What do I need to know about apple's watch before buying one?

You need to know why you really need one. I can't seem to find a reason that fits me, although there are a couple of watch apps that interest me a little. It just seems like they're gearing it too much toward the fitness market.

I have one of the very first Apple watches. I like it.

I do NOT use it for exercise (I wear a Garmin when I run or bike).

Here's what I like (not an exhaustive list):

Maps. Put a destination in the iPhone Map app, and the watch will tap your wrist as you're driving when a turn is approaching. A glance at the watch tells me the the distance, road name and turn direction. Great for when a nav system isn't available (such as rental cars).

Apple Pay. Get to the checkout line, process items, press watch against NFC reader, walk away.

Boarding passes. Enter a boarding pass into Apple Wallet and press watch against boarding pass reader. Don't have to pull out a paper pass or my phone.

News headlines. Siri (raise wrist, say, "Hey Siri..."). Text messages (complete with Siri integration: "Hey Siri, tell work, 'I'm running late.'"). Phone calls: make and receive calls right from your wrist. Baseball scores (yeah, I'm a fan...).

Here's the key (for me, at least): An Apple Watch is NOT an iPad, iPhone or computer replacement. What it is, is a link to an iPhone. It operates best on the principle that people don't STARE at their watch, but simply GLANCE at it. That's why Apple calls them "glances." A quick look, like checking the time, is what works best for me. It doesn't require me to take my focus off my driving (at least for more than a glance) and it helps to send and receive data from my phone, again without having to pull out my phone and start tap-tap-tapping on it.

It's not for everyone. I'm not trying to sell anyone on it. I just say it works for me and the way I operate.

I have a buddy who was looking at fitness watch for his iPhone and he went with the Garmin Fenix 5. He wasn't impressed with the Apple watch. He's been very happy with the Garmin though. Not sure as to your needs OP, but something to consider if you're looking at it for fitness.

To clarify, it's my wife who wants the Apple watch since she lost her fitbit last week while hiking. we don't really know anything about them, except they can do what a fitbit does. I was also intrigued when I saw a guy pay for his lunch today using his watch.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
What do I need to know about apple's watch before buying one?

Like most watches, it goes around your wrist.

I have an Asus ZenWatch 2 for my Android phone. Now that I've moved to an iPhone,I miss it. Smartwatches aren't a must-have, but, they are handy.

The battery on Fitbit lasts several days. The battery on the Apple Watch lasts 18 hours. If you want to track your sleep cycle, you'll only really have one choice.

When a family member upgraded to a newer model, they gifted me their 2 year old smaller sport model.

I like it, but I wouldn't pay more than $200 for one.

Biggest 'like' is when you are working, talking to people and you get a call / text / app notification, a simple glance at your watch tells you if it's something you need to take right then or blow off until later.

When driving it also gives you physical indications (vibration) that you are getting close to a turn as well as an arrow, etc.

You can also silence phone calls / alarms from your watch, so if the phone is in your pocket you can leave it there.

It's a marginal "nice to have" but other than that, meh.

A dislike is the need to charge it everyday - my Garmin Vivofit (good for a year on watch batteries) spoiled me.

It lets nurses see their text messages and respond with their nose.

I'm well in tune with my iPhone; however, I haven't used my Watch much beyond receiving phone calls and looking at the time. I just can't recommend one.

I bought a reconditioned model rom Apple to use as a fitness tracker. I like it. I wouldn't pay for a new one however.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
When a family member upgraded to a newer model, they gifted me their 2 year old smaller sport model.

I like it, but I wouldn't pay more than $200 for one.

Biggest 'like' is when you are working, talking to people and you get a call / text / app notification, a simple glance at your watch tells you if it's something you need to take right then or blow off until later.

When driving it also gives you physical indications (vibration) that you are getting close to a turn as well as an arrow, etc.

You can also silence phone calls / alarms from your watch, so if the phone is in your pocket you can leave it there.

It's a marginal "nice to have" but other than that, meh.

A dislike is the need to charge it everyday - my Garmin Vivofit (good for a year on watch batteries) spoiled me.

Agree about the charging issue. It's a big miss.

My brother had the Android version. He has a dirty hands job and it allowed him to answer the phone without getting his Android filthy, and he could read a text message to decide if it was worth washing his hands to respond.

It broke, and he didn't buy a replacement.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
Agree about the charging issue. It's a big miss.

Yes, figure on putting it on its charger every night, unless you use it more, then charge more often. That is the main drawback I see to this device, otherwise I would have one. Plus, any Liion that has to be charged that often is not bound to last too awful long, in the greater scheme of things. I'm sorry, I'll stick to my iPhone for portable iOS stuff (it can go a week without a charge), and a real watch to tell time.
 

First and foremost, does your wife use an iPhone? If not, the Apple Watch will offer very little. While it has the sensors and collects data, it relies on the phone to process and display info about that data as well as using the phones connection to the internet to request info for many of it's features.

That said, I have one and love it. Much more interactive and informative than a FitBit. Natively tracks and records a greater variety of exercise types than FB. Measure heart rate (some FB do, some don't). Other fitness apps offer even more features for specific sports.

Non-fitness, it lets you check text messages and even answer calls from your phone. Can trigger your phone to let out a sonar like "ping" to locate your phone when yo forget where you set it down.

Can track your sleep info, useful for those of us with sleep disorders. Can vibrate a warning to turn when used with GPS while driving so you can keep your eye on the phone. Can be used to control music on your phone, check weather, stocks, multiple timers, alarms, calendar appointment reminders, and more.

They seem like a solution in search of a problem.

And I'm a big iPhone fan, I just don't understand the point of these things at all.

I've had one for almost 2 years now and wear it daily. I like it. I really like it. My wife really enjoys her's too.

It's just one of those devices that makes your life ever-so-slightly better. It's really just an extension of your iPhone.

I've had mine for a year now. I like it, but if I leave home without it it's no big deal.

I like being able to receive notifications from my wrist. The maps function is cool. Haptic feedback that tells me when to turn right or left.

One nice thing is when I mountain bike I can fast-forward my music or see who's calling me without getting my phone out of my pack.

Still waiting for a killer app that makes it indispensable. It's a handy extension of the phone.