Apple watch 3

If you're likely to race at the sharp end, bear in mind that *strictly speaking* the Apple Watch 3 (with built in SIM card) breaks IAAF rules on wearing watches which are able to communicate with other people.

Clearly given that loads of people run with phones in big city events etc that's not usually a big deal, but given that elites etc don't run with phones but often do run with GPS watches of various sorts it is worth being aware that a particularly eagle eyed official may well want to DQ you for wearing the latest generation watch.

A few quick thoughts from someone who has a 2.

The two is not a good watch for running. The GPS signal is the least accurate out of all the watches I've owned. Besides that, the functionality is horrible. When you are running, and want to see your pace or whatever, sometimes your arm doesn't go at the right angle for you to see the screen so you're then just staring at a blank screen. If you do get a screen, and you want to switch to a different one, then you'll find out that on sweaty days, the screen is not very responsive to your finger, so you are fiddling with it, trying to get it to work while you are running.

It's just not good for a serious runner and I don't think the three will be much better.

I've got one on preorder (the Nike ones, for some reason, are shipping 2-3 weeks after the regular ones ship) and will be using the LTE so I can leave my phone at home and yet, call or text if something bad happens.

As for the activity tracking - it's ok. I mean, it will record active minutes, steps, and workouts and after a workout, it's just like Garmin where you can see your activities with pretty maps, etc. If you record a run on the Apple Watch, it can be set to write to Garmin for activities but it's been my experience that getting workouts off your Apple Watch really sucks. I bought a $2 app called RunGap to export the gpx files so I can upload them to anywhere. You can also record Strava activities on it to cut out the middleman.

Essentially the Apple Watch will be the same as the Vivoactive in terms of functionality.

I think for a serious runner, the lack of an always-on screen and physical buttons are a pretty big drawback. That said, you could save the vivoactive for races and workouts, and use the apple watch the rest of the time. Assuming the GPS is the same as the 2, it's not very accurate, but for easy runs, who really cares?

I'm interested in hearing about this as well. I'm wondering if you have to add a phone line for the watch? (like an extra $10/mo?) if that's the case it would not be worth it for me. I've tried looking it up online with mixed results... I'm with verizon currently

maybeiphone? wrote:

I'm interested in hearing about this as well. I'm wondering if you have to add a phone line for the watch? (like an extra $10/mo?) if that's the case it would not be worth it for me. I've tried looking it up online with mixed results... I'm with verizon currently

Its $10 a month and is the same number as your current phone. You also need an iphone 6 or higher. The $10 is worth it for me as I will no longer need a phone for running, gym, etc. Plus if I forget my phone when I go to the store or whatever, I will have one. I am really curious if it will work when I am surfing and stuff too...

At this point I am leaning towards getting it, the regular version, not the nike one. I like the nike watch faces but don't like that the nike run app is integrated with the phone and you can buy the bands on amazon for like $7, they just dont have the nike logo.

Anybody know if it needs to be on the same account as the number it's associated with or does it via apple id or something? My wife has a phone via work and probably won't be able to swing getting them to pay for it, so could I put it on my account or something and connect with her number?

adamBomb wrote:

At this point I am leaning towards getting it, the regular version, not the nike one. I like the nike watch faces but don't like that the nike run app is integrated with the phone and you can buy the bands on amazon for like $7, they just dont have the nike logo.

If you're not in New York and want it tax free, BH Photo Video in NYC is selling them at $429 - one of the few places where it's tax free.

Good point about B and H...I do not buy electronics anywhere else. However, if you want a serious running watch, the higher-end Garmins (935; fenix 5 series) are unbeatable.

They are very beatable... by the fenix 3.

Anything after that only has garbage optical HR.

Old Timey Guy wrote:

A few quick thoughts from someone who has a 2.

The two is not a good watch for running. The GPS signal is the least accurate out of all the watches I've owned. Besides that, the functionality is horrible. When you are running, and want to see your pace or whatever, sometimes your arm doesn't go at the right angle for you to see the screen so you're then just staring at a blank screen. If you do get a screen, and you want to switch to a different one, then you'll find out that on sweaty days, the screen is not very responsive to your finger, so you are fiddling with it, trying to get it to work while you are running.

It's just not good for a serious runner and I don't think the three will be much better.

+1

I agree with all of this. I have the Apple Watch 2 and like it for normal wear. It doesn't do anything you couldn't do with your phone, but it's handy for reading notifications, giving quick responses to texts, keeping up with your calendar, and so on.

However, the Apple Watch isn't much good as a running watch and probably couldn't be, given the hardware choice to make most functions use the touch screen instead of hard buttons.The apps are also not well set up for lap timing, etc. It would be fine as a passive activity tracker for casual joggers, etc., but not for serious runners. I use a Garmin for running and save the Apple Watch for non-running use.

The Happy Americans wrote:

Good point about B and H...I do not buy electronics anywhere else. However, if you want a serious running watch, the higher-end Garmins (935; fenix 5 series) are unbeatable.

I still have my Forerunner 735xt for "serious" running but I must admit that the Apple Watch's only real utility for me is the LTE so I can call home/send a text in case of emergency. For the most part, this will be my "morning jog" watch.

maybeiphone? wrote:

I'm interested in hearing about this as well. I'm wondering if you have to add a phone line for the watch? (like an extra $10/mo?) if that's the case it would not be worth it for me. I've tried looking it up online with mixed results... I'm with verizon currently

it is $10 extra to hook the watch up

it is still the case that accurate HR during exercise requires a chest strap, correct? these apple watches do not integrate/communicate with a chest strap correct?

Hsjdhhuh wrote:

it is still the case that accurate HR during exercise requires a chest strap, correct? these apple watches do not integrate/communicate with a chest strap correct?

Apple Watch just uses your wrist.

This guy tested watches using an EKG and says that the BPM for the Apple Watch is fairly accurate but not as accurate as a chest strap.

For non-medical purposes, I don't know if it would make much difference as long as you are more or less in the right heart rate zone, if that's how you are training.

d2duuude wrote:

maybeiphone? wrote:

I'm interested in hearing about this as well. I'm wondering if you have to add a phone line for the watch? (like an extra $10/mo?) if that's the case it would not be worth it for me. I've tried looking it up online with mixed results... I'm with verizon currently

it is $10 extra to hook the watch up

+ a $30 activation fee. If you order through verizon, they are waving the activation fee and first 3 months of payments (ie $60 total). So if you are on verizon and going to be getting the cellular version, its best to order from then while that promotion lasts. I put in a preorder for it today and its supposed to arrive Oct 11th. I can cancel if I decide to up until it actually ships.

My brother-in-law got one free from his work. It is better than the previous model.