I'm too late to give you my $0.02 but I have used an Apple Watch for over three years. It's an older model so this probably won't apply if you have a newer series or one with cellular. What I do not like: short battery life (I keep it on theater mode to save battery but need to charge at least an hour every day) and the built in fitness app. I tried using 3rd party fitness apps but needed to carry my phone for them to work and still lost signal. I still use a Garmin for all workouts. What I like: text messages alerts, Apple Pay, and 3rd party apps like HeartWatch and AutoSleep.

I recently got a Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music watch during Amazon Prime Day. I didn't realize it was a smart watch when I bought it. (I got it for GPS running). I have to say that I'm ready to retire the Apple Watch and use the Vivo full time. It does everything I need and more. It reminds me of the features I liked when I used a Fitbit (steps, floor count, etc) plus the alerts for text messages that I like on the Apple Watch. It works great with Spotify. It has great battery life. I haven't yet tried Garmin Pay so not sure how that stacks up against Apple Pay.

OP here - in case anyone was wondering (I'm sure many of you are just dying to know!), I did buy one. It was $200, and I had a $50 gift card. I bought an adorable tortoise shell band to replace the plain white band it came with.

So far, I definitely like it. My favorite is actually being able to control my music from my watch - I have music playing 99% of the time I am home, but don't usually carry my phone on my person around my house. So now I can skip the song without having to stop what I'm doing. Completely unnecessary, but extremely satisfying. I'm still getting used to using my watch to tell time as opposed to grabbing my phone out of habit.

In summary, as suspected throughout the thread, it's really not a need but a want. There are some conveniences that make it fun to have.

I love mine. I was really resistant, but it has changed my life. I am a fitness buff and this thing tracks better than my garmin for triathlons. More accurate.

I don't like to take my phone into meetings, which has sometimes caused a few issues. Now, I can glance at my watch if someone (including kids) are looking for me.

I have heart disease and use it for heart rate and afib tracker. It also takes an ECG.
Medical wearables

Anonymous wrote: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.

I dont have a full out smart watch, but a Fitbit that I can get texts and email notifications on. I totally agree that I keep my phone out of my hand much better now. I can glance, and mostly ignore unless I see something timely. Otherwise, my phone will buzz. I see an email that I don't care about. I'll get distracted by some other worthless, mindless activity on the phone. The watch letse screen messages without getting distracted.

I love mine as well. I think the nylon mesh bands are the most comfortable (and easy to find knock-offs that don't cost an arm and a leg). I can set the face display. I use the Milano band when I have to be in a hearing or at an important meeting, and it's dressy enough that I don't feel like I'm wearing a giant Garmin or anything. I use ApplePay and the Starbucks app when I don't want to fumble my phone out. I am not a fitness junkie but the closing of the rings is my adult sticker chart that keeps me motivated. My only regret is that I wish I'd spent more for the one with data -- so I do have to have my phone close by -- but I'm still very happy with it.

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.

That's actually why I need one. I never have my phone out and always forget to look at it. I literally need that tap on the wrist to remember anything.