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The Apple Watch is likely to be a hot holiday present this year.
And the Apple Watch Series 4, which was released in September, is the first major redesign since the device was first released. It’s got a bigger screen, a thinner body, and new health features like an ECG app that can take basic heart readings that can tell you you need to see a doctor.
These tweaks seem to have driven a higher level of interest in the Apple Watch Series 4. Of course, the watches also got a slight price increase, to $399 for the smaller aluminum 42 mm watch, or $429 for the larger, 44 mm watch.
So is it the right gift this year to get for your friends or family? Or do you want one for yourself?
I’ve been wearing the Apple Watch Series 4 since it came out in September, and my conclusion is that it really depends on who you are.
If you use Android, you don’t want it — it only works with iPhones. If you’re a workout warrior or concerned about your health, it’s a great buy. If you’re worried about digital distractions, however, I suspect the Apple Watch may only make your issues worse.
But the Apple Watch is still a marvel of engineering, and the latest version is a big step forward in terms of hardware.
Let’s dive in:
Let’s start with telling the time, because even though it’s an advanced computer, it’s still a watch, after all.
The Apple Watch Series 4 comes with two faces that you can’t get on other Apple Watches, and they’re packed with “complications,” or little widgets that can provide information at a glance.
I have these set up with my activity rings, the time in California, when the sunset and sunrise is, and sometimes I put on a weather complication, too.
The Apple Watch remains a formidable workout buddy, supporting a variety of fitness tracking, including walking, running, cycling, rowing, interval training, swimming, and yoga.
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Previously, you used to have to manually start a workout on the Apple Watch. But now, the watch can use its sensors to figure out you’re doing a workout, and ask you if you want to track it. It’s also light enough that you forget that you’re wearing it.
But I found often that the watch would say I was doing an outdoor walking workout if I was merely walking from place to place. Hey — I’m a New Yorker, and I walk fast. I have places to go. It was a little bit annoying.
The Apple Watch can also record your heart rate and give you a notification if it’s higher than normal. I didn’t really like this feature; I know when I’m stressed or on-edge.
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When the new software comes out, it will be able to identify if you might want to talk to your doctor about an irregular heartbeat and take a more professional “ECG” reading, but we haven’t been able to test that yet.
The green light is the laser Apple uses to record heart rates.
The notification features annoyed me, too. I already use my iPhone way too much, and I’m easily distracted by dings and pop-ups. Now imagine your wrist vibrating when you get a text.
I couldn’t deal with my wrist vibrating about 12 times per hour.Business Insider
There are lots of ways to reduce the number of notifications you get on your Apple Watch in the app on the iPhone, but out of the box, it just mirrors the settings you have on your phone.
I ended up buying this vertical charger for about $10 that props the Apple Watch up vertically.
It still requires an Apple-made charger, which costs $30. Nightstand mode, as shown in the picture, is great though — dim enough that you don’t hurt your eyes checking the time, as can happen with an iPhone.
Grab the charger from Amazon.
So, is the Apple Watch Series 4 right for you?
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If you know that you want an Apple Watch, but are trying to figure out which one to buy, the answer, in my opinion, is clear: you want the Apple Watch Series 4, if you can afford it.
The Series 3 now costs $279 and the Series 4 starts at $399 from Apple.
