Want to keep AW3, but iOS 11 sucks on iP6

[satchmo]

I want to keep this, but I want to run watchOS 4 (well, no choice actually).

But I can't afford to buy new iPhone to properly support iOS 11 (required for watchOS4).

My iPhone 6 supports iOS11, but from all accounts, not the best experience. Although I've read some find 11.2 beta is okay.

Do I return the AW3 and wait until next year when I'll buy a new iPhone?
Should I buy a Garmin VivoActive 3? I realize its less of a smart watch but more fitness, which is what I would use the AW for anyways.

Decisions...

 

[Mikeeee]

I just got my 1st Apple Watch. Before upgrading to iPhone X I had a 6. It wouldn't have made a difference if I got the Apple Watch to use with the 6. Yes the X is faster. The 6 however is more then adequate. I don't see your dilemma.

 

[44267547]

I want to keep this, but I want to run watchOS 4 (well, no choice actually).

But I can't afford to buy new iPhone to properly support iOS 11 (required for watchOS4).

My iPhone 6 supports iOS11, but from all accounts, not the best experience. Although I've read some find 11.2 beta is okay.

Do I return the AW3 and wait until next year when I'll buy a new iPhone?
Should I buy a Garmin VivoActive 3? I realize its less of a smart watch but more fitness, which is what I would use the AW for anyways.

Decisions...

We know there is no guarantee in 2018 For another Apple Watch release. And if you're truly satisfied with the Apple Watch and it's performance, I would personally keep it. Unless it's really hindering you because of your iPhone with iOS 11. As you mentioned, it could improve with a future iOS update.

I don't have any experience with Garmin, but being how well the Apple Watch communicates with the iPhone, I don't think your experience will be as seamless.

 

[dave006]

I used my iPhone 6 for a month with my Series LTE watch while waiting for my iPhone X and I had not problems with iOS 11 on the iPhone 6. Just don't use junky old apps. I actually found that I use my iPhone X less due to the watch's great features.

Dave

 

[satchmo]

I used my iPhone 6 for a month with my Series LTE watch while waiting for my iPhone X and I had not problems with iOS 11 on the iPhone 6. Just don't use junky old apps. I actually found that I use my iPhone X less due to the watch's great features.

Dave

It's easier when you know you have a backup X on the way.

Once I go iOS 11 on my 6, there's no way to go back to 10.3.3.

But I'm heartened to hear you had a decent experience with the 6.

I'll likey take the plunge and live with a slower iPhone for a year or so.

 

[midkay]

It's easier when I you know you have a backup X on the way.

Once I go iOS 11 on my 6, there's no way to go back to 10.3.3.

But I'm heartened to hear you had a decent experience with the 6.

I'll likey take the plunge and live with a slower iPhone for a year or so.

I would just do it, besides, 11.1 and 11.2 seem much better than 11.0 was. 11.2 should be final before long and I think you'll be nearing 10.x.x performance at that point.

 

[ftaok]

I updated my iPhone 6 so that I could update my S2 to the latest wOS. While it was worth it for the watch improvements, my 6 has turned into a real dog.

Things take forever to do on the iPhone. Apps frequently unload from the RAM, so when you go back, it has to restart. Doesn't matter if it's an apple app or a 3rd party app, they all suck now.

11.1 has made it a little better, but I think Apple screwed with touchID so that it hardly ever works anymore. Hopefully they'll optimize it a little more for 1GB devices on 11.2.

In the end, it was worth it because I love my watch

 

[VikingRaider]

For what it's worth, I have the 6 on 11.1.2 and while it's still not near as nice or smooth as 10.3.3, it's leaps and bounds better than 11 and 11.1. Once I switched "Reduce Motion" to On it made a huge difference. Yeah, things are still a little choppy, a few apps have to restart after you move on to something else every single time (looking at you MyFitnessPal), but all things considered, the phone was free (my wife upgraded last year and I switched from Android to take advantage of Mac ecosystem and Scrivener) so I'm going to ride it until the wheels come off. If I had paid good money for the phone recently, I'd bee pretty upset, but as old as it is, meh. I was perfectly happy to stay with 10.3.3, but certain apps updated and I wanted to stay current for that. I was looking into an AW so I'm glad to find out 11 works on the 6.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

iOS 11 is terrible on an iPhone 6, but life is not much better on an iPhone 7 Plus. It may run faster, but it is still littered with bugs. I truly feel like I'm running beta software. As of now, Apple's glory days are not with us anymore...

 

[ttforever]

I didn't have any problems with ios11 on my 6 at all, and neither did my wife. Keyboard could lag every once in a while, but that was about it