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chiefs1968

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 27, 2016
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I did not purchase S4 because of screen size but primarily for the ECG capability and so far I am impatiently waiting....what was your reason for buying S4
 
I did not purchase S4 because of screen size but primarily for the ECG capability and so far I am impatiently waiting....what was your reason for buying S4

I bought it because I believe that this year’s Apple Watch product will be fantastic - ECG, intuitive design, and premium look.

I came from using Samsung Gear S3, it is also a great product but last month when the new iPhones are introduced I came back to the Apple ecosystem and I think it will be for good, as long as Apple exists. I never regretted it. I have trust in Apple than other companies, especially about privacy.

About the Apple Watch, it is the best Watch I have ever owned! A job well done, Apple!
 
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To be honest I always like to have the latest and greatest so I tend to upgrade my watch and my phone every time a new model is released. The jump from the Series 3 which I previously had to the new Series 4 is not that big in my opinion but I do like the bigger display real estate. I’m not sure how much I would rely on the ECG or fall detection features. It’s obviously some what faster performance wise compared to even the Series 3 which is also a plus.
 
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I bought it as my first Apple Watch and thought the device finally evolved to mature point. It was not just a bump for the device like years past and I thought it was a good time to upgrade. I will likely try and hold on to this for two or three years (four if possible), but I love technology and could be enticed to upgrade.
 
I bought it for ECG. I have AFIB so it will be nice to record how often my heart goes into tach, even if it’s only 1% accurate it still helps the cardiologist out. Holter monitors aren’t worn daily and more often than not when they’re worn my heart doesn’t go into tachycardia that day. So it will be a nice feature. Especially at my age (40) with AFib I’m beginning to enter the high stroke time period. Might even turn on fall detection for the time I do stroke out.
 
It was a series of circumstances that fell into place in order that was why I bought it.

TL;DR version - I needed a new running watch, but wanted a smartwatch, and this does both.

Longer version:

I'm a runner and I've been using a Garmin watch ever since I was recommended it years ago by a fellow runner. My first Garmin was great as a sports watch (non-existent as a smartwatch), but the strap broke at a position that made it impossible to replace without great expense.

My second Garmin watch was the Garmin vivoactive (easy to replace the straps!). Not quite as good as a sports watch (good enough for me) with some smartwatch leanings (bluetooth, phone notifications, control music playback, etc - no HRM).

My Vivoactive is now over three years old and I was looking to replace it. Initially, I leaned towards the latest Garmin Vivoactive 3 because it had HRM, plus Garmin Pay (I even set up a bank account that could do Garmin Pay in prep for the watch). I delayed buying it because a slightly newer Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music was being released (same thing but can play music direct from the watch).

I saved up around £279, waited for the new Garmin, then waited a bit longer to see if it would reduce in price in Amazon sales (once or twice it did, and I very nearly bought it).

Just as I was ready to buy the new Garmin, I stumbled across an affordable deal for an iPhone SE (my Android phone had suffered a broken screen, and my "running phone" was a cripplingly slow Windows phone - the SE replaced both).

Then it occurred to me that, now owning my first ever iPhone, I could take a look at the Apple Watch - something I couldn't do before due to not having an iPhone. I knew it was more smartwatch than sports watch, but a fellow runner had an older version and he said it was up to the job.

And so I looked at the Apple Watch. Its smartwatch capabilities drew me in but, just before making a final decision, I heard that a new "series 4" was likely to be announced. So I held off buying once again and used the delay to build up my watch budget (I figured I'd need £100 more than the £279 of the new Garmin - turns out I needed £150 more!).

After all the pieces fell into place, I got my Apple Watch series 4 Nike+ and have now taken it on a couple of runs. So far, I don't regret any of the above. (Would have been nice if it was cheaper, though! :D)
 
It was a series of circumstances that fell into place in order that was why I bought it.

TL;DR version - I needed a new running watch, but wanted a smartwatch, and this does both.

Longer version:

I'm a runner and I've been using a Garmin watch ever since I was recommended it years ago by a fellow runner. My first Garmin was great as a sports watch (non-existent as a smartwatch), but the strap broke at a position that made it impossible to replace without great expense.

My second Garmin watch was the Garmin vivoactive (easy to replace the straps!). Not quite as good as a sports watch (good enough for me) with some smartwatch leanings (bluetooth, phone notifications, control music playback, etc - no HRM).

My Vivoactive is now over three years old and I was looking to replace it. Initially, I leaned towards the latest Garmin Vivoactive 3 because it had HRM, plus Garmin Pay (I even set up a bank account that could do Garmin Pay in prep for the watch). I delayed buying it because a slightly newer Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music was being released (same thing but can play music direct from the watch).

I saved up around £279, waited for the new Garmin, then waited a bit longer to see if it would reduce in price in Amazon sales (once or twice it did, and I very nearly bought it).

Just as I was ready to buy the new Garmin, I stumbled across an affordable deal for an iPhone SE (my Android phone had suffered a broken screen, and my "running phone" was a cripplingly slow Windows phone - the SE replaced both).

Then it occurred to me that, now owning my first ever iPhone, I could take a look at the Apple Watch - something I couldn't do before due to not having an iPhone. I knew it was more smartwatch than sports watch, but a fellow runner had an older version and he said it was up to the job.

And so I looked at the Apple Watch. Its smartwatch capabilities drew me in but, just before making a final decision, I heard that a new "series 4" was likely to be announced. So I held off buying once again and used the delay to build up my watch budget (I figured I'd need £100 more than the £279 of the new Garmin - turns out I needed £150 more!).

After all the pieces fell into place, I got my Apple Watch series 4 Nike+ and have now taken it on a couple of runs. So far, I don't regret any of the above. (Would have been nice if it was cheaper, though! :D)
My only concern for you long term is OS capabilities - not sure how many more iOS updates the SE will get and you typically have to have your iPhone updated to the latest iOS before updating your Apple Watch. Just keep that in mind (unless you already knew it) before bashing the devices a year from now.
 
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My only concern for you long term is OS capabilities - not sure how many more iOS updates the SE will get and you typically have to have your iPhone updated to the latest iOS before updating your Apple Watch. Just keep that in mind (unless you already knew it) before bashing the devices a year from now.
That is my only concern in the back of my mind.

I would hope that the watch and SE will continue working together, even if they don't receive updates in a year or so time. I will be hoping to budget towards a replacement for the SE in the future, but I'm hoping I'll get more than a year out of it before it becomes a matter of urgency.

One of the reasons the SE is so ideal for me is because of its size. Running shorts have very small back pockets, which is why I used to have a small (3.5") Windows phone for when out running (and a regular Android phone for daily use). Most phones these days are far too big for that pocket, but the SE is ideal (hence, it replaced both phones). Without a replacement for this size iPhone on the horizon, I'm not sure what I'll be able to do.

I'm confident that there will be a solution presenting itself, however. For now, I'm loving my AW4. I'll worry about the next bridge that'll need crossing when it gets closer...
 
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I’ve always liked the convenience of having a watch, but havent owned one in years. I prefer digital watches, theyre far quicker and more precise: but they look ugly. I got my first iPhone—the iPhone 7—this march, and figure that the apple watch will fill my watch void and will also be convenient, allowing me to check notifications, skip and select music, and check the time without clumsily maneuvering my phone out of my pocket. I figured it would be best to wait for the series 4, and I think its definitely worth the extra cost just for the screen alone.
 
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Heath reasons. I have Parkinson's. I have to take medication to ease my symptoms and allow me to walk due to balance issues. I take this medication three times a day and I try to even out the time when i take it to have the best effects. Without the watch I was either very late or miss a dose. August 1 I was diagnosed with A-Fib. I have to take a blood thinner (Eliquis) and a beta blocker twice a day. Like you, ECG capabilities so I can monitor if I'm in a A-Fib condition so I can take countermeasures.
 
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The bigger screen is amazing and the watch is way faster than the 3. In my opinion the models before the four were betas almost, the four is the first model that is the real deal.
 
+Bigger display
+Faster processor
+Thinner
+50% louder speakers
+ECG
+Exclusive watch faces with more complications
 
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Health and safety.

I have MS and a bunch of accompanying mobility issues. I almost fall a ton, and do fall a fair amount, a couple of times with catastrophic results. If I’m out, I have my phone, but around the house, it may be in a different room if I fall badly enough to need help.

My medical “team” and I had been discussing possible solutions, none of which worked for my life. Fall detection and the ability to summon help a few rooms away from my phone pretty much sold me on the S4.

Secondly, I have some heart issues that look to be moving from the fully benign to the “could be concerning” category. I need more regular info on what’s happening when I’m doing regular activities. Holter monitors are great, but limited. The improved heart rate stuff, coupled with the EKG, as limited as it is, sounds great.

I have never really wanted an Apple Watch (beyond the initial “ooh, shiny new Apple tech” phase), and especially in the last couple of years, wearing things on my wrists have been painful, due to joint pain. So it took a lot to get me on board. No regrets so far!
 
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My main thing what I wanted, was a change to the physical design. After having three years of the same design, it was time for a physical refresh. Everything else is great that Apple added and reduced with the thickness, but the larger display and reduced bezels was a must for the Apple Watch, which actually made a significant difference.
 
I want an S4 because I just bought an S3 a few months ago and I like sending money up in smoke.
 
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