Choosing an Apple Watch
 

I've resisted the idea of getting a smart watch for years. I think I'm going to give in. One of my doctors recommended it for fitness tracking.

I have decided I want it to be an Apple Watch.

I want to spend as little as possible, but I don't want to miss out on features or quality. I suspect the SE might not satisfy me but I have no idea why. What does a Series 10 have that a Series 9 doesn't have?

I'm pretty sure I don't want a refurbished unit. That sometimes works out but sometimes not.

Applecare is annoying, because it's expensive, and it basically means the unit isn't good enough out of the box. I buy it anyway for computers, tablets, and phones because I end up using it. I'm leaning towards not getting it for the watch.

I appreciate any guidance. My decisions above are not firm.

What information should I mention? I want to buy strength and flexibility, and I think reminders to exercise will help. I currently use ridewithgps to track my cycling miles. I ride about 2,000 miles per year, mostly commuting, not at a vigorous pace but not at a leisurely pace. I do not struggle with my body weight.

My doctor highly recommended the fitbod app, so I got it.

Thanks.

I guess I'm that guy who ignores your stated preference. :)

Have you considered a Garmin watch? I have been wearing one for well over a year and vastly prefer it to the Apple Watch 7 that I used to wear. Unless the latest AW models and software are drastically difference, I think the Garmin is a better fitness tracker and gives better (and more actionable) health and fitness data. ('Course, it depends which Garmin watch you choose. If you're willing to shell out for any of the Fenix 8 models, you'll get everything they offer along with their best HRM. The Forerunner 955 and 965 give the same capabilities in different packages, and the Fenix 7 models are on-sale and also extremely capable.)

I appreciate that. The 955 is the same cost as the AW Series 9, so I could consider it. I'm guessing it syncs well with apps on the phone or computer, right?

It works with Garmin's own Connect app. If you use the watch for tracking your rides and also wear it off-the-bike (particularly while sleeping), you'll get a tremendous amount of data: training readiness (with submetrics to explain and interpret it), sleep data, body battery, resting HR, etc. I bought the Fenix 7 last year, and it has improved my training tremendously. The sleep data alone led me to cut back my alcohol intake a lot, which has helped my sleep and hence hence training readiness.

Now, if you just want some more simple fitness data (HR, step counting, RWGPS ride tracking, etc), an AW is probably fine. And if you value the smartwatch features, the AW is superior to a Garmin. (I do sometimes miss the AW smart features. If you also use and iPhone, it's pretty great.)

Note that the 955 has a MIP (transreflective) display, which is great in sunlight but not as colorful and vivid as an LED display like the AW. The Garmin Forerunner 965 will give the same feature set with a more modern-looking LED display (with battery life that is still way better than an AW, too.)

I appreciate that you've used both to compare. What do you mean about smartwatch features? Are you saying the Garmin doesn't display emails and texts? I might soon appreciate having those displayed so I don't have to check my computer or phone. Seeing them at a glance unobtrusively might be a good thing when I'm teaching a classroom.

The Garmin watches will display incoming phone calls (and allow you to silence them and send to voicemail) and text messages, and some of the latest Garmins will (like the AW) allow standardized responses ("on my way," "call you later," stuff like that, I believe). I think the latest Garmins (some or all of the Fenix 8 series) will also allow voice control of things like timers and stopwatches, which is useful when, e.g., grilling steaks and such.

The key is that the AW is a great smartwatch with some fitness features, though it doesn't add any features beyond your iPhone's capabilities -- it just puts them in a wrist-sized package. Garmin, on the other hand, makes a great fitness watch with some smartwatch features added in -- though the latest Fenix 8 models are really quite "smart."

It can be a bit bewildering to compare and evaluate them....Might be good to start here and look at the Product Reviews section. My other piece of advice is, if in doubt with the Garmins, just spend more money, as that will always get you more ruggedness and more features.

Two features of my Garmin Venu watch (which I would recommend) are:

1. It broadcasts my heart rate to my Garmin Edge and Apple TV and other devices.

2. It works with my iPhone (which no currently available Apple Watch will, since it is an SE1 and I am stuck at iOS 15, but it works perfectly so I refuse to send it to a landfill).

I've been using a Series 7 for a couple years now. I've been very happy with it. It uploads rides directly to Strava. The biggest plus is I don't have to carry my phone! I think it was within a month of buying it that I received an emergency call on it from my mother-in-law while I was out on a ride. I don't know what additional features the new ones have but mine gives me plenty of health related data. The most significant to me was that I used to worry about not getting enough sleep or good sleep. My watch seems to indicate otherwise. I choose to believe my watch which has eliminated my anxiety regarding sleep - an unexpected benefit. I did zero comparative shopping. It was part of package cell phone deal that allowed me to ditch my hated cable company. No regrets.

I think you're saying your Garmin Venu works with your iphone but no Apple Watch will work with your iphone. That isn't true. So what did you mean to say?

I'm under the impression that an Apple Watch can capture heart rate and acceleration and other metrics. With acceleration, it can infer the types of motion I'm making, i.e. lifting weights, climbing stairs, cycling.

Again, please show where I'm wrong.

I'm strongly inclined not to get cellular in my watch. I'm under the impression that to do that, I would have to add a line and pay the cost of a line as if it were a line with a phone number. Correct me if I'm wrong. I also don't have cellular in my tablet for that reason. My carrier is AT&T.

I guess the Garmin Venu is discontinued because on Amazon, it is available only as renewed. And it got me looking at Garmin watches. The Garmin vivoactive 4S is particularly handsome. I'm reluctantly accepting the bulk of these things, and this model is less bulky. Also, the long service on a single charge is a big plus.

My current watch is a Seiko without even a second hand. It's very light and thin, and I use a leather band. Getting used to the bulk and weight will be something, and so will the sweatiness of most of the bands available. Maybe I can later get a leather band.

That is exactly what I am saying. It is true. https://support.apple.com/en-mide/118490


It captures (records) heart rate fine. It doesn't play nice (share its data) with a Garmin Edge, for example. If that isn't a concern, don't worry about it. But again, that does not entail my statement is false.

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I'm fairly sure you are correct.

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Garmin Venu 3 is the current iteration. It is also one of the few that has EKG.

The irony is you have to pay more for a second hand watch. (I'll be here all day.)

I'm still confused. This is a chart showing how Apple Watches DO work with iphones, but the text you wrote says NO Apple Watch will work with an iphone.

Maybe you're talking about how you are stuck at iOS 15. I have an iphone12 with iOS 18 so I think I'll be good with an Apple Watch.

I didn't quote the rest of your text, but it is useful, and I thank you again. Everything everyone has written is helpful.

This is one place where my Garmin watch really fails. I can have a sleepless night (unfortunately all too common), tossing and turning, getting up several times, etc, and it will totally gas-light me in the morning, congratulating me on a great night of sleep. It is probably a software limitation.

Yes, that is the problem. Any Apple Watch currently available for sale requires a newer iPhone OS (and therefore in my case, a new phone, since my SE1 is stuck at iOS 15).

If I could find an Apple Watch Series 7 or earlier, NOS, that would work, unless/until I need to upgrade the watch OS.

(I went through all of this when I purchased my Garmin watch. It has only gotten worse as my phone has grown more obsolete.)

No currently available Apple Watch will work with my obsolete iPhone SE1. I didn't specify currently available the first time around, but I did specify the SE1.

I picked up a new Apple Watch in September and went with the 10 after seriously considering the 9 and the current SE. I did wifi/bluetooth to avoid the additional cost of a data plan for the watch. The key deciding factors were:

• watch body to display size - 10 display is larger than either the 9 or SE
• Battery life - 10 has longer life
• Display - the 10 is easier to see and larger
• Weight - the 10 is slightly lighter than either the 9 or the current SE
• I went with the 44mm size and the Mrs went with the smaller version

I buy tech and use us for a long time so I buy at the head of the curve and keep things longer than most. this approach leaves me at risk at being phased out by Apple before the device stops working and I am OK with that. I'll take the seamless integration and functionality of the Apple ecosystem any day. I like the sleep tracking feature and the fitness motivation it offers.

I have installed the Garmin app on my phone and take it with me but don't worry about accessing it but have it as needed. Additional peace of mind when I’m out on the trails.

I'll be glad to answer any questions you may think of along the way.

When I was looking at smart watches 9 months ago I considered both Garmin and Apple. Note I have used Garmin GPSs for years and have an Edge. I had been watching heart rate just for tracking and recovery while riding.

Anyway look at what data you and the doc suggests since the suggestion came that way. Also what you want to do with it. I got the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar. First it is more rugged. I hit the asphalt at 25 mph and scratched the bezel the first week I had it. The crystal shrugged it off. The Apple would have broken the screen.

The Fenix has ECG (EKG) and at the time Apple did not have that feature at the time. The health check does O2 , heart and breathing rate. I like I can use it to record a ride if I forget my head unit. But I imagine if you use an iPhone the Apple Watch may pair better for you.

As others said check out DC Rainmaker. He has some comparison videos.

https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/a...atch-vs-garmin

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/product-...son-calculator

I know you were comparing one AW model to another AW model, but I must point out that the AW 10 is rated for 18 hours. The Garmin Forerunner 965 is rated for 23 days in smartwatch mode.

I don’t really track fitness, not sure what data my Garmin Instinct gives me that tells me, other than HR and sleep info. Im sure if I learned all the features, it would tell me stuff, not interested currently. I do use my Instinct (2 Solar) to send HR to my Edge 1040 when riding, as well as it tracks my swim workouts in a pool, or can track open water swims, as well as tracks my kayak trips. Every completed activity goes to RWGPS via Connect, which is a requirement as that’s my activity tracker. Since it allows Live Track via the Garmin Connect Mobile App, my wife knows where I am when solo kayaking (when there’s cell service), which is useful. I have seen 42 days in a charge on this watch when I am riding and kayaking hub summer, usually battery is 24 days or so between charges.

I really wanted to get a smart watch / fitness tracker. I just never knew why. Maybe because I like the tech? So I did. Apple watch 9. Beautiful looking thing. Wore it for couple of weeks and returned it. Why? I see no real reason or purpose that this will serve in my life. Most metrics are an approximation at best.
- HR will never be as accurate as your strap you wear while cycling
- sleep data? That will all depend on how you wear your watch and again, hit and miss BUT most importantly, when was the last time you woke up from having a ****** night sleep (getting up, tossing turning etc) to say yeap I feel rested. And the vice versa. There fore useless.
- training data? Well the watch will tell you to rest 48h before you ride again after a hard ride. Are you going to listen to it? Why would you when next day you wake up and you are rested? According to my Garmin computer during my last cycling trip to Mallorca, I should have quick after day 2 and spend the other 5 days in bed. Therefore useless.
- txts? Calls? I want to get away from those not get more of them in my life.

I just dont see the reason.

In your case, ask your doctor what metrics do you NEED. Get a watch that will support that. I am willing to bed AW SE2 will get you EVERYTHING that you will need.

Thanks. I've also been fighting the idea for quite a while. I love gadgets and always have, including digital ones. But I have so many, and their care and feeding is getting large. I have a nice laptop computer I use throughout the day for work, school, and my personal life as well as for entertainment. I have a tablet and a smartphone, and I have those fancy, expensive wireless earbuds. I want to spend my money wisely. When smartphones got up to $400, I thought it was outrageous, especially considering how short they last. Well now they last more and withstand water and shocks better than before, but they're also more expensive.

Having yet another thing to keep charged is a concern. I want a watch to collect data but it can't when it's charging. I guess that will sort itself out once I get it. Maybe it will be evident that I don't need it to collect data at certain parts of my day.

The fact that the measurements are not precise is OK. Over time, the averages are good enough. I use my phone and ridewithgps to record my miles, and already this time sync seems a bit excessive at times. I hit RECORD when I start a ride, and I hit SAVE when I end it. And when I realize I forgot to record mid-ride, I get angry with myself as I start recording late. I also forget to record some rides. But it's really not very consequential. One of the most interesting metrics is miles per year. I think my measured tally is close enough to the actual miles ridden. It shows my trends of riding and not riding.

Tracking this stuff is motivating for me and some others. It's not for some people, and that's fine. Something that keeps me in motion and keeps my strength up is a good thing. I have a tendency to be idle, so motivation is good for me.

I have a chest-strap heart monitor, but it's yet another thing to remember and not lose. It's a bit uncomfortable. I can use it with ridewithgps but I don't know how to get an instant readout. I would really like that. I would like to see a graph of my heart rate over a few hours without using ridewithgps, and I don't know how. So the watch, while less accurate, seems like a good compromise of convenience and accuracy.

My iphone already does an admirable job at counting steps and miles walked. I happen to enjoy climbing stairs, and I have many opportunities to do that, so when my stairs-climbed tally goes up in a day, it's nice to see. I climb vigorously, always two at a time.

I looked at some Garmin watches, and they look great, though the prices of some of them are dizzying. I think I'm willing to spend $400 because it's an investment in my health and happiness. It's far more than I've ever spent on a watch, and regular old dumb watches last a damn long time so $400 could cost me $100 per year if it lasts four years. Sure, the smartwatch provides more value, so to speak, but the cost and the care and feeding detract from the value. The long battery life that Garmins offer are a big enticement.

I want to go with the app the doctor recommended, Fitbod. It does not work with Garmin watches. I was close to choosing one of those. I suppose I'll be happy with an Apple Watch. I'll consider the SE. If it satisfies me, the money savings will, too.

Thank you!

This is the watch I currently wear. I got it used at my favorite watch repair shop.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e5fa244d3.jpeg

First world problem? Not only having a watch repair shop in your area, but having enough to have a favorite! I'm slightly jealous.

True. We have a lot of advantages. I walk 5 minutes to the supermarket, and I don't even use a cart. I carry three or four bags. Even a bicycle is overkill for that job.

But it's New York City, a place that its residents both love and hate, all for hundreds of reasons.

There is no replacing a traditional analog watch and that kept me from making the jump for a long time and yet here we are.

Yup. You understand where I'm coming from.

Last school year, I taught 4th grade. Young people today have enough trouble reading dialface clocks. When they saw my watch with no numbers on it, they wondered how I could use it. :)

Imagine using this clock. ;)


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5e4fec870e.jpg