Will you buy an Apple Watch?

[Foxbat]

I'm afraid my flight training was during the day, and the nearest ocean was 700 miles away, so I can't say for sure. I just found taking off a matter of applying power, keeping the nose lined up in the right direction, and pulling back when the airplane reached the rotation velocity. But that was over fifty years ago and I'm sure I would not be as capable as I was then.

Landing was more of a dance between altitude, air speed, throttle, flaps, ailerons, elevator, rudder, oh, and yeah, talking to the tower. I didn't do well with the radio and flying. That was the main reason I didn't end up getting further along in my flight training, I was not good at understanding the controller. It's one thing to listen to a radio on the ground, another when you're pilot in command.

 

[Neutron]

I'm still a bit miffed that Apple is dropping support for the Watch Ultra 1 for watchOS27. I had thought about getting a Series 11 or maybe the 12 depending on the cost, but then again the Ultra still goes long on a charge and still does everything I need and want (minus the sleep apnea detection) and I have to really think is trading it in on a newer one really the best option? I feel differently on the iPhone itself; if it is out of support I upgrade it since I need that for things including for work.

 

[Foxbat]

I'm still a bit miffed that Apple is dropping support for the Watch Ultra 1 for watchOS27.

I warned Mrs. Foxbat that we'd be getting new Apple Watches in the coming months. We're both still using our Series 8 as they handle our needs. I can still get a little over a day's use out of mine, hers is in the red by the end of the day.

I see Amazon has 42mm Series 11 for $300 (GPS Aluminum). Apple will give us $90 in trade, so I'm working on a strategy on replacing our watches.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I'm still a bit miffed that Apple is dropping support for the Watch Ultra 1 for watchOS27. I had thought about getting a Series 11 or maybe the 12 depending on the cost, but then again the Ultra still goes long on a charge and still does everything I need and want (minus the sleep apnea detection) and I have to really think is trading it in on a newer one really the best option? I feel differently on the iPhone itself; if it is out of support I upgrade it since I need that for things including for work.

Yeah this one has me upset too, especially since there is no real hardware differences between the UW1 and UW2.

The main thing I use on my watch is the Flashlight, but I understand that is on the Apple Watch 11 now too.

I will wait until the September announcements and see whats available and choose then.

 

[osu1991]

I still use my Series 5 when working in the yard or swimming. It still lasts all day. I have and SE 2 that I bought for my mom but with her diminished mental capacity lately, she would forget to put it on. I just reset it and added it to my apple account and switch between it and my UW1. They all still my needs, so doubt I'll upgrade yet unless there is a compelling deal to make it worth it.

 

[Foxbat]

At least the security concerns aren't quite the same as with a phone, and Apple is pretty good about supporting devices for seven years after launch. We may not get watchOS 27, but we should be getting the watchOS 26 updates for a few more years which should address any security vulnerabilities.

 

[harshness]

Apple is pretty good about supporting devices for seven years after launch.

Yet the Ultra Watch 1 only got three years of support as Neutron lamented.

 

[Foxbat]

Yet the Ultra Watch 1 only got three years of support as Neutron lamented.

There's a big difference between getting new features and supporting existing hardware. Apple isn't promising the watch you buy today will be able to provide future features added to new devices 3-4 years from now. They will, however, make sure that it continues to operate at its current level of functionality (unless a court orders otherwise) and provide security updates.

Our existing watches won't be able to use watchOS 27 and beyond. If there is some feature that watchOS 27 provides that wstchOS 26 doesn't, then it may be worthwhile trading in/upgrading. Otherwise, remaining on watchOS 26 and continuing to receive updates for a few more years is an option.

 

[klang]

I read a while back the older watch hardware doesn't support the latest Siri stuff in WatchOS 27.

 

[Foxbat]

I read a while back the older watch hardware doesn't support the latest Siri stuff in WatchOS 27.

Basically, not enough Neural Cores in the S-series processors.

 

[klang]

I don't use Siri for much so I would not upgrade my watch for that alone.

 

[rvvaquero]

It's the other apps which use Siri that could make an upgrade desirable for me. I use Siri mostly for adding items to my Calendar, Reminders, Clock, etc. As long as they will still use basic Siri for those purposes, I won't need an upgrade. As far as using Siri through my watch to ask detailed questions which require AI, I will typically just use the iPhone or iPad.

I have a first gen AW SE which no longer can be used as a key for my Tesla, but my AW8 can be. If the AW8 starts to stumble for that task, I may have to upgrade. I blame Tesla for no longer supporting the older AW OS for that feature.

If either of my AW's quit providing the basic skills for which I bought them, like delivering notifications and texts to me, etc., I will be pissed. I expect them to maintain those features for many years to come.

 

[Neutron]

Several generation of iPhones older than the 15 didn't support Apple Intelligence and won't support the revamped Siri with Gemini, yet they were included in the iOS 26 and will be including in iOS 27. Apple really chopped off the Watch support list with watchOS 27 and I know it's due to the updated Siri, but at least keep the AWU 1 and maybe the Series 8 in there. My wife and daughter both have Series 7 watches, so theirs also won't be getting the 27 update, and neither has a desire to upgrade their watches. My daughter has actually opted to go back to an analog watch.

Hopefully Apple will continue the security updates on watchOS 26 for at least the next 2 years. As long as mine will continue giving me text and phone call notifications, as well as stay most if not all day on the battery, I'm still quite happy with it.

 

[navychop]

My daughter has actually opted to go back to an analog watch.

The Amish are hiring.

You get paid in pies, though.

 

[telstar_1]

Too modern. They don't want to know what time it is or what the weather will be. God will provide

 

[Neutron]

It's weird, but she said her and her friends (going into their Senior years in HS this coming fall) are liking the "retro" stuff we grew up with and had even 20 years ago. Will it stick though?

 

[Foxbat]

Otherwise, remaining on watchOS 26 and continuing to receive updates for a few more years is an option.

Welp, I went and did it, upgraded to the GPS version of the Apple Watch Series 11. I was able to get $95 back for my Series 8, so the delta was almost $300. So far, my battery life is almost double that of the Series 8. I may be able to go almost two days between charging.

The bigger screen is nice, too, larger without being too big. I am able to use my 41 mm bands on the 42 mm body, no problem, so that's convenient.

 

[Foxbat]

I'm not a happy watchOS 27 user. For whatever reason, my Series 11 Apple Watch is not tracking my exercise. I got done with a 44 minute indoor walk and it recorded zero minutes of exercise activity! It also said that I walked .45 miles instead of my usual two miles in that timeframe.

Now that the rains have stopped, I'm going to try an Outdoor Walk and see if it's more inclined to track my Exercise.

 

[navychop]

TKS for the warning.

 

[b4pjoe]

I'm not a happy watchOS 27 user. For whatever reason, my Series 11 Apple Watch is not tracking my exercise. I got done with a 44 minute indoor walk and it recorded zero minutes of exercise activity! It also said that I walked .45 miles instead of my usual two miles in that timeframe.

Now that the rains have stopped, I'm going to try an Outdoor Walk and see if it's more inclined to track my Exercise.

My Series 10 seems to be working fine for tracking exercise.