Apple Watch Series 4: Should you upgrade?
Having trouble deciding on if you should get the new Apple Watch Series 4? AppleInsider walks you through all the reasons to, and not to, upgrade.
If you are considering the Apple Watch Series 4, you most likely fall in to one of three camps. You either own the previous generation Apple Watch Series 3, an earlier model Apple Watch, or you don't own an Apple Watch at all. Let's take a look at each of those scenarios.
The hardware has never been better, with all ceramic backs, physical haptic feedback to the Digital Crown, finally larger edge-to-edge displays, and some of the most impressive health features ever packed into a wearable.
To go with is watchOS 5 -- by far the most impressive OS yet. It helps performance, introduces new watch faces, goes a long way towards improving Siri, and so much more.
At this point, if you have been debating on getting an Apple Watch, not much should be holding back. Possibly other than the price.
What should you do? If you are ok with the prices, go with the Series 4. Otherwise, there has never been a time to pick up the Series 3 which are still just as fast and nearly as capable but at a new lower price.
If you were an early adopter to the Apple Watch, you know some of the imperfections that are present. The devices were slow, with somewhat cramped screens, and didn't exactly know their purpose.
Series 4 has finally figured that out. Health and information are the two biggest selling points of the Apple Watch and Series 4 doubles down on both of those.
The large, edge-to-edge screens look great while not drastically increasing the size of the case. More information can be shared, photos look better, and complications can show much more.
Health-wise -- fall detection, heart rate monitoring, ECG, and new workouts included on the Series 3 or with watchOS 5 are all improvements.
Simply put, the Series 4 Apple Watch goes miles beyond the Series 0, 1, or 2.
What should you do? Upgrade! Early Apple Watches were very slow devices, and the earliest don't even support watchOS 5. Jumping on the Series 4 will be a major upgrade.
One of the most difficult positions to be in is that of just picked up the previous generation. Apple Watches aren't cheap, so it can be a tough decision on whether to upgrade merely a year later.
There are, however, two good cases for upgrading.
First, this is the first redesign to the Apple Watch. Larger display, better speaker, health improvements, new Digital Crown, all are tantalizing reasons to trade up. This isn't a minor spec bump that is incrementally faster, but a overall reworking of the hardware.
Second, the third generation Apple Watch is still an excellent device. It has held its value well and will be easier to flip on the second hand market to upgrade to that new, shiny, Apple Watch Series 4.
This also happens to be the boat that I'm in. I can tell you why I'm upgrading, which is primarily that new display and the improved cellular connection. For something I use every day, and rely on more and more, I want to be able to get the most out of it.
What should you do? How important is the new screen? If the screen isn't a big deal to you, go ahead and hold off for another year.
Decide on picking up tthe new Apple Watch? Check out the AppleInsider price guide to find the best deals.
If you are considering the Apple Watch Series 4, you most likely fall in to one of three camps. You either own the previous generation Apple Watch Series 3, an earlier model Apple Watch, or you don't own an Apple Watch at all. Let's take a look at each of those scenarios.
I've been waiting to get an Apple Watch
This is the easiest call to make. If you have been holding out for an Apple Watch, this is the time to make the leap. The early reviews have been glowing, and Apple seems to have finally nailed down what the Apple Watch is best at.The hardware has never been better, with all ceramic backs, physical haptic feedback to the Digital Crown, finally larger edge-to-edge displays, and some of the most impressive health features ever packed into a wearable.
To go with is watchOS 5 -- by far the most impressive OS yet. It helps performance, introduces new watch faces, goes a long way towards improving Siri, and so much more.
At this point, if you have been debating on getting an Apple Watch, not much should be holding back. Possibly other than the price.
What should you do? If you are ok with the prices, go with the Series 4. Otherwise, there has never been a time to pick up the Series 3 which are still just as fast and nearly as capable but at a new lower price.
I own one of the early Apple Waches
If you were an early adopter to the Apple Watch, you know some of the imperfections that are present. The devices were slow, with somewhat cramped screens, and didn't exactly know their purpose.
Series 4 has finally figured that out. Health and information are the two biggest selling points of the Apple Watch and Series 4 doubles down on both of those.
The large, edge-to-edge screens look great while not drastically increasing the size of the case. More information can be shared, photos look better, and complications can show much more.
Health-wise -- fall detection, heart rate monitoring, ECG, and new workouts included on the Series 3 or with watchOS 5 are all improvements.
Simply put, the Series 4 Apple Watch goes miles beyond the Series 0, 1, or 2.
What should you do? Upgrade! Early Apple Watches were very slow devices, and the earliest don't even support watchOS 5. Jumping on the Series 4 will be a major upgrade.
I own the Series 3 Apple Watch
One of the most difficult positions to be in is that of just picked up the previous generation. Apple Watches aren't cheap, so it can be a tough decision on whether to upgrade merely a year later.
There are, however, two good cases for upgrading.
First, this is the first redesign to the Apple Watch. Larger display, better speaker, health improvements, new Digital Crown, all are tantalizing reasons to trade up. This isn't a minor spec bump that is incrementally faster, but a overall reworking of the hardware.
Second, the third generation Apple Watch is still an excellent device. It has held its value well and will be easier to flip on the second hand market to upgrade to that new, shiny, Apple Watch Series 4.
This also happens to be the boat that I'm in. I can tell you why I'm upgrading, which is primarily that new display and the improved cellular connection. For something I use every day, and rely on more and more, I want to be able to get the most out of it.
What should you do? How important is the new screen? If the screen isn't a big deal to you, go ahead and hold off for another year.
Decide on picking up tthe new Apple Watch? Check out the AppleInsider price guide to find the best deals.
Comments
To me the real value lies in the new EKG and fall detection abilities. If I were someone in this category that needed those features, I would choose the Series 4 in a heartbeat (no pun intended). My mom is definitely going to get the Series 4, whether I upgrade or not. A byproduct of the larger active display area is that it means it will also be easier for my mom to use, with her aging eyes as well. So it's win/win.
For me, however, I have no heart issues, and am not prone to falling, or putting myself into situations where I'm alone and could fall accidentally. And I don't need a larger display for my eyesight. So to me, it's purely a cosmetic upgrade, especially for the minimal increase. Now, if I really needed 8 complications at a glance on my wrist on a regular basis, then maybe I would see the utility of having the larger display. But as it is, it's not yet a compelling upgrade for me. That said, given the ability to use the watch without an iPhone around, means that the user is going to rely on the display moreso that with the iPhone around. So that would be a major consideration if someone wants to leave the phone behind more often -- I'm just not sure how much better the experience would be given the nominal increase in display area to be worth the upgrade at this juncture.
I don't know why I'd want to wear an Apple Watch at night really, as opposed to having it on the nightstand charging (a simple tap on it brings up the time display, pretty much the only thing I'd be interested in), but that's a good idea for someone who needs it on at night, or who wants to fitness-track their sex life, I suppose ...
Would saying "hey Siri, start a workout" kill the mood?
I can't seem to find this info on Apple's website.
Meanwhile my new Gold 512GB iPhone Xs Max is arriving tomorrow via FedEx. Been hanging onto my 7 Plus for two years. So it looks like I’m going to alternate each year between a new iPhone now and a new WATCH next year and so forth.
Would saying "hey Siri, start a workout" kill the mood?
With watchOS 5, it will notice you’ve started your workout and tap you to ask if you want to record it.
I don't know why everyone keeps dumping on the SE like it is some ancient piece of tech. It is older for sure, but it is 2 whole generations (counting by the A9 chipset) newer than the oldest iPhone that is compatible with iOS12. Apple will likely support it with iOS13 as well (based on track record) which means 2 more years (Sept 2018-Sept 2020) of serviceable life.
TBH, I would have been preordering its successor had Apple made one, but they didn't. Since my wife really prefers a smaller phone, we have decided to stay with her SE for now since it is still supported and perfectly usable (especially with the improvements seen from iOS12). Of course YMMV, but let's stop the whole "my SE is completely useless now that it is 100 years old" meme.