Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Was it worth upgrading from S3 - S4?
- Thread starter iMas70
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
For anyone still on the fence, I went from a S3 to S4 yesterday and am not going to look back. The screen size really is amazing in person. Even from an S3, the S4 feels much faster.
Agreed. The speed is really noticeable with Siri. The S4 responds much faster the S3 and is more reliable. When I want a light turned on, or a song played, I generally want it now. The S3 could be a bit slow. No more. Louder too (good in the car)
The big screen is a welcome upgrade too.
Jury's still out on the ECG. I wait in hope. (Just hope it doesn't become the next AirPower.)
A very well balanced take. How do you mean when you say apps may come back? Are you talking of the recent exodus of Watch apps? I am totally new to the Watch, so ..
All the apps are there it’s just that certain apps like Apple messages and phone aren’t available as complications on the new exclusive Series 4 Watch faces. I’m sure Apple is working on getting them to work on all the Watch faces as we speak.
I swore I would not upgrade my S3 to an S4 (both are Stainless Steel/LTE models), but I broke down and did. Is there anything, functionally, that the S4 does for me that the S3 cannot? Not really. LTE reception had always been adequate on the S3, and volume was fine. The S3 was a big step up in terms of speed and functionality over the S2. The ECG function on the S4 is a non-issue, mainly because it isn't available. All that said, if you can stomach the cost, it's a great upgrade. Everything is just a bit more responsive, but noticeably, and the larger display does make a difference. (Apple, however, has to stop at this size. Any larger is just going to be too large for me, and bordering on clown watch.) If you interact with your watch often each day, that extra bit of pleasure with using the S4 over the S3 adds up. And maybe I'm fooling myself in thinking that there's more chance that I'll use my phone less because the critical things I can now do more easily on my Watch. But if cost is an issue, I'd wait until the S5. As many reviews have said, S2 or earlier is a no brainer; S3 is much closer to a toss-up.
It’s a tremendous upgrade. I had the S3. The S4 is really worth the cost. Not just the screen only as an improvement, a ton of other refinements make it a worthy spend.
I personally have seen a huge increase in reception with the S4. On my running route, I had areas where I’d lose signal, which no longer happens in the same areas with the S4. And I hardly ever saw more than 3 bars with the S3, whereas I see full bars quite often now.
As a bonus, I’m seeing a big increase in battery life when on cellular also.
I didn't think it would be that much of a difference, but I couldn't go back to an S3 now. The bigger screen, shape change, reduction in thickness and speed is more than enough to justify the purchase for me. I love this watch.
Is it worth the upgrade? God yeah. The increase is screen size alone makes it worth it. Add to that, a faster processor (powers up in 35 seconds), louder speaker, better microphone and for me, a brighter screen that really pops....nuff said.
yep went from SS S3 to SS S4 and the screen is amazing alone it itself. the new watch faces for the new screen are great as well. I use the new digital one and really like it.
AW3 at $279 is a better deal than AW4 at $399.
The only improvement I think that is really worth it is the bigger touch screen.
All the other things are ... MEH.
It is heavier but the battery performance is not any better.
That extra 4g is noticeable and hurts the wrist sometimes because of the extra weight combined with the poor fit of the 40mm watch that is not as perfect as the 38mm watch.
The only improvement I think that is really worth it is the bigger touch screen.
All the other things are ... MEH.
It is heavier but the battery performance is not any better.
That extra 4g is noticeable and hurts the wrist sometimes because of the extra weight combined with the poor fit of the 40mm watch that is not as perfect as the 38mm watch.
I pulled the trigger. Had a Series 3 LTE aluminum silver.
Was a very tough decision. Lotta seesawing.
Only after getting the S4 LTE Nike silver can I say it would be almost painful to go back.
Better heart monitor, bigger screen, 64 bit chip that makes it fly, improved LTE reception, the infograph Face making it easier to build the ideal complication config, Bluetooth 5 (no small thing) all made it hard for me to wait another cycle. I often love just having my watch on me too, so having the newest watch helps.
Was a very tough decision. Lotta seesawing.
Only after getting the S4 LTE Nike silver can I say it would be almost painful to go back.
Better heart monitor, bigger screen, 64 bit chip that makes it fly, improved LTE reception, the infograph Face making it easier to build the ideal complication config, Bluetooth 5 (no small thing) all made it hard for me to wait another cycle. I often love just having my watch on me too, so having the newest watch helps.
It was worth it to me. The new watch face and better health tracking hardware has been great to have.
In areas where my S3 Ceramic was recording three bars for cellular, I am not getting fourwith my S4 so yes for me, a huge increase in the reception