Ever since my I gave my husband an Apple watch for his birthday, I though I would like one, but didn’t want to spend the money. At work we are not suppose to have our cell phone out in view, so though it would be nice to be able to see who called or texted me without looking at my phone. The kids send update on the grandkids, or my husband will text and say check email when you can. Mom knows to call and leave a message so I know if it is urgent. This watch would not be a need in the least, just a luxury.
Costco had/has the series 5 discounted $85, so my husband insisted I order one for myself for Mother’s Day; we’ve been married 40 years, so I will give him a break for not doing it himself! I couldn’t decide if I wanted the one with only GSP or to get the one with cell service, which he has. I went ahead and ordered both, but they haven’t shipped, so I am still deciding. For my husband having cell service was a huge plus due to his work; I am thinking I really don’t need it for the extra money and leaning toward just the GPS. My phone is usually with me unless I am on a different floor of the house, and with the GPS model, I am pretty sure you can still answer you phone on wifi from the watch; I have never left the house without my phone, unless I forgot it once or twice.
Any pros and/or con for one version over the other? The only reason I would get one is the lower price; not looking to wait for the series 6 to come out.
I love mine - I did not get the one with GPS. My sister has it but she’s a runner and I think she doesn’t need to have her phone with her to listen to music. I find it’s very motivational in terms of exercise - I “share” my info with a few of my cousins and it’s fun to cheer each other on.
I did not expect to get the cellular version but then I did. I like it. If you are out walking or running without your phone, it is a good emergency calling device and you can answer calls on the watch. It’s not essential, but I don’t run with my phone, so I like it. I have the 4 and will upgrade at some point. I LOVE my Apple watch. I was a FitBit person (Garmin GPS watch for running) but upgraded to Apple watch when the latest of my Fitbits died about 18 months ago. You will love it whatever one you get.
I would love a watch that was a phone. My biggest worry when I am out riding is that I get jacked for the phone and the bike and then I am in big trouble LOL (bike cleats).
I love my Apple Watch. I do not have the GPS version. It seems like a lot of money to pay for the few times you might not have your phone with you.
Since I was given the watch at Christmas, I have been exercising more, and my arthritis is less painful, probably because I’m moving more. That is quite a deal at Costco. Lucky you!
Both versions are GPS, one GPS alone and the other GPS plus cellular. Actually, the reason I ordered with cellular at first was the GPS only version was out of stock, so I order with cellular. In typical Costco fashion, a couple of hours later the GPS showed in stock, so I ordered quickly without cancelling the other.
One other question, I ordered the 40mm case size as I have a small wrist, but my daughter thought I should have gotten the 44mm as it has more pixels so the font might be easier for me to read, especially with my cataracts. As I have never put the smaller one on, I haven’t played with it yet, just my husband’s 44mm. I am not one to wear clunky bracelets, so I think the smaller will be fine for me. Any thoughts?
BTW, they are on sale until May 10th for anyone interested!
I think that if I had the watch with cellular, I would leave my phone home while I was out. Especially as phones get bigger and bigger, they are more bulky to carry on a walk, hike or run.
But to have the cellular, it’s more expensive with an extra charge per month. Correct? Depends on if you want to pay extra.
I have the watch without cellular and I don’t miss it. But I still have an iPhone 7 and it’s smaller and fits better in my pockets.
And you are correct that you can see texts and answer the phone from your watch. I will get texts and calls even when my phone is in another room.
We have an Apple watch 2, 4 and just ordered a 5. Costco ran out of GPS 40/44mm watches so I ordered one from Best Buy. Price was the same except Applecare was $10 more.
The practical differences between the GPS and Cell models are:
Cell model costs $10 extra per month for service and $100 more to buy.
You can make phone calls, send/receive text and stream Apple Music (instead of stored music alone) without wifi and/or without an iPhone for a few hours.
911 auto-call works without a phone. 90 min max talk time until the battery dies.
Personally, I would get the only get the cell model for an older person (emergency calling / fall detection), or if I exercised outside a lot and did not carry my phone.
We both have the Apple 4’s. H has the Nike 44 mm and I have the 40 mm. Both are GPS only. Not runners, but hikers and we have our iphone 10 usually with us. I find the 40 mm has a plenty big screen. They work in the yard and around the house with the phone in the house, but have not tested it a lot. Really like them.
After at least a year of “lusting” after an Apple Watch, but waiting for my Fitbit to die (it never did), I took the plunge at Christmas. OK, it was actually a gift from H, D & S … I got the 40 mm Series 5 without cellular service.
IMO, both size and cellular vs non-cellular decisions come down to personal preference. I never leave home without my phone, so decided against the added expense of the cellular model. When I walk/run I have my phone in a waist belt. Works for me.
I was a little undecided about the 40 mm vs 44 mm size. I stated out leaning toward the 40 mm. A good friend, who was also getting an Apple Watch for Christmas (but picking it out herself,) kept going on about how the 44 mm would be easier to read, etc, etc. I’m hardly ever this indecisive, but that made me poll all my friends who already have an Apple Watch. Every one of them said the smaller size was fine. I then tried on both sizes. Yup, the smaller one was for me. My wrists are small, and I just felt the bigger one was more overpowering. My friend who got the 44 mm is happy with it, but, IMO, it looks a little clunky on her wrist.
I also thought I wanted the 44mm, for the reasons your friend stated. My daughter, who was going to buy the watch for me, thought it would be too big. So I went to an Apple store to try it on, and, yep, the 40mm was exactly right.
Even with the infograph watch face, which shows a ton of information, the 40mm is easy to read.
I have the series 4, 44mm with cell service. I don’t like carrying my phone when exercising. The fall detection and 911 service are big pluses for me. I spend $10 a month on stupider things than service, so why not? I personally like the larger watch. I’m female with a smaller wrist and fading eyesight.
Mr. Sabaray actually insisted on the cellular version. At the time I thought it was dumb but I’ve used that functionality a lot more than I thought I would. In the big scheme of things it’s an insignificant expense.
I’ve got my Apple watch in December 2018. I think I have the Series 4. I have both cellular service and GPS. I use both. I wasn’t going to use the cellular but my kids (who bought it for me as a Christmas present) set it up for me that way.
The one thing I recommend is to get the titanium case, which is scratch proof. I am hard on watches and this one has absolutely no scratches on it.
I would recommend getting a rubber bumper to protect the face, too. There are various kinds - some clunkier looking than others. They are inexpensive (Amazon) and really do protect the face if you fall or drop it. I also have a bunch of different colored bands, and I have decided that the bands from Apple, while more expensive (I get the colored rubber ones) are much better than the cheap after-market ones.
@sabaray Yes, we waste money on stupid stuff also. I really don’t mind the $10 per month or the extra $100 for the phone; just trying to decide if I really “need” the cell service. I don’t go out without my phone; when I walk it is in my pocket. As far as at home, if I can answer a call on the GPS only model if I left my phone on a different level, that should be good enough.
I think I am going to prefer the 40mm as I thought my husband’s 44mm was a bit big on me; of course his is black, so I will wait and see what the gold looks like on my arm when it come. I think I will wait until they arrive and try both.
For anyone interested, Target also has these on sale this week for the same price. I still prefer to buy at Costco for the extra return policy, extra year warranty and ease, but if someone has the Target RedCard, might be a nice buy. Oh, and Target is free shipping; Costco is charging $4.99.
I couldn’t decide if I wanted the one with only GSP or to get the one with cell service, which he has. I went ahead and ordered both, but they haven’t shipped, so I am still deciding. For my husband having cell service was a huge plus due to his work; I am thinking I really don’t need it for the extra money and leaning toward just the GPS. My phone is usually with me unless I am on a different floor of the house, and with the GPS model, I am pretty sure you can still answer you phone on wifi from the watch; I have never left the house without my phone, unless I forgot it once or twice.