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Original poster

Apple Watch - is it worth £400? Do I need it?

81 replies

WeightWatching2019 · 03/01/2019 21:10

I’m on a health and fitness drive for 2019 (aren’t we all!) so I like the idea of ‘closing my circles’ - is that worth £400 though?

Is it an arse to have to charge it every day?

Do you actually, truly use all the features?

All opinions welcome!

OP posts:
NameNotImportant · 04/01/2019 00:17

I bought myself the series 4 last year, I'm an Apple geek and love my phone, iPad and iMac but in all honesty I don't love my watch to the point I'm thinking if trading it in for an upgraded iPad.

I splurged and went for the larger screen and after about a month the novelty wore off and I truthfully forget to wear it for days on end. I mainly wanted it to track sleep but it's comfy to sleep in and the other apps that run on bedside table aren't as actuate as ones that go off heart rate and body movement.

It takes less than half an hour to charge from flat to full, and battery lasts days but I don't do a lot on it. My brother loves his though and is always sending me screenshots of his rings and and stuff.

NameNotImportant · 04/01/2019 00:20

@Didsomeonesaybunny it's the James Bond thing that makes me not use mine to answer or make calls. I spent years teasing my Brother for looking like a dick that even when on my own I just can't do it LOL

Calvinsmam · 04/01/2019 00:24

Oh I’m the opposite name
I bought a series 3 with cellular when the four came out and at the same time I bought an iPad.
I barley use my iPad but use my Apple Watch all the time.
I love being able to just go for a run and not take anything with me and if I need to stop at the shop on the way home I have my cards there.

Didsomeonesaybunny · 04/01/2019 00:29

Haha @namenotimportant that’s the best bit. In the alternate some wireless headphones would do the trick?

Whowouldathunkit · 04/01/2019 07:38

What's the point though?

Unless I'm missing something an Apple Watch is basically just a mobile phone that you strap to your wrist. But if you already have a phone then why would you need two?

And could somebody explain exactly what a fitness tracker is and why anybody would need one. I can track every run I take, I know where the path around the lake goes and hiw long it takes (about twenty minutes) but as I'm not training for the olympics, I dont see how "tracking" my morning run is of any practical use what so ever.

MrsExpo · 04/01/2019 07:44

No it isn’t and no you don’t.

Next ......

PattiStanger · 04/01/2019 08:59

Whowould - I agree with you, I can track exercise on my phone etc and as I have an android phone the rest of the functionality would be of no benefit to me.

But, I guess if you like to have all your idevices connected and money isn't an issue then I can see why you would buy one.

Calvinsmam · 04/01/2019 09:13

So don’t buy one then who

I have one because I run business so have times when a member of staff is working so I need to be contactable and this way I can get beeped in an emergency but can do things without taking my phone.
It also means I can run with my music and running app without taking my phone I just put on my shoes and headphones and go.
I have used my phone a lot less since getting it because when I get a notification I can see what it is so I don’t end up picking up my phone and getting sucked in to see if I have any notifications.

I’ve found it great but I can see why some people wouldn’t get much use out of it. No one is forcing you to buy one though.

AnnaNimmity · 04/01/2019 09:21

I don't see why your need one if you've got your phone with you all the time. I got my bf a garmin for Xmas - for running and fitness - and he loves it. I think it's better for sport. It measures all kind of stuff. You can still get music and messages through it too.

Personally I'm quite shallow and would like one. But can see it's completely unnecessary for sport (I use strava on my phone)

Venus24 · 04/01/2019 09:28

I found my Fitbit more suitable than an Apple Watch. The battery life is just rubbish and I have an expensive little paperweight I never use. I’d never buy another.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 04/01/2019 09:35

Love mine. Ditched my garmin since I got it. All my music is on there for running too so no need to take anything else when I run.

Strava app on there too so even better.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 04/01/2019 09:35

Do you need cellular to listen to music or podcasts without your phone? Or is there an option to download stuff onto the watch before you go out?

Chesneyhawkes1 · 04/01/2019 10:00

Mine doesn't have a separate SIM. It has GPS though. I just created a running playlist on my iPhone and set it to mirror my watch.

Also got some AirPods which I love too. So I just start the music and press start on Strava and away I go.

DeadButDelicious · 04/01/2019 10:21

I have the 4, I really like it.

I don't have to have my phone with me all the time as it does texting and calling etc which is great for me as I have a tendency to forget it. It's a great motivator to get me moving around. Who knew just closing some rings could be such an incentive! I like the breathe function. I use the timer mode when I'm cooking, I get news bulletin headlines, I even have a calculator app on it that has come in very handy.

It also helps me limit my social media use, no facebook, no instagram etc so I'm not tempted to sit scrolling when I could be doing something more productive.

As far as battery life goes it's much improved if you turn off things like raising your wrist to wake it. Mines usually at 40% by the end of the day.

Original poster
WeightWatching2019 · 04/01/2019 10:36

Do you need cellular to listen to music or podcasts without your phone? Or is there an option to download stuff onto the watch before you go out?

Good question!

OP posts:
Calvinsmam · 04/01/2019 11:11

You can download things on mine but I also have cellular so not sure

Original poster
WeightWatching2019 · 04/01/2019 13:52

I’m so tempted 😩

OP posts:
DeadButDelicious · 04/01/2019 13:57

You can download music on to the 4 (16gb internal storage) which is the only one I can speak for but I should imagine you can on the older models. I have cellular and unlimited data so I just stream it.

Original poster
WeightWatching2019 · 04/01/2019 17:03

Ok so I've been looking out of interest at the cellular version. It's about £9/month more expensive than the GPS version and for that you get "the ability to share your phone's data." Say what now? You don't actually get a separate data allowance? An extra £200 just to SHARE your phone's data???

OP posts:
Original poster
WeightWatching2019 · 04/01/2019 17:06

And even if you go for the cellular version you STILL need to have your phone nearby so it can connect via Bluetooth? I genuinely don't understand.

OP posts:
DeadButDelicious · 04/01/2019 17:45

I don't have to have my phone nearby when using cellular, I've regularly gone out and left my handset at home and just used the watch and received calls, texts and streamed music just fine.

I'm with EE and get unlimited data for my watch on top of the data I get for my phone and it shares my phones minutes and texts.

Calvinsmam · 04/01/2019 18:43

I only pay £5 a month for my watch cellular on vodaphone and the first 6 months are free.

RunningLondon · 04/01/2019 18:46

I’ve just got rid of mine. Honestly, it was a waste of money for me. I run and it was constantly needing to be recalibrated, regularly losing distance. So I’d race a half marathon and it would only register 12 miles for example. Not a small discrepancy. Ive got a garmin as a replacement and it’s much, much better. Wouldn’t waste your £. And I’m a big Apple fan, have iPhone, iPad, Mac book etc

Beerflavourednipples · 04/01/2019 18:52

@Whowouldathunkit

I'm with you - I just don't get it... And 400 quid as well!

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 04/01/2019 19:01

I have the 3. Had a couple of fitbits before and it's so much better than them but it is more expensive. The fitbits were OK as far as they went but the straps were poor quality and replaced by Fitbit under warranty (known problem with them) so that was a hassle. I also had problems with syncing them and had to uninstall and reinstall the app several times or unpair and repair the device with the app. The Apple Watch just works.