Waiting for a FLAT-Back Apple Watch

[serialiphoneuser]

I look forward to the day there's an Apple Watch with a FLAT-BACK instead of curved shape. The curved back crystal causes a pressure point on the wrist, stopped using the Apple Watch for this reason.

Gear S2 & S3 and a majority of other smartwatches have flat-backs. Not sure why Apple can't achieve this. In AW Series 3, the back crystal got even deeper/curvier.

 

[NT1440]

I think that it may get a bit less pronounced, but given that apple is going far further (in their roadmap) than just HR tracking, I think the dome shaped was intentional from the beginning normalizing the hardware until the REAL exciting sensors are ready for primetime. I think the likes of O2 monitoring and especially glucose (the holy grail for explosive growth) rely on that amount of surface area and pressure/dermal penetration to get the results that will allow for FDA certification.

I think the design was that of the long game, truly.

 

[Leica Dad]

I look forward to the day there's an Apple Watch with a FLAT-BACK instead of curved shape. The curved back crystal causes a pressure point on the wrist, stopped using the Apple Watch for this reason.

Gear S2 & S3 and a majority of other smartwatches have flat-backs. Not sure why Apple can't achieve this. In AW Series 3, the back crystal got even deeper/curvier.

I can understand what you are saying, I have to constantly adjust the fit to get comfortable. Now I am just used to it, but still think if there is no practical reason for this design, it should be improve the next generation.

 

[lordofthereef]

I think this has to do with the way it charges. Most other watches don't quite "latch" on as well. The fitbit I had before this was downright horrid in how much effort it took to charge.

I find various bands produce various pressure pints, the milanese loop (third party from amazon is what I use) being the least of all I have tried (I am guessing this is because you can fine tune exactly how tight you want it and the increments are virtually limitless).

Not saying you are wrong, by the way, just thinking out loud as to why the design might be the way it is.

 

[44267547]

In AW Series 3, the back crystal got even deeper

Adding To your 'deeper' comment, Jeff Williams stated the backing only increased by two sheets of paper thicker for the back sensor area. That being said, that would be hardly noticeable by many.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Perhaps the back is meant to be that shape to perfectly fit in the indentation just before your wrist bone?

 

[BillGates1969]

Adding To your 'deeper' comment, Jeff Williams stated the backing only increased by two sheets of paper thicker for the back sensor area. That being said, that would be hardly noticeable by many.

I agree not many would notice it, but I did, but have got used to it. My Apple original sports bands used to fit perfectly on my S2, but since I got the S3, I began to notice that the hole wasn't quite in the right place. I am used to it now though. To be fair, I felt the same from S0 to S2 too. It's not uncomfortable, but just takes a day or so to get used to.

 

[satchmo]

Perhaps the back is meant to be that shape to perfectly fit in the indentation just before your wrist bone?

I always thought this to be the case...curved to naturally conform into indention and providing greater contact with your skin for heart rate sensor.

But I have skinny wrists so I can see this being different for those with meaty ones.

 

[BarracksSi]

The back of my Seiko is domed higher than my S2 AW’s back. If you can believe it, it’s pretty comfortable, even accounting for the extra weight; it helps that the Seiko’s case is rounded and smooth.

My Citizen’s caseback is flat, sure — but it’s a bit less comfortable, too, because it traps sweat more and feels stickier.

Honestly, the AW is the most comfortable modern watch I own (surpassed only by my dad’s and granddads’ older, smaller watches).

 

[deeddawg]

A reason not mentioned (I think) also is that the shape helps keep the optical HR sensor against the skin and prevent ambient light from interfering with the sensor.

If you look at other optical HR watches and devices, you'll find a somewhat similar sensor bump on the back.

 

[BarracksSi]

If you look at other optical HR watches and devices, you'll find a somewhat similar sensor bump on the back.

And if you're lucky, the other sensors will be smooth and comfortable, or else they have mold lines/charging contact points/raised frames for the LED windows/etc.

(check out the back of Garmin's top-of-the-line 935 here: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/564291 )

 

[deeddawg]

And if you're lucky, the other sensors will be smooth and comfortable, or else they have mold lines/charging contact points/raised frames for the LED windows/etc.

(check out the back of Garmin's top-of-the-line 935 here: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/564291 )

As an owner of a Garmin FR235, which I wore as an all-day watch for about a year and still wear during runs, the slight indent for the charger clip has never been noticeable. Have you experienced an issue with it?

 

[BarracksSi]

As an owner of a Garmin FR235, which I wore as an all-day watch for about a year and still wear during runs, the slight indent for the charger clip has never been noticeable. Have you experienced an issue with it?

I used to wear a Garmin 410, and although it didn't have an optical HR sensor, it was certainly clunky on-wrist when used with its rubber strap. I started using its Velcro strap full-time (it had a nylon section that went under the watch body) but I couldn't ignore the sheer bulk of the watch. After three or four months, I gave up trying to wear it regularly and just used it for workouts.

More words here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...y-collection-pic-heavy.1946056/#post-22389813

 

[deeddawg]

I used to wear a Garmin 410, and although it didn't have an optical HR sensor, it was certainly clunky on-wrist when used with its rubber strap.

I had a Polar RS200SD for years, skipped all the Garmin 4xx series for one reason or another, but did buy a Garmin 610 and wore it for years before moving on. (skipped the 620) A little big, but never was an issue for me... and I'm not big in stature either. *shrug* Personal preference I guess.