrete tap to alert me instead of constantly checking the clock or setting and audible timer that would disturb the kids. Already thinking of a number of other ways I might use it.
I've finally sold my watch for good. I had contemplated returning it during the 14 day return window, but ended up keeping it a few months. Lots not to like about the watch (navigating the UI is horrendous, apps are worthless, battery life) although it was very comfortable which I think may be its best feature. I'll be interested to see where they go with future generations, maybe i'll check back in with the Gen 3 or Gen 4, but for now it's just way too mediocre a device. I sold it to a fellow MR member; hopefully they like it a lot more than I did.
I have also decided to sell my watch. After reading through some recent threads asking what apps do you use on your watch it was apparent the only app I was using was Clear, the task list app. So I decided to leave the watch at home for a few days and then realized I did not miss it at all.
Similar to MBHockey I will be following the progress of the watch however if Apple cannot drastically improve the speed of apps as well as the speed of communications between the watch and the phone then I am happy to sit on the sidelines.
Similar to MBHockey I will be following the progress of the watch however if Apple cannot drastically improve the speed of apps as well as the speed of communications between the watch and the phone then I am happy to sit on the sidelines.
I have been following this thread for some time now. I don't have an Apple Watch yet but seriously considering buying one this month (I have a friend who works for Apple in Ireland, who can get me a 42mmm Sports for £280, with his staff discount).
I have been reading the many posts from people, with their reasons for returning their watches, and it makes for some interesting reading. I have also been scouring the other threads, on this forum, for reason for buying the watch in thr first place.
I currently have a Pebble Time watch and this has severely limited functionality on iOS. I'm primarily looking at an Apple Watch for its text replies, for incoming messages.
To be honest, I'm still erring and umming on what to do!!!!
:S
I have been reading the many posts from people, with their reasons for returning their watches, and it makes for some interesting reading. I have also been scouring the other threads, on this forum, for reason for buying the watch in thr first place.
I currently have a Pebble Time watch and this has severely limited functionality on iOS. I'm primarily looking at an Apple Watch for its text replies, for incoming messages.
To be honest, I'm still erring and umming on what to do!!!!
:S
Mine is going back too.
At launch I couldn't see the appeal - the requirement for the phone to be present for full functionality really defeated the purpose in my opinion and it was the first new Apple product I didn't buy. Anyway, the BF sales brought the price down a bit so I decided to finally try it.
It's super comfortable and looks like a nice, elegant watch on the wrist but the practicalities were a big let down for me. Siri was slow, much slower than taking my phone out and reading/typing. Apps are slower, condensed and neutered versions of their iPhone equivalents. Many apps are just pointless in this format - they exist so the developer can say they have an apple Watch app. Battery life is mediocre but, to be fair, not as bad as I expected. Overall I felt there was nothing compelling about the functionality of the device over my iPhone which I needed to have around for the watch to work anyway.
Apple Pay on my iPhone works first time most of the time anywhere within the vicinity of the terminal. On the Apple Watch I'd be waving it around within an inch of the unit and it took many attempts to register.
For phone-free use, syncing music takes forever and you can't sync a podcast...but since you need your phone with you on a run to get anywhere near accurate distance that point is unfortunately moot anyway.
The fitness functionality is just woeful - and this is the most unforgivable part of the product. Trying to use the touchscreen with just a little bit of moisture (sweat, rain) present was futile. Very often I'd finish a run, force touch to bring up the pause / end screen and couldn't end the run because tapping the screen wouldn't register (which screws up the pace / distance). This needs to be a hardware button, not a touchscreen icon. Even after calibration the distance is inaccurate to the point I always need my iPhone with me. The partner iPhone Activities app is an exercise in colorful swirly circles at the expense of actual information whereas the Health app is the opposite - a mountain of data which is overwhelming. No sleep tracker built in is another glaring omission. No online data analysis like Microsoft Health, Nike+ etc. The Microsoft Band 2 does the fitness and health functionality one hundred times better and still has notifications, etc in albeit inferior hardware.
Every piece of functionality I use is addressed better elsewhere, for example music controls. When I'm running and want to change track, adjust volume or answer a call I can do that instantly with the inline controls on any of my many wired and wireless headphones without looking at a screen (and without running into moisture related touch screen issues). No trying to swipe around or twirling crowns.
The only benefit I found above the iPhone alone was notifications - in certain situations where my iPhone vibrations would not be felt, e.g. in a loose pocket or bag the haptic feedback was more noticeable. Apart from that it feels like an expensive prototype or proof of concept. Technical jewellery.
Like an increasing number of Apple products, it feels like Sir Jony was given free rein to design a product from a primarily aesthetic perspective with little to no thought to the function. And it feels like Apple created this product to satisfy shareholder, not user, expectation. For me, it is currently a pointless product.
Above is IMHO of course.
At launch I couldn't see the appeal - the requirement for the phone to be present for full functionality really defeated the purpose in my opinion and it was the first new Apple product I didn't buy. Anyway, the BF sales brought the price down a bit so I decided to finally try it.
It's super comfortable and looks like a nice, elegant watch on the wrist but the practicalities were a big let down for me. Siri was slow, much slower than taking my phone out and reading/typing. Apps are slower, condensed and neutered versions of their iPhone equivalents. Many apps are just pointless in this format - they exist so the developer can say they have an apple Watch app. Battery life is mediocre but, to be fair, not as bad as I expected. Overall I felt there was nothing compelling about the functionality of the device over my iPhone which I needed to have around for the watch to work anyway.
Apple Pay on my iPhone works first time most of the time anywhere within the vicinity of the terminal. On the Apple Watch I'd be waving it around within an inch of the unit and it took many attempts to register.
For phone-free use, syncing music takes forever and you can't sync a podcast...but since you need your phone with you on a run to get anywhere near accurate distance that point is unfortunately moot anyway.
The fitness functionality is just woeful - and this is the most unforgivable part of the product. Trying to use the touchscreen with just a little bit of moisture (sweat, rain) present was futile. Very often I'd finish a run, force touch to bring up the pause / end screen and couldn't end the run because tapping the screen wouldn't register (which screws up the pace / distance). This needs to be a hardware button, not a touchscreen icon. Even after calibration the distance is inaccurate to the point I always need my iPhone with me. The partner iPhone Activities app is an exercise in colorful swirly circles at the expense of actual information whereas the Health app is the opposite - a mountain of data which is overwhelming. No sleep tracker built in is another glaring omission. No online data analysis like Microsoft Health, Nike+ etc. The Microsoft Band 2 does the fitness and health functionality one hundred times better and still has notifications, etc in albeit inferior hardware.
Every piece of functionality I use is addressed better elsewhere, for example music controls. When I'm running and want to change track, adjust volume or answer a call I can do that instantly with the inline controls on any of my many wired and wireless headphones without looking at a screen (and without running into moisture related touch screen issues). No trying to swipe around or twirling crowns.
The only benefit I found above the iPhone alone was notifications - in certain situations where my iPhone vibrations would not be felt, e.g. in a loose pocket or bag the haptic feedback was more noticeable. Apart from that it feels like an expensive prototype or proof of concept. Technical jewellery.
Like an increasing number of Apple products, it feels like Sir Jony was given free rein to design a product from a primarily aesthetic perspective with little to no thought to the function. And it feels like Apple created this product to satisfy shareholder, not user, expectation. For me, it is currently a pointless product.
Above is IMHO of course.
well you need to read up on the watch before you buy it..then you would learn that all the watches have the same features and functions. the only thing that bumps the price is the exterior materials/metals. i really dont get what people thought this watch was capable of..people are now returning their watches. you dont have to go out and buy the $800 dollar model just to feel cool or what not. the base sport model is awesome. i get a my texts to my watch. i can speak into the watch and it will text. i can check mail/get calls/ebay notifications..i think its great. people thought this watch would have a satellite and a microwave and a coke machine.
Sure, you can read about what it does but you don't actually get a feel for how it works for you until you actually use it for a few weeks. This is why return policies exist.
when you do research you can see how it will work..there isnt much to feel your not breaking in a new pair of shoes or a car. i think alot of people bought it just to buy it and then felt bad about the purchase after..
My two cents here: I've had the watch for several months now and love it.. Not for the apps (they still lack any real usability or cool-factor like the iPhone apps - at least the ones I've tried) But I love it as a cool watch with a little part of the future in it. The top things I love:
- Push notifications are more useful than I thought they would be
- Running with it - The Apple stock apps really shows the way so far
- Just a cool watch with a little more details on the watch face
Haven't thought of returning it at all - but I love watches so that might explain a thing or two...
- Push notifications are more useful than I thought they would be
- Running with it - The Apple stock apps really shows the way so far
- Just a cool watch with a little more details on the watch face
Haven't thought of returning it at all - but I love watches so that might explain a thing or two...
I sold my Space Gray Sport in order to get the Gold Midnight Blue one. After selling mine, I've realised how much I missed it. It is really a product that you only understand after you use it.
I got my Gold Midnight Blue one and it looks really nice! I am definitely keeping it
I got my Gold Midnight Blue one and it looks really nice! I am definitely keeping it
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If only third party apps didn't take so long to load... the only thing I really dislike about the AW.
I don't even mind having to charge it everyday.
But I can't stand having to wait for the app to load or do anything... and the screen times out, now I have to press to wake it.... urghhh
I don't even mind having to charge it everyday.
But I can't stand having to wait for the app to load or do anything... and the screen times out, now I have to press to wake it.... urghhh
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I posted earlier in this thread in July when I purchased a Steel Apple Watch with Black Leather Classic Buckle + White Sport Band which I returned after a few days.
So fast forward about 6 months and my wife purchased me a Black Steel Apple Watch as a christmas gift, she had to tell me about it due to a joint account and me being nosey so I got it a few days early.
I can say that many of the issues I had with the watch originally have been improved. With the WiFi handoff features it works much better in our home. I've yet to have it turn into a useless paperweight when leaving my phone in one room and going to another to do whatever.
The performance has been dramatically improved with Watch OS 2.0 or 2.1, I don't know which as mine came with 1.0 and I updated it to 2.1 which was out at the time I received it. Mine doesn't at all feel laggy and all of the UI is responsive.
The price is also better now, I paid £619 or something like that for my previous Apple Watch + Sport Band. My wife through cyber deals was able to get this one for £425 which is great and her father also chipped in a further £200 once he found out about the gift so in total it only cost her £225 which is probably about the amount I thought the first one I had was worth to me (I said £199 then). I'd say with the 2.1 update it feels more polished and so I'd raise that to £299 for the steel versions.
I've been getting in a lot of cardio before I got the watch and so it has entered into my usual workout routine, I run between 15 to 30 minutes every day and the Watch is great at keeping track of runs, it's nice seeing the stats in the activity app too.
I had mentioned to my wife before she purchased the watch that I wanted to get a fitness tracker and I was thinking about the Fitbit surge at around £149-£199. She surprised me with the Watch purchase but I'm glad she did as it looks great and serves the fitness angle I was looking for at this time, something I wasn't at all interested in when I got my first Apple Watch Steel in July (the one I returned).
So I think I've definitely had a 180 on the watch. It's not any one single thing, the price, we were able to get it for 2/3rds what I paid last time. The performance is improved, it's more reliable when away from my Phone and I'm doing cardio workouts now whereas before I wasn't. I think the fitness angle is definitely important if you're looking to justify the price of the watch as so much of its hardware and features rely on the activity tracking and monitoring.
It also doesn't hurt that I was able to get a 3rd party red leather loop and it looks great with the Black. If you're reading this considering a 2nd go at the watch then I would advise you to look around for good priced deals and make sure you're going to get use out of the fitness aspects as those are at least in my personal use of the device a huge selling point.
So fast forward about 6 months and my wife purchased me a Black Steel Apple Watch as a christmas gift, she had to tell me about it due to a joint account and me being nosey so I got it a few days early.
I can say that many of the issues I had with the watch originally have been improved. With the WiFi handoff features it works much better in our home. I've yet to have it turn into a useless paperweight when leaving my phone in one room and going to another to do whatever.
The performance has been dramatically improved with Watch OS 2.0 or 2.1, I don't know which as mine came with 1.0 and I updated it to 2.1 which was out at the time I received it. Mine doesn't at all feel laggy and all of the UI is responsive.
The price is also better now, I paid £619 or something like that for my previous Apple Watch + Sport Band. My wife through cyber deals was able to get this one for £425 which is great and her father also chipped in a further £200 once he found out about the gift so in total it only cost her £225 which is probably about the amount I thought the first one I had was worth to me (I said £199 then). I'd say with the 2.1 update it feels more polished and so I'd raise that to £299 for the steel versions.
I've been getting in a lot of cardio before I got the watch and so it has entered into my usual workout routine, I run between 15 to 30 minutes every day and the Watch is great at keeping track of runs, it's nice seeing the stats in the activity app too.
I had mentioned to my wife before she purchased the watch that I wanted to get a fitness tracker and I was thinking about the Fitbit surge at around £149-£199. She surprised me with the Watch purchase but I'm glad she did as it looks great and serves the fitness angle I was looking for at this time, something I wasn't at all interested in when I got my first Apple Watch Steel in July (the one I returned).
So I think I've definitely had a 180 on the watch. It's not any one single thing, the price, we were able to get it for 2/3rds what I paid last time. The performance is improved, it's more reliable when away from my Phone and I'm doing cardio workouts now whereas before I wasn't. I think the fitness angle is definitely important if you're looking to justify the price of the watch as so much of its hardware and features rely on the activity tracking and monitoring.
It also doesn't hurt that I was able to get a 3rd party red leather loop and it looks great with the Black. If you're reading this considering a 2nd go at the watch then I would advise you to look around for good priced deals and make sure you're going to get use out of the fitness aspects as those are at least in my personal use of the device a huge selling point.
When you first pair your Watch and iPhone, the iPhone automatically sends your WiFi login information to the Watch so that it can connect on its own.
Then when the Phone and Watch are outside of Bluetooth range the Watch automatically uses WiFi to communicate with the phone instead.
In my testing with Bluetooth on my Phone turned off completely I was still able to use all the Apple Watch apps that use the phone in some way including the Camera viewer which activates the camera on the iPhone and shows on the Apple Watch screen what the Phone camera is pointed at.
It seems very seamless to me, always works.
They both need to be connected to the same WiFi network and the network must support 2.4GHz B, G or N for the watch to connect to.
It just works for me perfectly. When the Bluetooth is off a green icon appears where the red phone icon is (when bluetooth DC's) and everything "just works".
It just works for me perfectly. When the Bluetooth is off a green icon appears where the red phone icon is (when bluetooth DC's) and everything "just works".
Still got a link to the video? I'm pretty good at fastening the sport band and, after reading how people are having trouble (sometimes dropping theirs), I've contemplated making a quick vid of my method. But if mine would be redundant, I won't bother.
Let's see if I can type it up Barney-style (super-simple) --
(wearing it on the left wrist)
0. You will always have complete and positive control of your watch if you do it this way.
1. Hold the "hole-y" end in your right hand
2. Drape the watch over your left wrist
3. While still holding the strap with your index finger and thumb,, reach under your wrist with your middle finger and poke your fingertip into the slot of the "buckle", or pinned, end
4. Bring the pin underneath the holes (you haven't yet released your thumb and index finger)
5. With the tip of your thumb on the appropriate hole, press the hole onto the pin
6. While still holding your thumb on top of the pin, keeping the strap in place, use your index and middle fingers to secure the free tip in the slot
7. Profit!
It doesn't feel like six distinct steps when I put it on, though. It's more like Drape, Poke, Pin, Tuck.
It's not as easy to put on as a decent bracelet, IMO, but it's really easy to resize on the fly, which not many bracelets can do. I also like it better than a traditional tang buckle. It's still way, way easier to do safely than the Modern Buckle, at least until I can practice on a Modern Buckle some more.
Yeah, like that. When he's showing the pin at 0:51-0:55 is when I still have my thumb pressed against the pin to make sure it doesn't pop back out. It stays in place pretty well on its own, but I'm just making sure it doesn't have a chance to escape. Good vid.
I got the Apple Watch Sport Space Gray version for Christmas with Best Buy's $100 off deal. I tested it out for a few days and took it back. I thought the watch was very high quality and a nice device. It was nice to get notifications and track my health, however, I wasn't really a watch person before and I was always worried I might scratch up the watch. Getting a case for it doesn't appeal to me either.
Anyway, the biggest reason was I couldn't justify the price for the device. Maybe after the price comes down more in the next few years but right now, I'm happy to get by with just my iPhone.
Anyway, the biggest reason was I couldn't justify the price for the device. Maybe after the price comes down more in the next few years but right now, I'm happy to get by with just my iPhone.
I was never the kind of guy to buy things and take them back. I usually spend a good amount of time thinking about whether I want something, so, by the time I decide to buy it, the only way it's going back is if it's a defect, and I'm getting a replacement. It's everything I wanted.
I believe I read in a few places yesterday, that putting the watch in "power save mode" turns of bluetooth and all functions besides being able to use it as a regular watch. Though you need to press one of the buttons in order to see the watch face, instead of turning your arm upwards.
If you put it on airplane mode, it cuts of bluetooth and wi-fi, but you can still use other functions like the exercise app.
I believe I read in a few places yesterday, that putting the watch in "power save mode" turns of bluetooth and all functions besides being able to use it as a regular watch. Though you need to press one of the buttons in order to see the watch face, instead of turning your arm upwards.
If you put it on airplane mode, it cuts of bluetooth and wi-fi, but you can still use other functions like the exercise app.
Just judging from your use of the Pebble, this is probably something that would be beneficial to you. For some people, it's their first time using something like this, so it may or may not be useful to them. I came from having used a Samsung Gear, so I already knew what to expect, plus more. Guys like us have an easier time knowing whether it will be useful or not.
If you like watches and in general like wearing your Pebble, go for it man...
It's a wonderful piece of engineering and a lot of people who don't like using it, might have expected the watch would be a lot more than what it realistically can be, and might not be used to wear a watch at all.
The stuff you mention with notifications and text reply, is working brilliant on the Apple Watch