Is it worth Buying an Apple Watch?

silvagti · 25 Nov 2023 at 20:20

Just want to get the thoughts from owners as to whether they feel the Apple watch is worth having? I have an iPhone and and Macbook though always wondered if the watch was just another gadget I didn't really need as I ended up feeling that way about my iPad and sold it. I have an old cheapo smart Band which I regularly wear daily but have never tried an Apple Watch.

Debating whether to buy myself one (Apple Watch SE) as an Xmas present? Is it worth it?

ChrisD. · 25 Nov 2023 at 20:21

I love mine.

Feek · 25 Nov 2023 at 20:29

I wouldn’t be without mine, I’ve had one since the start and I love it. It’s an extension to the phone for alerts and it’s great for Apple Pay.

You could buy one and you have an extended return period to try it.

Zeebedy · 25 Nov 2023 at 20:38

Yeah, once you get used to it day by day..totally worth it

Reuben klang · 25 Nov 2023 at 21:57

Feek said:
I wouldn’t be without mine, I’ve had one since the start and I love it. It’s an extension to the phone for alerts and it’s great for Apple Pay.

You could buy one and you have an extended return period to try it.

Pretty much the exact same as me.

I was sceptical at first because I’ve always got my phone with me but once I started wearing it for running and got use to it it’s a daily essential now for me.

dannyjo22 · 25 Nov 2023 at 22:21

No for me, unless you are using apple fitness. Otherwise you can get call alerts and message alerts just as well with a garmin and its far more durable, better battery by miles and lasts forever. It's not as disposable a tech product.

What do you want it to do?

silvagti · 25 Nov 2023 at 22:29

dannyjo22 said:
No for me, unless you are using apple fitness. Otherwise you can get call alerts and message alerts just as well with a garmin and its far more durable, better battery by miles and lasts forever. It's not as disposable a tech product.

What do you want it to do?

I'm not really sure TBH! My current watch doesn't really have much functionality

Mainly for notifications from apps I guess for the convenience to avoid having to check my phone for call notitications, messages, calendar appointments, etc. Controlling Music Playback for my airpods.

picnic · 26 Nov 2023 at 08:51

I think the Fitbits I had were better for the health tracking stuff. Mind you I'm not a runner or anything. However I wouldn't go back now, the other "smart" features make up for Apple's deficiencies in this area IMHO.

Bluecube · 26 Nov 2023 at 09:02

I’m still using an Apple Watch 2 mainly for receiving phone notifications. Don’t really use it for much else so if I ever move on from it, I’ll likely just get some cheap smart strap widget. Whether you’ll use an Apple Watch depends entirely on how you use such a thing - fitness is the main function. Take that away and there’s no really that much left

ChrisD. · 26 Nov 2023 at 09:16

Bluecube said:
Take that away and there’s no really that much left

Apart from Apple Pay, unlock Mac with Apple Watch, walkie talkie, ability to send texts when in the shower, receive calls on it etc etc. Just some of the many things I do with it apart from fitness.

cp88 · 27 Nov 2023 at 09:10

I had the SE (2nd edition), loved it but the battery was lacking for the amount I used it (2 hours of workouts tracking per day + notifications), the issue was I wanted sleep tracking, this was possible but I'd wake up on 20% battery(ish) and needing to charge it before working out.. (which took ages due to lack of fast charge!).

Upgraded to the Ultra and haven't looked back. To be honest though, I think if the SE had fast charge the battery wouldn't be an issue at all.. So maybe the S9 would be a good choice (has fast charge).

WatchOS is just amazing though.. Basically like having an iPhone on your wrist.

Stu999 · 27 Nov 2023 at 18:57

My favourite feature is having the wallet app and being able to pay for stuff. Easily pleased.

Nitefly · 27 Nov 2023 at 23:03

Honestly, it’s not really essential.

I like it as a fashion accessory (gold watch and strap for the ultra bling look) and it’s handy for vibrating when I get a call, but otherwise absolutely all notifications are off. It’s just annoying otherwise.

Apple Pay is good, particularly for the tube as you can set it up so you don’t even need to press a button, but that’s about the only time I bother with it.

Find your phone is quite useful to if you are a clumsy oaf like me.

Just buy it for the size of your wrist for goodness sake, most people have sizes that are way too big and they look awful

Unless you have tree trunk wrists go for a smaller one.

Feek · 28 Nov 2023 at 07:52

Nitefly said:
Just buy it for the size of your wrist for goodness sake, most people have sizes that are way too big and they look awful

I have to bite my tongue when I see pictures of skinny wrists with the Ultra strapped on. It looks utterly terrible, the person would be far better off with the small standard watch.

Begbie · 28 Nov 2023 at 08:08

I absolutely don't see the point in any smart watch apart from fitness, health related stuff.

Having my wrist and my phone notifying me is the worst, all that gets turned off. If I'm in a situation that I can't look at my phone, I probably shouldn't be looking at another device.

Saying that if my smart watch broke, I'd buy another in an instant. But for sleep, health, fitness metrics it makes my life so much easier.

Ayahuasca · 28 Nov 2023 at 08:09

If you have to ask then probably not.

LiE · 28 Nov 2023 at 08:25

Ayahuasca said:
If you have to ask then probably not.

Yup you can’t force it tbh. It needs to be useful to you.

I use mine for fitness tracking primarily and triaging notifications, reducing the need for me to take my phone out.

Nitefly · 28 Nov 2023 at 10:13

Feek said:
I have to bite my tongue when I see pictures of skinny wrists with the Ultra strapped on. It looks utterly terrible, the person would be far better off with the small standard watch.

Yep know exactly what you mean. Here’s my watch on my wrist which I think is pretty spot on in terms of size.

Here is the first photo I’ve found online re: is this too big:

His wrists still look pretty hench compared to my slinky appendages but yeah that’s like a retro sci-fi, at worst almost ‘fisher price my first watch’ look IMO

^ that is the absolute max, but personally I’d say too big.

Edit: and here’s one that is deffo too big!

Ayahuasca · 28 Nov 2023 at 10:23

Noodle wrists should be banned from buying watches over 40mm, change my mind.

I was fortunately blessed with man hands and arms so it's not a concern

silvagti · 28 Nov 2023 at 11:30

Personally If I were to buy one it would be the smaller size of the SE 2 as I’m not a fan of larger watches.

Don’t understand the appeal of supersized watches like the ultra!

If anything I’d say Apple should focus on making a smaller more compact higher end watch with the features of the regular one and charge more for that!