Do I want an Apple Watch?

[Anonymous]

I'm posting this here specifically because I am in the market for a new watch, and was initially looking at regular women's watches. I consider myself pretty stylish overall but not to an extreme. I used to wear a FitBit and it was fine, but I never liked how it looked. When it died, I just never replaced it, and I haven't really missed it since.

I was recently browsing watches and for the price of what I was considering, I could get an older series Apple Watch for only a little bit more. At first, I immediately dismissed the idea because I haven't really missed my FitBit since I stopped using one. Sure it was kind of cool to see my steps and exercise stats but I don't need to know these things. But now I'm debating if an Apple Watch can really be dual purpose... there are a ton of more stylish bands for cheap on Amazon now, so I don't necessarily need to worry about the "look" of a fitness watch. So I'd be getting a cute watch, but also have these little extra features. So my question is, what sort of things do people actually USE their Apple Watches for? If you're not a hardcore runner, then does the fitness stuff really matter to you? Is it really that great to see your texts or emails on a watch? Any experiences you might have to share would be very welcomed.

P.S. I did search this, and was able to read a few posts about it, but I was unable to click past the first page of search results without getting an error, so forgive me if this is a redundant topic.

[Anonymous]

I am not a fitness person so I don’t use my Apple Watch for that purpose. I use it only while I’m working (I’m a teacher). With four kids at three different places, it’s good to know when someone missed the bus, who woke up sick, whose teacher is calling, etc, without looking at my phone. A quick glance at my wrist and I’m good. Other than that, I don’t use it for anything else. So pointless

[Anonymous]

I honestly don’t get them. As if people don’t do enough staring into their phones. Now they need a watch to stare at that shows the same thing but smaller, as the phone they stare at.

[Anonymous]

I love mine, but I am a runner and fitness junkie. But it has a lot of cool features otherwise. Like PP stated I like not having to pull my phone out constantly. I am an attorney so I can’t have my phone out in court many times so having it lets me quickly and discreetly preview my texts and emails. It’s easy to tap back a stock response like yes, no, thanks, etc.

You can set up your phone from a distance to take the picture and then use the camera app on the watch to actually take the picture so you don’t have to be the big head in a group selfie.

I am a sports nut and I have an app that live-updates sports games.

It’s weird because I originally bought it just as a GPS Watch because of the LTE capabilities, which I set up and pay for (when I run, I’m almost always alone and never carry my phone). But now it’s sort of really integrated into my daily life and I would have a hard time going back to a regular watch.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a fitness person either, but admit I'm more aware of my exercise/water intake/etc. now that I have one, which I consider a bonus.

I find that having the Apple Watch means I spend a lot less time on my phone/screens. I can see messages and get calls on my watch so I don't have to pick up my phone to see who it is and whether or not its important. My issue is that once I have my phone in my hand it was too easy to click over to the internet or instagram "just for a minute" and before I know it I've lost five or ten or fifteen minutes. The watch makes it easy to just react the message/call (or not if you'd prefer).

I also love it for travel (the airline apps mean that I don't have to get my phone out to find out my gate has changed, flight is delayed, or bag has made it), groceries (apps that put your list right on your watch so you don't have to carry around phone/paper&pen), calendar with upcoming events, so on.

To be honest my least favorite thing about it is the way it looks - they are big and I don't love the black screen when at rest. But it's be useful enough for me in the meantime that I wear it everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don’t get them. As if people don’t do enough staring into their phones. Now they need a watch to stare at that shows the same thing but smaller, as the phone they stare at.

Thanks for this important and helpful contribution

[Anonymous]

I got mine as a gift a few months ago (from my husband, who had one and loved it). I never really wanted one before that, but I love it too.

I would not describe myself as a fitness junkie, but I do run and commute by bike and I like that the watch tracks it all (I've never had a fitbit or anything else so I can't compare). I like that you can track swimming workouts as well. I'm more motivated by the fitness tracking than I would have thought.

I like running with songs loaded on the watch and airpods, no need to bring your phone.

I also like that I don't have to bring my phone into meetings, I'll get an important text if I need it. I always felt like I needed to have my phone on me if our kids' school or nanny called.

I'm a dork and I like switching the bands on it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got mine as a gift a few months ago (from my husband, who had one and loved it). I never really wanted one before that, but I love it too.

I would not describe myself as a fitness junkie, but I do run and commute by bike and I like that the watch tracks it all (I've never had a fitbit or anything else so I can't compare). I like that you can track swimming workouts as well. I'm more motivated by the fitness tracking than I would have thought.

I like running with songs loaded on the watch and airpods, no need to bring your phone.

I also like that I don't have to bring my phone into meetings, I'll get an important text if I need it. I always felt like I needed to have my phone on me if our kids' school or nanny called.

I'm a dork and I like switching the bands on it too.

OP here - I think this is actually what might appeal to me the most. In theory, I could change up the style of my watch as often as I want to. Of course there are regular watches out there that offer this, but the Apple Watch also has these other perks, albeit unnecessary ones.

Thanks everyone for the input so far. This truly seems to be one of those things where people are just always going to be mixed, and it's really just a "probably useless but nice to have" kind of accessory.

[Anonymous]

I know you said you tried to search old threads. I find it more helpful to use Google for those type of searches. Not sure if any of these will be helpful, and there are others, but fwiw:


talk to me about your Apple Watch
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/746790.page

apple watch?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/763790.page

Apple watch worth it?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/658101.page

Apple watch for help with weight loss, fitness?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/707554.page

[Anonymous]

I use it all the time to find my phone. I always lose my phone! You just ping it from your watch. It is great. I also delete emails a lot from it.

[Anonymous]

I actually LOVE, LOVE my new fancy jewelry watch. I got a nice watch in high school in the 90s but it had a blue face and I never really wore it once i got to college and over time it got lost to the ages and Ive never worn one since. My sister has a fancy that always looks nice. After borrowing hers for an event, I recently bought a Longines from Nordsrom (about $1800) and i never tire of looking at how pretty it is on my wrist. It makes me feel pulled together and it looks special w/o being garish. In my opinion I think the Apple watch look so boring in comparison and agree with the person above who said it just shows whats on your phone but smaller.

[Anonymous]

I have had my watch for about a year and a half and initially I just used it for sleep tracking. I was not feeling well rested when I woke up in the mornings so I started wearing it at night and using an app (Pillow) to track sleep cycles and deep sleep vs. light sleep. An added benefit is that I started using the alarm feature to wake me up. Now I use that every day -- I much prefer the vibration on my arm to wake me up vs. an audio alarm.

Recently I have started wearing the watch more for fitness tracking. I try and close all three rings in the Apple Watch Activity mode (stand 12 hours, exercise 30 minutes, move a certain number of calories).

I do find seeing who is texting/calling me to be helpful but I don't really use the watch for most purposes other than fitness and well being. I don't check email, calendars, social media sites, or news from my watch.

[Anonymous]

I have an Apple Watch and even with the stainless steel or leather bands, it still looks more “fitness watch” than nice, cute watch. I like the functionality though so I’ll probably keep it for a while.

[Anonymous]

The thing I like best about my Apple Watch is that it allows me to permanently have my phone on mute. Instead, the watch just taps my wrist. This way I never have to worry that my phone will make noise when I don’t want it to or, alternatively, is silenced when I am actually counting on it to notify me.

Additionally, I also like that it means I need my phone less. I no longer always have it with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got mine as a gift a few months ago (from my husband, who had one and loved it). I never really wanted one before that, but I love it too.

I would not describe myself as a fitness junkie, but I do run and commute by bike and I like that the watch tracks it all (I've never had a fitbit or anything else so I can't compare). I like that you can track swimming workouts as well. I'm more motivated by the fitness tracking than I would have thought.

I like running with songs loaded on the watch and airpods, no need to bring your phone.

I also like that I don't have to bring my phone into meetings, I'll get an important text if I need it. I always felt like I needed to have my phone on me if our kids' school or nanny called.

I'm a dork and I like switching the bands on it too.

OP here - I think this is actually what might appeal to me the most. In theory, I could change up the style of my watch as often as I want to. Of course there are regular watches out there that offer this, but the Apple Watch also has these other perks, albeit unnecessary ones.

Thanks everyone for the input so far. This truly seems to be one of those things where people are just always going to be mixed, and it's really just a "probably useless but nice to have" kind of accessory.

I think you're probably right. If you have it, you'll find ways to use it. If you don't, a regular watch will be fine.

I like some of the bands but like a PP said the black screen isn't really attractive like a nice watch. But, before my husband got me this my main watch was a nice Omega one that is much prettier but I do get more use out of this. I feel like I wore the other watch more as jewelry than for function given that for most of the day I'm on a computer or phone at work. I still wear the Omega when I'm more dressed up.