Which Watch?

[Athonline]

Hi all,

I am returning to the Apple ecosystem and now that I have my iPhone, I want to get an Apple Watch next. Until 3 months ago, I have been using a 3-years old Samsung Watch. I never really used its fitness functionality except when hiking; I always found it clunky, its battery poor, and its metrics unreliability. I also never enjoyed the Samsung Fitness app experience. Still, it was good for notifications and as an overall accessory when travelling.

Nowadays, I am a bit more outdoors as I picked up running again and do a long walk with my dog every morning. I am even considering going to the gym. Still, my main use will be to check notifications and, ideally, leave the phone at home when walking the dog. I do care about being able to 'dress it up' a bit as I wear 'smart casual' when meeting students and 'business formal' 1 or 2 times a month.

I want to minimise the amount of money spent, but not necessarily cheap out; i.e. I care for the optimal solution and want to avoid the overkill for my use case. This is because I want to spend some money on a new camera too and got a baby coming next year so expenses are just piling up ;-) I don't have a 'set' budget really, but some options I have been thinking about are:
1. Apple Watch 8 Aluminium ~450 euros
2. Apple Watch 7 SS case with Milanese loop for ~600 euros
3. Apple Watch 8 SS case ~750 euros
4. Push the budget and go for Ultra for that big screen and battery life for ~890 euros
5. Of course, I can also go used and get e.g. Apple Watch 6 Stainless Steel for <400 or ~500 for series 7 (but at that point, I would rather buy new).
Unfortunately, Apple Watch 7 is nowhere to be found here (Sweden) or in Spain at a price below 400 euros unless I go used for an aluminium model.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[dmccombs]

Well, since you'd like to use the watch sometimes, without the phone, AND since you'd like to dress it up sometimes, I would recommend a SS model.

The new Ultra is hard to make really dressy, and the aluminum ones with cellular are almost the same price as a SS model.

IF you can find a Series 7, that would save some money, and the difference in features is miniscule.

So I would recommend a S7 SS (or Ti), or a S8 SS.

 

[262Runnr]

...save your money and get a AW6 44 in excellent condition. It's the best deal out right right now IMO. It will do pretty much everything you need it to do that the 7 or 8 does. Even if you will need a battery replacement it's still a deal.
I picked up a spare AW6 LTE in excellent condition with 85% battery health from Amazon for $225 USD as I alternate watches daily. I go through the whole day and still have about 35% battery left.

 

[Athonline]

So I would recommend a S7 SS (or Ti), or a S8 SS.

Any particular reason you recommend the SS over the alum.?

...save your money and get a AW6 44 in excellent condition. It's the best deal out right right now IMO. It will do pretty much everything you need it to do that the 7 or 8 does. Even if you will need a battery replacement it's still a deal.
I picked up a spare AW6 LTE in excellent condition with 85% battery health from Amazon for $225 USD as I alternate watches daily. I go through the whole day and still have about 35% battery left.

Thanks. AW6 alum is around ~300 euros used and ~380 new, so it overlaps with AW7 alum pricing. AW6 SS is anywhere between 400 and 550 depending on condition (with 550 being new). Do you think, it is worth going AW6 SS over e.g. AW8 alum that is on the same price when new?

 

[262Runnr]

Any particular reason you recommend the SS over the alum.?


Thanks. AW6 alum is around ~300 euros used and ~380 new, so it overlaps with AW7 alum pricing. AW6 SS is anywhere between 400 and 550 depending on condition (with 550 being new). Do you think, it is worth going AW6 SS over e.g. AW8 alum that is on the same price when new?

that's up to you, personally I'd spend as little as possible and save $$ to upgrade again in a year or two. The aluminum is fine that's what I have.

 

[dmccombs]

Any particular reason you recommend the SS over the alum.?


Thanks. AW6 alum is around ~300 euros used and ~380 new, so it overlaps with AW7 alum pricing. AW6 SS is anywhere between 400 and 550 depending on condition (with 550 being new). Do you think, it is worth going AW6 SS over e.g. AW8 alum that is on the same price when new?

Yes. You mentioned that you'd like to dress the watch up sometimes. I feel the SS models can be dressed up a little better. Also, I prefer the more durable glass (and case) of the SS models. IMO, the glass on the aluminum models get scratched fairly easy, and scratched glass doesn't look as nice, to me.

 

[262Runnr]

sure, I always use a film protector on my watches...pretty cheap and easily replaced. Your call.