Purchased Apple watch, should I have gone the xtra $100 so it's a phone?
June 19, 2023 3:27 AM Subscribe
Bought the watch in hopes I will get annoyed at myself and actually use this body I've got; this thing tracks every move. For an xtra 100 bucks could send and receive text msgs and phone calls, but if I've got my phone with me it'll do that anyways, and I pretty much have my phone with me all the time. Have you purchased a watch with the phone built in, why or why not, and has it been A Good Thing for you.
I realize the whole thing is ridiculous anyways but in a way I almost threw the extra 100 in because why not get more silly, right?
Along with all the rest of the jangles and tracking the thing is basically like having a cardiologist on my wrist 24/7/365, so if I die I'll know right away.
A good friend has a Fitbit and is insane, 1000 steps or whatever, tracks calories and god knows what else. We both have "cardiac issues", we're both 68 years old, Lou is insanely competitive and I'm hoping to catch a ride on his lunacy.
The fact is that this will keep my cardiologists (two of them -- wtf?) appraised of whatever they need to be appraised of, they'll be able to track down anything which might go left-handed.
Should I drop the extra 100 and have an even more comical setup than I already have heading my way?
I realize the whole thing is ridiculous anyways but in a way I almost threw the extra 100 in because why not get more silly, right?
Along with all the rest of the jangles and tracking the thing is basically like having a cardiologist on my wrist 24/7/365, so if I die I'll know right away.
A good friend has a Fitbit and is insane, 1000 steps or whatever, tracks calories and god knows what else. We both have "cardiac issues", we're both 68 years old, Lou is insanely competitive and I'm hoping to catch a ride on his lunacy.
The fact is that this will keep my cardiologists (two of them -- wtf?) appraised of whatever they need to be appraised of, they'll be able to track down anything which might go left-handed.
Should I drop the extra 100 and have an even more comical setup than I already have heading my way?
(maybe I should clarify, he has a smartwatch that does fitness tracking and also receives texts. I have a simple fitness tracker.)
posted by muddgirl at 3:38 AM on June 19, 2023
posted by muddgirl at 3:38 AM on June 19, 2023
One small thing to point out: The Apple Watch with its own cellular connection isn't just a little more expensive one-time purchase. You also have to add the watch to your mobile phone plan as a new device which might be an extra $10 per month or something, depending on your phone provider.
That out of the way, I'm definitely glad I got the cellular version because it means I don't have to take my phone everywhere. If I'm out of the house, walking or driving directions are right there on my wrist, as well as notifications from various apps that I want to hear from (tip: customize how your watch notifies you so it doesn't alert you for all of the same things your phone alerts you to.)
I used to get anxious if I forgot my phone at home or couldn't find it in time before I had to leave for something. It's kind of freeing not to have to think about it anymore.
Whether all that triggers buyer's remorse for you, I don't know. Your watch is still always paired with your phone via Bluetooth and you'll never need to take your phone out of your pocket, or out of your backpack or whatever. My original Apple Watch was the WiFi version and i liked i t for what it was, but I eventually decided to upgrade.
posted by emelenjr at 3:42 AM on June 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
That out of the way, I'm definitely glad I got the cellular version because it means I don't have to take my phone everywhere. If I'm out of the house, walking or driving directions are right there on my wrist, as well as notifications from various apps that I want to hear from (tip: customize how your watch notifies you so it doesn't alert you for all of the same things your phone alerts you to.)
I used to get anxious if I forgot my phone at home or couldn't find it in time before I had to leave for something. It's kind of freeing not to have to think about it anymore.
Whether all that triggers buyer's remorse for you, I don't know. Your watch is still always paired with your phone via Bluetooth and you'll never need to take your phone out of your pocket, or out of your backpack or whatever. My original Apple Watch was the WiFi version and i liked i t for what it was, but I eventually decided to upgrade.
posted by emelenjr at 3:42 AM on June 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
I didn't buy the cellular version and I'm happy with that. The wifi version is easier on the battery, no doubt, so you'll have to charge less. BTW, if you forget your phone you'll still be able to use ApplePay, that's something I was worried about. As long as the phone is within bluetooth range you get everything on the watch anyway, including voice phone calls if you want them.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:57 AM on June 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:57 AM on June 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
I have the cellular model of the Apple Watch, and it’s a good fit for a relatively narrow set of use cases (outdoor activities where you don’t want to be burdened by having to carry your phone), but is otherwise not worth the money, IMO.
posted by Kosh at 4:58 AM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Kosh at 4:58 AM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bluetooth to your existing phone is all you need. I think you’ve made the right choice already.
posted by meinvt at 5:05 AM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by meinvt at 5:05 AM on June 19, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think if you're having mobility issues and you're likely to forget your phone places you may fall (my father and his attic office, I'm looking at you), then the cellular version is worth it. Otherwise, I think the non-cellular version is fine for most folks most of the time.
You can actually take phone calls and texts from the non-cellular version as long as your phone is within range (and the range is pretty healthy - put your phone somewhere central in your home and walk around, looking for the icon that looks at like this on your watch, and you may be surprised by how much you can walk around your home without your phone and still access phone calls and texts.)
posted by joycehealy at 5:18 AM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
You can actually take phone calls and texts from the non-cellular version as long as your phone is within range (and the range is pretty healthy - put your phone somewhere central in your home and walk around, looking for the icon that looks at like this on your watch, and you may be surprised by how much you can walk around your home without your phone and still access phone calls and texts.)
posted by joycehealy at 5:18 AM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
I have the non-cellular version. It's a useful device, but for a variety of reasons I will always have my phone on me and so there wasn't a point to having the ability to leave it behind.
I stream content from phone to airpods for one across a bunch of apps, I mostly use text messaging (vs. voice) and it's way faster to type on a phone, and I use a camera often enough to want it with me. I've also been running and cycling with a phone for so long that...it's not much of an inconvenience to have a phone in my pocket or a saddle bag.
posted by openhearted at 5:34 AM on June 19, 2023
I stream content from phone to airpods for one across a bunch of apps, I mostly use text messaging (vs. voice) and it's way faster to type on a phone, and I use a camera often enough to want it with me. I've also been running and cycling with a phone for so long that...it's not much of an inconvenience to have a phone in my pocket or a saddle bag.
posted by openhearted at 5:34 AM on June 19, 2023
I have the cellular model of the Apple Watch, and it’s a good fit for a relatively narrow set of use cases (outdoor activities where you don’t want to be burdened by having to carry your phone), but is otherwise not worth the money, IMO.
I don't own an Apple watch yet but am planning to get one later this year, and I'm going to get the cellular one for exactly this reason. Otherwise, if you mostly or always have your phone with you or are using it in other settings, the regular one is going to be more appropriate (and cheaper).
posted by Dip Flash at 6:50 AM on June 19, 2023
I don't own an Apple watch yet but am planning to get one later this year, and I'm going to get the cellular one for exactly this reason. Otherwise, if you mostly or always have your phone with you or are using it in other settings, the regular one is going to be more appropriate (and cheaper).
posted by Dip Flash at 6:50 AM on June 19, 2023
I used to get anxious if I forgot my phone at home or couldn't find it in time before I had to leave for something
Another little bonus of the (non cellular) watch: You can use it to make your phone make a noise, so it's unlikely that it will take for you very long to find it when you need to run out the door.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:11 AM on June 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
Another little bonus of the (non cellular) watch: You can use it to make your phone make a noise, so it's unlikely that it will take for you very long to find it when you need to run out the door.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:11 AM on June 19, 2023 [4 favorites]
I bought my Apple Watch predominantly for fitness reasons a few years ago and I can count the number of times I fleetingly thought "oh, would've been convenient if this had cellular" on one hand. It sounds like your motive is similar to mine and so I expect you don't need cellular, either.
posted by praemunire at 10:17 AM on June 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 10:17 AM on June 19, 2023 [3 favorites]
The answer to this partly depends on whether you consider yourself an active adult or an elderly adult, and whether you really have your phone with you all the time.
If you're really active (e.g. you go for runs regularly) and you don't want to carry your phone with you, then having cellular service on the watch you're already wearing could be useful and/or lifesaving. I go for long walks almost daily, but I always have my phone with me. Because I always have my phone with me, I just have the regular Apple Watch without cellular service.
My mother-in-law has had some serious falls. After suffering a major "upper leg fracture" which confined her to her bed for weeks and then required a walker for a couple months, she got one of those emergency fall alert things … and then never wore it. She recently bought an Apple Watch and I think she did pay for the one with cellular service, because there are situations where she might have a fall in one end of the house and not have access to her phone, which she left in the other end of the house. So that's one scenario in which the cellular plan might matter. (This reminds me I need to follow up with her to find out if she's actually wearing her watch).
My own mother, FWIW, bought the watch with cellular support because she was worried about falls, but to my knowledge she has never activated the necessary service. She was paying for cellular service for two iPads for some reason, but not her watch.
If you tend to forget your phone, or if you wish to be able to leave it at home, get the model with cellular service. If your phone is always with you, you can probably skip also having cellular service on your watch.
posted by fedward at 1:33 PM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you're really active (e.g. you go for runs regularly) and you don't want to carry your phone with you, then having cellular service on the watch you're already wearing could be useful and/or lifesaving. I go for long walks almost daily, but I always have my phone with me. Because I always have my phone with me, I just have the regular Apple Watch without cellular service.
My mother-in-law has had some serious falls. After suffering a major "upper leg fracture" which confined her to her bed for weeks and then required a walker for a couple months, she got one of those emergency fall alert things … and then never wore it. She recently bought an Apple Watch and I think she did pay for the one with cellular service, because there are situations where she might have a fall in one end of the house and not have access to her phone, which she left in the other end of the house. So that's one scenario in which the cellular plan might matter. (This reminds me I need to follow up with her to find out if she's actually wearing her watch).
My own mother, FWIW, bought the watch with cellular support because she was worried about falls, but to my knowledge she has never activated the necessary service. She was paying for cellular service for two iPads for some reason, but not her watch.
If you tend to forget your phone, or if you wish to be able to leave it at home, get the model with cellular service. If your phone is always with you, you can probably skip also having cellular service on your watch.
posted by fedward at 1:33 PM on June 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by muddgirl at 3:37 AM on June 19, 2023