Thanks, MaireCate. I think I will get it, but probably not cellular. I already feel like Im being ”monthly fee’d” to death. Will have to think more about that. You do make it sound tempting!

My daughter initially got one with cellular and found it wasn't necessary so dropped the addition to her account.

When I put mine on the first time I thought it looked ridiculously large on my little wrist. But it soon became beautiful because of its utility.

They do look a bit big, but the big iphones looked funny to me at first and now Im used to them.

Now i have to decide on the wrist size. S-M or M-L, or one size fits all. My wrist is 170 mm, i I, i think.

I have a very very tiny wrist and I didn't know they had wrist sizes. I have had mine for years now and didn't get the cellular because my iPhone is always around me. I am an avid hiker and it counts my minutes after every one of my miles and I try to beat my record. Almost at a 16-minute mile. The best was 17.03. I use it for weather reports and if I'm on the trail and it says rain or lightning in five minutes, I leave. In the over 5200 miles on the trail, I fell just once tripping over my pole and my watch went into emergency mode and said reply if I was hurt or they would call 911 and my contacts. It gives my heart rate at any time and does an EEG I also get news flashes with breaking news from CNN. It's never off my wrist except to charge, and I have a ton of watches that I never wore.

I just replaced my series 5 with the series 9, I do pay for cellular because that was one of the reasons I bought the apple watch.

I just ordered the one thats on sale today. I hope i dont regret not getting cellular. Ive gotten along fine without the watch at all, but its amazing how these things go from being extravagances to necessities.

All your input was helpful. Thank goodness I have my own personal Wirecutters here to help.

I think ded is referring to the size of the band although there are 3 different watch sizes. My son has the ultra which is the largest. I have the a 41 mm Series 9. MY favorite bands are the stainless steel mesh magnetic bands - you can adjust the band very quickly and they look a little dressier than the standard rubber ones that come with the watch. I don't pay the high prices for Apple bands but usually pick them up at Best Buy or Nordstroms.

The Apple Watch Series 9, 8, and 7 are available in 41 and 45mm. The Apple Watch Series 6, 5, 4, and the Apple Watch SE (2020 / 2022) are available in 40 and 44mm. And the Apple Watch Series 3 is available in 38 and 42mm. With 49mm, the Apple Watch Ultra is the largest model.

I don't always keep my phone on me so I find the cellular handy. I go to the pool for aqua boot camp 5 mornings a week and leave my phone in the locker with my purse but still wear my watch. It's rare that I walk around with my phone in my pocket.

Since it's been a long time, I have no idea what model I have. I didn't get the cellular as my daughter did because all around my large house and half an acre my wifi covers it. It's amazing how far. In this 100-degree weather unfortunately I have to "hike" the stupid mall a mile from my house. My music is playing away on my earbuds until the Phillies come on. My husband is almost the length of the mall away on his phone watching the Phillies on his phone!! Yeah, it's funny...you never heard of this watch years ago, and now it's part of your wardrobe and you rely on it all the time. Crazy.

I was doing the same thing! However the one I wanted wasn't $279. It was $449 so I decided no rush to get one. I've been pondering it for years as I like new technology. I would not get cellular because I always have my phone with me for the many things I keep track of with it. There's no way I'd do all that stuff on the tiny watch screen.

Yes, the wrist size. I didnt realize there are so many choices! I love the isea of the stainless wristbands. May have to upgrade to that.

here’s what i bought. Some other options were not on sale.

Watch.

Lily, good for you for walking the mall. Those darn floors are just too hard for me, even in my sneakers.

In the meantime we have no power but i am enjoying my generator, another thing I felt like was an extravagance and has pretty much become a necessity. We lose power often.

I dread the thought of losing power. We have had zero rain for a month but parts around here got storms that knocked down trees and power lines and I heard 1000s were without power. We bought a small generator but it would be used to power the koi pond because without waterfalls and bubblers all 16 would be dead in minutes and they are 25 plus years old.

Like Nicole, I bought a Fitbit watch - I do not own any Apple products, and I do not want a phone on my wrist. I do want a BP monitor, however. I got a Fitbit with Amazon Prime discount of 28%, and so that seemed like a reasonable deal for me. In addition, I bought a separate wrist BP monitor for $21, which is supposed to be more accurate but is extremely bulky and is to be worn only when taking blood pressure.

I also like the Fitbit features better, and it only needs to be charged every few days. I have the Sense 2 and Fitbit premium. I do use the premium features.

Dumb question, as I keep going back and forth about whether I want an apple watch. Can you go on a walk and listen to your spotify playlist (with airbuds) with just the watch? and leave your phone at home?

They come in two versions, Wifi/Bluetooth connectivity only or that plus its own cell phone capability.

If you get one with cell phone capability that can connect to your regular carrier, you add it to your plan and get call/message/data functionality from the watch as a standalone device. No nearby phone needed. Without that, the watch piggybacks via bluetooth to the phone's connection. At least that's how it works for Verizon.

Elmer, I have AT&T and that’s how it works for me, Apple Watch 9, no cellular but iPhone always with me.

Love mine. My phone is usually buried in my purse, but the apple watch lets me answer the phone. I can play dick tracy, or if it's going to be a longer call, I can fetch my phone and transfer the call there. I love having my cr cd on my watch. I was talking to someone who left her cr cd behind and it was stolen. This way, the card never leaves my purse. Just use my watch. I love being able to easily track my gym workout on the watch, and WW has it linked to transfer the activity points to their app automatically. Also, I love that it has the "help me I've fallen" safety feature. While I haven't needed it yet .... it did think I fell and wanted to know if it should call 911 once when I was splitting wood and must've jarred it too much. (I do get annoyed when it tells me I'm in a loud environment...duh...I know that!) I love getting my texts on the watch so I can keep up with what's happening, and I get weather alerts coming automatically as well. One of my other favorite features is asking siri to set the timer. I'm busy at the grill with my hands full or mucky and just ask her to set the timer. That way I can hear it wherever I am...I don't need to be near the one on the oven. It has a lot of other features, many of which I don't really use, though I should get more familiar with them...

I do not have on, though I've considered it. My husband has one and was considering replacing his with the one on Amazon Prime. I am fairly certain he said it's not the latest if that matters to you. My husband was looking at a new one because his watch has stopped working well. He was using it as an alarm clock on business travel and it became completely unreliable for that function. So one consideration is that it may not last very long.

I thought about getting one for tracking exercise (running, swimming, hiking) but it doesn't seem worth the money to me. I was curious about the cell capabilities but then you have to pay for an additional device on your cellular plan. No thanks.

Not for me. I do not want to be constantly hooked to a gadget. Plus, I absolutely hate to wear a wrist-watch. But if it's something you think you'd like, or you know you like it and are replacing one, this seems to be the time to do it. Different strokes for different folks! : )

I love my Apple watch, and have been thinking about upgrading soon. I just read a few days ago that the next iteration will be larger again. Dang it, Apple, don’t you folks realize some of us women have small wrists? I didn’t really think i’d like the latest small size but it didn’t really feel that much larger.

And btw, Machete has some really cool watchbands that aren’t silicone or metal. Mine is a tortoise link, plastic I’m sure, but easy to clean and looks nice.

@dedtired - yup, a whole house generator is a beautiful thing if you have frequent, extended power outages. After a three-day outage with eight guests at our lake place we got one. Shortly after it was installed there was another 31 hour outage in the middle of the winter - when your pipes freeze if you have no heat. Great peace of mind with the generator and my lovely neighbors got to come over and enjoy heat, lights, meals and running water.

When I first got my watch I bought a stainless wristband and wore it till it started to look cruddy. I reverted back to the pink one but then found that TJ Maxx sells them occasionally so I have a forest green one and a navy blue one...both Apple bands.

Sounds like i will be watchband shopping soon.

The power finally went back on after eight hours. I invited some neighbors over to cool off and they stayed for several hours. That was the end of anything i wanted to accomplish today, but they have been friends for a long time, in fact I went to high school with the wife. That was a very long time ago! Six years ago we had a five day power outage and it was miserable. Thats when i get the whole house generator. Its a comfort to know its there. We lose power often.

I have the 45mm Series 7. I love large watches, but if I had to do over again, I’d get something smaller. 45mm is just too big.

I initially bought it after DH died. I wanted it for the fall alert…if I fall, it calls emergency services. I got the cellular service. I did not want to always have my iPhone with me.

Would I buy another one? Yes, but a smaller one.

I left something out about how Apple Watches without a cell connection work.

When connected to Wifi, it should operate AS IF it had a cell connection when the paired iPhone is out of Bluetooth range.

Just like most phones do - called telephony over Wifi, message send/receive, communications that travel over a cell's data link. (Whats App, etc)

Love my Apple Watch also. I have A-fib and it helps me keep track of my pulse, EKG, and when I am in A-fib. When I finally got a cell phone connected to Bell I was so surprised when my watch rang when my phone rang. I don't have to run for my phone now when it rings and I am in another room. I can just answer on my watch. I also love the choices of watch bands. My band now has a filagree silver look, with fake turquoise stones and a white leather band.

One thing about the fall detection feature. I have fallen twice since 2019 when I started wearing an Apple Watch. The first time my legs went out from under me when I stepped on a slippery walkway. The second time was this year when I missed a step and sat down hard. The first time I was completely unhurt. The second time I broke my leg and knew something bad had happened. On neither occasion did my watch react. Fortunately, when I broke my leg, I was with family and friends and they took action.

On the other hand, if I yell or make a loud noise, my watch goes into emergency mode, tells me it thinks I've had a fall, and I have to take action to say no, I did not fall, I'm okay.

I don't know if it's in my settings, but it sure freaks out when I make very loud noises.

Mine was too big and bruised me and the heart monitor always alarmed because I have a non a-fib arrhythmia and my resting heart rate is often under 50 so I gave it to my daughter. I also hated always being available when away from my phone. I also have never liked wearing a watch so that might also be why I did not give it longer to get use to. I hope you enjoy yours!!

I guess I have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me, but Ill figure it out.

Roarah, if i find i dont like it, my fallback plan is to give it to my son.

As someone else mentioned, I love the timer feature. When watering the lawn, I just say, Siri, set timer for one hour. Or when cooking something. When the alarm goes off, i dont have to listen to it ring until I get to it downstairs, I just turn it off on my wrist. I use this feature almost daily

I love getting the half-way tap when I set a walking goal, e.g., 30 minutes or 2 miles. It makes it easy to not overdo things, but turn around and head back the way I came.

I love love how my Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods pair up.

It's a bit like a microwave or a toaster oven, you don't realize how much you'll use the watch, every day, until you have one. If your local Apple Store offers classes, they usually include at least one class with any purchase. Even though I've been a happy Apple user for some time, I always take the familiarization class to actually practice the cool stuff it will do. The watch class was where I learned the "instant close" by putting the palm of your hand over the face. The fall detection is initially very sensitive, and "learns" over time which of your non-fall motions generate the alert. That's why it asks you each time if you fell or not. Mine doesn't alert now nearly as much as it did when new, but still alerts on a real fall-test.

My wrist is also extremely tiny, (and used to provide some fun with jewelers who scoffed at my band-fitting suggestions on how many links to remove). The solution we worked out at my Apple store was to use the large face (because I preferred to have maximum apps right on the face), but to use the small-face band. They'd never tried it before and it works just fine. The mesh bands with the magnetic catch are so easy and fast, and only the smallest one fits my wrist. I blast the mesh with my water-pik every other week or so and it stays nicely clean. If you're unsure, don't forget Apple's good return policy, you can buy the watch and try it for a short while, and if you really don't like it they will take it back. They exchanged two bands for me (at no cost) until we found one that worked. Sorry if I sound like an infomercial, just love the watch!

longvadon brand is my favorite dressier watch band, all leather. I have 3-4 now in different colors. I keep my silicone band handy for when i go out to the pool or cutting grass.

My watch did alert me on my one fall but it also thought I fell when I swatted a mosquito.

I used to use a FitBit but my kids got me an Apple watch to alert them if I fall (true story, sheesh!). I love the Apple watch to track my workouts, see texts (with my cheater glasses on only), cancel spam phone calls, the timer, Shazam app to know what song is playing and I use Siri to answer questions. And it's water proof if you want to take a call in the shower lol. It's a great multi-function tool. I have the small one, 41mm.

Kitchenwitch, its a little hard imagining you as a fall risk!

I just checked and my local Apple store does have Get Started classes for their watches. Will definitely go to that. Thanks, Smiling.

I was given one as a gift but thought I'd never wear it, but now I wear is every day. I use the timer, alarm, step counter, heart rate, get texts, talk on it (which I really don't like), temperature. If I go outside to work, it lets me know if I get a call. It's a very handy device.

Sometimes if I shake something off my hand, it thinks I've taken a fall. If I'm using the blender, it notifies me I'm in a very loud environment. I wish it read glucose.

ded, are you liking your watch? I am still thinking about it!

ido like it but i think of it as an expensive toy. I am sure it does a lot more than what Im using it for now. I like that it keeps track of my steps, although my phone did that already. I like that it lets me know when i have a text or call, especially when im driving so Im not tempted to glance at my phone.

I really need to learn more about it. I just havent taken the time.

Oh I also find it useful to remind me to get up and move every so often. All in all, I like it but Im not finding it life changing.

I stayed in the shadows of this discussion last month. Two of my kids have them, my wife and I are relatively advanced in our lives and homes tech-wise compared to compatriots of similar age and even compared to many younger folks, so why not give them a go? One for me and one for my wife.

My wife is happy with hers. She's the kind of person who drops what she's doing when the phone rings, sometimes interrupts a conversation when she hears a tone from her phone that a message or text has arrived. Now she can see on her wrist. I think that's why, I'm not sure she uses it for much else.

I returned mine after 10 days. I found the short battery life annoying. I don't necessarily stop what I'm doing for an inbound communication, whatever it is can usually wait if I'm doing something. There were no compelling capabilities I found to justify keeping it. I did look through written pieces on the internet, nothing knocked me over.

Funny enough, about a week after I returned it, I was having a phone conversation with one of my kids (who is a complete Apple fan boy) and was asked how I found the watch. I said I'd returned it. She said "I've had mine for a year and a half and recently decided I really don't like it. I'm back to using my old conventional watch again and I don't miss my Apple watch."

Apple watches are not the greatest thing since canned beer. Some like them, some don't.

The short battery life is annoying. My friend,s kids got one for her to wear and notify them if she had a fall. She says its on the charger more than in her wrist. It does charge rather wuickly, do there’s that.

What do you guys consider short battery life?

Mine charges on the night stand next to my bed. I put it on when I get up, often as early as 5am. I wear it all day. When I go to bed sometime between 10-11pm, it's still about 50% charged. Then it goes back on the charger. If I wanted to wear it all night, as my daughter does to track her sleep, it might be a different story. When I was recovering from my broken leg, I wore it all the time. It doesn't take long to fully charge.

ETA: Last night at 11pm my watch still had a 65% charge and I'd worn it since 5am.

Just 1 AA battery runs my apple clock for almost a full year....and it never pesters me with messages ;-)

For those of you who don’t like the short battery life there’s a sunhat you can get that has USB ports for charging your stuff. 😆 It is solar powered. Probably great for gardening, too.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/3/24212686/ecoflow-power-hat-solar-powered-hat-usb-c-charger-smartphone#

eta I think I’ll pass on both the hat and watch. Seriously, though,

my son-in-law loves his Apple Watch, especially for paying for stuff.

I’m fine with charging it overnight.

Sueb I love my watch (3+ yrs)

wear it daily -charge is overnight!

I bought a few bands from Machete plus a SS magnetic one from Best Buy as well as a few

sport bands . My DH was not interested.

FWIW I was a daily watch wearer before the Apple came on the scene.

My experience with battery life is like Bunny's. I did turn off the "always on" feature as I don't need it to be on when I'm not looking at it. I figured that would just burn up battery life. Maybe that's affecting others' experience. I also have background app refresh off. I always turn that off on my phone. I don't remember if it was on by default on the watch but it usually is on the phone.

I love the watch but I like technology gadgets. I like that it prompts me to be more active and I like that I don't have to have my phone on me all the time around the house. I also really like it for golf distance - no longer have to fiddle with my phone. I just go with whatever it does - phone rang - I answered it. Never expected to use it as a phone.

Like 3katz I also turn off always on. It’s a waste of battery for me. I raise my wrist and on it goes.