The Watch gets a second chance
With watchOS 3 and an all-new range, it’s time to take another look at the Watch
The Apple Watch is the bestselling smartwatch, but that’s a bit like calling it the best-selling private jet; it’s not a huge market to be king of. Reaction to the Watch overall has been mixed. Some people who own one find they couldn’t live without it, while some people just stopped wearing it because they didn’t find it useful. Many of our readers have told us they love it, and some have told us they hate it. The first model definitely had flaws, mostly around speed and a few missing fitness features. But if you’re one of the people who had no interest in it in the past, it’s definitely time to take a second look now. Apple has launched two new models of Watch: Series 1 and Series 2. Series 1 is the same as the existing Watch, but with a new faster processor. Series 2 looks the same, but has a brighter screen (so is easier to see outdoors), better waterproofing (so it’s suitable for tracking swimming activity), and built-in GPS (so it can track things like running or cycling routes without the need for an iPhone). Series 1 gives you a budget way to buy into the Watch line, but with the speed problems largely fixed; Series 2 fixes the most obvious missing activity features for fitness lovers. We’ll have a full review of Apple Watch Series 2 for you next issue, but we’ve already tried it, and it’s a solid improvement over the original model.
Perhaps most importantly, both Watch models run watchOS 3, as do all existing Watch units. This is the biggest change to the line-up, even beyond the extra hardware. It’s a rethinking and huge refinement to what the Apple Watch means as a product: it pulls information from your iPhone in the background, so when you open apps, you don’t have to wait for them. The idea of Glances is gone, replaced with a new “Dock,” which shows snapshots of the information in your most-used apps. It’s also easier to navigate, with just a swipe taking you between watch faces, and the confusing “contacts” screen has also gone, replaced by the Dock.
Whether it’s enough to make people change their mind about the Watch is hard to say, but this fresh start for Apple’s wearable vision deserves a fresh look if you dismissed it before.