Is the Apple Watch Worth It?
The Apple Watch Series 4. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Battery life is still very solid, 6 years on.
I’ve had an Apple Watch Series 4 (45mm, non-cellular model) since 2018, and I want to share my thoughts on using it for the past six years. I’m writing this more as a post-mortem rather than a review, knowing full well that this generation of Apple Watch is almost “vintage” according to the company that makes and sells them.
The Apple Watch has fulfilled three of my biggest expectations of it:
- It gives me a quick method to check incoming messages from my wife and daughter when I am away from my desk or when my iPhone is not easily accessible. I can also write short responses without having to pull out my iPhone.
- It tracks my fitness routines, whether I’m lifting weights, cycling or swimming.
- It provides me with key metrics (time, date, calendar, and weather) at a glance.
I’ve been very impressed with the durability and wear on my Apple Watch. Its screen is still vibrant, despite the several small scratches that adorn the display. Battery life is still about 15 hours or so, which is more than fine as I take off my watch when I settle in for the evening. And the Apple Watch has held up very well as a water-resistant device. I routinely wear it while swimming, without any concern.
I appreciate the flexibility and variety of straps available for my Apple Watch. This strap just arrived today.
I use a handful of apps on the Apple Watch that I have come to rely on. The first is Fantastical, which alerts me to upcoming meetings, appointments and activities. The second is Kayak, which provides me with flight information (departure times, check-in times, gate numbers, etc.) when I’m traveling.
I purchased the Apple Watch Series for for $429US brand new. Amortized over the past 6 years, my daily cost for wearing it is roughly 20 cents a day, not counting the nominal cost of electricity used to charge it every night.
Later this year, I hope to purchase an Apple Watch 10 series. I’m not expecting much in the way of a change in form-factor, but I am looking forward to using its expanded fitness / health tracking and safety features. The 4 series will be passed down to my daughter, who is excited at the prospect of having her very first Apple Watch. For me, the Apple Watch has been totally worth it.
-Krishna
Bob
July 4, 2024 at 12:08 amThings I do with my GPS Only Series 4 Apple Watch:
• It tells time, date, day of the week
• Every iPhone alarm, appears on my wrist, where you can acknowledge it, dismiss it, etc…
• I like the iPhone 3rd party “Alarmed” app (http://yoctoville.com), for my alarms
• Ring.com door bell can display a static image on the Apple Watch
• Weather (this gets used a lot)
• MyRadar 3rd party app will display radar image
• MyRadar and WeatherBug 3rd party apps will send you weather alerts
• Make/Receive phone calls
• Make/Receive FaceTime audio calls
• Use Walkie-Talkie to other Apple Watches anywhere on the planet
• Silence phone ringing by pressing the digital crown (great for SPAM calls)
• Send & receive iMessages
• Send & receive SMS TEXT
• Say “Hey Siri, 14 and a half minute timer”
• Say “Hey Siri, remind me when I get home to do xyz”
• Say “Hey Siri, message my wife/husband/Susan/George/etc…”
• Say “Hey Siri, start Outdoor Walk”
• Say “Hey Siri, end workout”
• Say “Hey Siri, find my iPhone”
• Say “Hey Siri, flashlight”
• Use a 3rd party garage door opener app and device (such as MyQ)
• You can check your calendar
• Read your email
• If you need to take an iPhone picture where you cannot see the screen, use Apple Watch Camera app as a view finder/shutter release
• 3rd party Ocean’s Tide app for beach visits
• Hand washing reminder and timer
• Unlock your Mac (I do this several times a day)
• Unlock your iPhone when you are wearing a mask
• Track your exercise and physical activities
Since my Wife got her Apple Watch, we have been able to reliably iMessage each other, as she never keeps here iPhone on her person.
If my Apple Watch was lost, stolen, or broken, I would order a replacement as fast as possible, as I would miss it so much.
Krishna
July 4, 2024 at 11:24 pmThose are great use cases, Bob! I forgot about the “Unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch” feature. I use that one quite a bit as well.