Thinking about getting my other half an Apple Watch for Christmas...

fforsythuk

Just wanted some thoughts really on whether it was worth getting this Apple Watch...

My other half has commented that his old watch doesn’t work anymore (just wants a battery!) but it is old and heavily scratched.

So I thought I’d go all out and treat him to an Apple Watch with the cellular option. He has the iPhone SE so believe this is compatible.

Also he like the leather bands and you can buy a while range of bands to go with the watch. So I thought that the stainless steel option would look good. Cheapest cellular stainless steel watch (latest series) is £579 (can’t get the stainless steel without choosing the cellular option).

It’s an awful lot of money but he never buys himself anything and all his money goes on the house, me and the kids! So thought this would be nice for him.

I was all ready to buy it but then found out that the cellular part will only work if you are on EE. We’re on O2 and still have about 18 months left to run. With this in mind, would you still go for this smart watch and hope that one day O2 will become compatible?? The other option is to get the watch now and when our phone contracts are due for renewal move to EE??

Alternatively, are there any other smart phones on the market where you can interchange the wrist bands, works with O2 and delivers similar services that the Apple Watch delivers??

Thanks in advance!

ciderboy2009

You might get more responses if you asked this on the technical board.

However, my thoughts - what would he actually use the watch for?

I've got an Android smart watch which I bought with some specific uses in mind (which it's great for) but would not have bought a smart watch otherwise.

I know two people who have bought Apple watches, worn them for a month and then sold them on as they realised that they didn't need the functionality.

Bear in mind that for £579 you can get a nice 'normal' watch. However, if you're fixed on a smart watch then take a look at the other options out there - android watches will operate with Apple phones (and are a lot cheaper) so don't rule them out.

More importantly, get your other half to go shopping for it with you so you can both see what it looks like on his wrist and he can see what it feels like to wear one - they can be rather large and heavy.

onlyroz

I've got a cellular apple watch and I think it's great. The main marketing point is the health and activity tracking - is that something he's interested in? It is good for counting steps and calories, and for doing things like mapped walks and runs.


As for the celluar aspect, I do find it useful to be able to go for a walk and a run, or even nip to the caf! or loo at work, without having to take my phone with me. Also, the apple pay functionality is very useful.

I also wouldn't get hung up on the steel band - I've got the fabric sports band and it's very comfortable, particularly when exercising.


As for whether O2 will offer the apple watch cellular, I wouldn't hold your breath. There is a technical issue - the provider has to be able to share your phone number between the sim in your phone and the e-sim in the watch, and currently only EE is able to do this.


https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/apple/when-will-apple-watch-3-lte-come-o2-3664181/

LandyAndy

onlyroz wrote: »

As for the celluar aspect, I do find it useful to be able to go for a walk and a run, or even nip to the caf! or loo at work, without having to take my phone with me. Also, the apple pay functionality is very useful.

I'm genuinely surprised that people take their phone to the toilet with them. Is this a common thing?

Kim_13

I will pop the thread over to the Techies section for you; as ciderboy2009 says you may get more replies there, as your question is more on the technical side rather than gift ideas in general.

gettingtheresometime

Tbh I find OH's a pita.


He's linked it to his phone so even when his phone is on silent, he's aware of every phone/text message that comes in.


Also when we've been away its a pita having to take the charger with with us.


Personally I think its a gimmick.

20aday

Out of interest does it have to be the cellular version?

I don't know how true it is but could've sworn I read somewhere EE have exclusivity for six months before other providers may start supporting the feature in the future.

Plus the battery life is rapidly diminished if you take the watch out of the house (leaving the phone at home) and making calls on it.

I have an Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 (the 1 is for work) and both are great if you're into tracking your fitness etc-it's come in handy a couple of times when I've left my phone at home and have wanted to use contactless at the checkout.

As above there are other smart watches out there so I'd shop around; a list of supported Android Watches can be found here:

https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/wear/check/

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Tbh I find OH's a pita.


He's linked it to his phone so even when his phone is on silent, he's aware of every phone/text message that comes in.


Also when we've been away its a pita having to take the charger with with us.


Personally I think its a gimmick.

I don't know if your OH is aware of this but when he's left his phone on silent when he's on the watch face screen if he swipes up from the bottom there's an icon with two theatre masks; if he taps that it'll mute all notifications as if you were at the cinema.

You can manually enable 'Do not Disturb' from the same swipe up options also.

System

fforsythuk wrote: »

Just wanted some thoughts really on whether it was worth getting this Apple Watch...

My other half has commented that his old watch doesn’t work anymore (just wants a battery!) but it is old and heavily scratched.

So I thought I’d go all out and treat him to an Apple Watch with the cellular option. He has the iPhone SE so believe this is compatible.

Also he like the leather bands and you can buy a while range of bands to go with the watch. So I thought that the stainless steel option would look good. Cheapest cellular stainless steel watch (latest series) is £579 (can’t get the stainless steel without choosing the cellular option).

It’s an awful lot of money but he never buys himself anything and all his money goes on the house, me and the kids! So thought this would be nice for him.

I was all ready to buy it but then found out that the cellular part will only work if you are on EE. We’re on O2 and still have about 18 months left to run. With this in mind, would you still go for this smart watch and hope that one day O2 will become compatible?? The other option is to get the watch now and when our phone contracts are due for renewal move to EE??

Alternatively, are there any other smart phones on the market where you can interchange the wrist bands, works with O2 and delivers similar services that the Apple Watch delivers??

Thanks in advance!

Tricky decision if spending £600 on your hubby or in general is not a big issue for you then go for it. Also only you can answer how much your hubby is into tech stuff and his thoughts on you spending £600.

I have the old stainless apple watch for 18 months now and love the build quality. The sapphire watch face is excellent and no scratches on it at all even though I have banged it off metal racking many times. I have the basic sports band and that has remained in excellent condition too.

I see it as a watch first and the notifications is a nice added touch but its defiantly a surplus to requirements as in if i did not have the money I would not get another one.

I know this it totally off topic but does he ever use the apple ear buds that come with the phone? if so I would consider getting him the air pods for £160 and a nice quality watch for £440.The airpods are a delight and I would always replace them.

20aday

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Tbh I find OH's a pita.


He's linked it to his phone so even when his phone is on silent, he's aware of every phone/text message that comes in.


Also when we've been away its a pita having to take the charger with with us.


Personally I think its a gimmick.

john22 wrote: »

Tricky decision if spending £600 on your hubby or in general is not a big issue for you then go for it. Also only you can answer how much your hubby is into tech stuff and his thoughts on you spending £600.

I have the old stainless apple watch for 18 months now and love the build quality. The sapphire watch face is excellent and no scratches on it at all even though I have banged it off metal racking many times. I have the basic sports band and that has remained in excellent condition too.

I see it as a watch first and the notifications is a nice added touch but its defiantly a surplus to requirements as in if i did not have the money I would not get another one.

I know this it totally off topic but does he ever use the apple ear buds that come with the phone? if so I would consider getting him the air pods for £160 and a nice quality watch for £440.The airpods are a delight and I would always replace them.

That's one thing about Apple Watch and AirPods; if the OP's OH is into running etc he can leave the phone at home and listen to some music stored on the Watch with the AirPods.

System

20aday wrote: »

That's one thing about Apple Watch and AirPods; if the OP's OH is into running etc he can leave the phone at home and listen to some music stored on the Watch with the AirPods.

Now your talking £760 lol

I would not recommend the cheaper watch if there is a risk of hitting the screen off things because it does not have the sapphire glass.

20aday

john22 wrote: »

Now your talking £760 lol

I would not recommend the cheaper watch if there is a risk of hitting the screen off things because it does not have the sapphire glass.

Sorry I should've mentioned the fact if the OP shops around and is happy with the Series 2 (rather than Series 3).

Originally had the Series 0 model and that was far easier to knock and scratch compared to Series 2. Have knocked my Series 2 a fair few times and it looks as good as new!