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Worth upgrading from Series 1 to Series 3?
- Thread starter dmk1974
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Series 1 was released in Sep 2016, so yours cannot be 3 years old. Unless it’s the original?
Anyway, the Series 4 is just under two months away. Wait and see if it’s better and if you like it. If it isn’t and you don’t, you’ll be able to get a Series 3 for even cheaper than they are going now.
Anyway, the Series 4 is just under two months away. Wait and see if it’s better and if you like it. If it isn’t and you don’t, you’ll be able to get a Series 3 for even cheaper than they are going now.
Just upgraded from an original 42mm stainless steel to a Series 3 42mm stainless steel on account of a too-good-to-miss deal from my UK mobile carrier. (I also wanted to be guaranteed to be able to use my Milanese band with an upgraded watch) So far its been night and day in terms of speed, responsiveness and battery. Two 45 min walks tracked with the Workouts app? <10% battery consumption vs what would have been 50%+ on my original watch. Just done a 2 hour drive with Maps navigation on CarPlay with my watch doing its usual haptic notifications for upcoming turns. All in for the day; my watch is as 69% battery. Impressive.
Apps invoked from Simple watchface complications (weather, calendar, workouts) load nigh on instantaneously, so I’m much more likely to use them as I won’t be waiting for the app to load and then respond with the info I’m after. Will try out the LTE during my lunchtime walk on Monday with Apple Music streaming - just because I can.
Personally I’m entirely satisfied with the original watch > series 3 upgrade. I got three years OS updates to my original watch, I’m expecting similar with my S3 although as ever, nothing is guaranteed,
Apps invoked from Simple watchface complications (weather, calendar, workouts) load nigh on instantaneously, so I’m much more likely to use them as I won’t be waiting for the app to load and then respond with the info I’m after. Will try out the LTE during my lunchtime walk on Monday with Apple Music streaming - just because I can.
Personally I’m entirely satisfied with the original watch > series 3 upgrade. I got three years OS updates to my original watch, I’m expecting similar with my S3 although as ever, nothing is guaranteed,
Sorry, the original (what's the difference between that and Series 1?). I got it in December 2015.
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Is battery life actually supposed to be better? I thought they are all rated at ~18 hours? YMMV of course. And I'm sure my current one is not anywhere near full capacity anymore.
Apple Watch (First Generation) has the single-core S1 chip, while Apple Watch Series 1 has the dual-core S1P chip. Essentially they're the same device, with the Series 1 having two CPU cores instead of one.
I'm 100% positive the S3 is better and a big upgrade vs. the Series 0.
It's just that the S4 is just around the corner and will probably be a lot better-er. And since the Watch is not a critical device, I personally would not recommend buying a new one with a big upgrade coming up.
We're already at the end of July... the new watches should be announced around the time the new phones are (September)... why not wait and get the newest. Buying now will get you last year's tech.
I know that there is some concern about a redesign that might make existing bands incompatible... and while I could see that happening on one hand, I really don't believe that Apple would torque off their user base with a classless move like that.
I know that there is some concern about a redesign that might make existing bands incompatible... and while I could see that happening on one hand, I really don't believe that Apple would torque off their user base with a classless move like that.
It depends what you want from the Series 3 Apple Watch. Do you really need to upgrade at this moment? Or can you wait approximately seven weeks to determine if the new Apple Watch Series 4 interests you, if one does launch? But in terms of the speed, yes, its substantially faster with the Series 3 faster dual core processor. If I were you, I personally would wait, as if you purchase the Series 3 now, I’m sure you will be tempted to want the latest model come September.
I was finding that a single 45 minute walk with Open Walk Open Goal running on my S0 was eating 30-45% battery. With no other workouts done for the rest of the day/notification triaging only, I was ending the day with 20-30% battery. A walk to the supermarket in the evening with the Open Walk Open Goal workout and I’d get the low power warning.
A 75min walk this morning with Open Walk Open Goal workout and my watch is showing 97% battery remaining.
YMMV.
Which is fair enough. My own personal calculation involved wanting to be 100% confident that my current band works with an upgraded device, and that the offer I went for from my carrier had the device I wanted + 24 months LTE for more or less the same price as just buying the watch itself directly from Apple.
No argument that the S4 will be an improvement again in terms of processing power, probably better/more sensors and a further generation of WatchOS support.
if the OP isn’t wanting to guarantee compatibility for existing bands and/or doesn’t have access to an obvious ‘good deal’ for the S3 then yes, absolutely wait a few weeks for the Sept/Oct event and jump in with the latest gen device.
The difference between Series 0 and 3 is quite huge. My S0 42mm managed to stay on the whole day, but the battery was always nearly empty at the end of the day. I can use my S3 42mm for 2-3 days between charges if I don't use any power hungry apps. Also the S0 was so painfully slow that I never liked to use any apps on it. S3 on the other hand flies and it is actually a pleasure to use apps on it.
But as others have pointed out Apple will most likely reveal the new Watch models in September. There are rumors that the new models might have edgeless displays which would increase the display size while the device size would remain the same. Other rumors say that Apple might change the sizes from 38mm and 42mm to something bigger. And should the new watches both be bigger and have edgeless display the display sizes would be considerably bigger.
Of course you could consider buying S3 now and sell it when the new ones come out. If the deals are good enough you might not lose much. But personally I would wait for the announcement and then either buy the new one or see if there are any good discounts on the S3 as retailers try to get rid of old stock.
But as others have pointed out Apple will most likely reveal the new Watch models in September. There are rumors that the new models might have edgeless displays which would increase the display size while the device size would remain the same. Other rumors say that Apple might change the sizes from 38mm and 42mm to something bigger. And should the new watches both be bigger and have edgeless display the display sizes would be considerably bigger.
Of course you could consider buying S3 now and sell it when the new ones come out. If the deals are good enough you might not lose much. But personally I would wait for the announcement and then either buy the new one or see if there are any good discounts on the S3 as retailers try to get rid of old stock.
