Before reading my review, please keep in mind that I am a casual tech user, and this is my first smart watch. My original purpose of this purchase was for fitness and sleep tracking, to ensure the establishing of healthy habits during COVID.
As stated, the original intent of this purchase was to track sleep and fitness. I can safely say this product has exceeded my expectations in this regard! The "rings" are now a daily accomplishment; as someone with ADHD, it can be difficult to motivate myself to even get outside most days. But with my goals realistically set, it is more of a joyous task to complete each ring rather than a chore to get out and walk! There are many other interesting trackers to check out after a workout too, like heart rate, uneven steps, double support time, etc. It's great to be able to check these things when I want to.
For sleep as well, the tracking is decent. The stock Sleep app that comes with the iPhone and Apple Watch isn't very in-depth, but I recently purchased AutoSleep in the App Store and WOW it's everything I was looking for! Deep sleep tracking is the most important to me, so it's really nice to be able to adjust the sensitivity settings so I can more accurately track my asleep vs awake time.
The other primary function for me is being able to receive notifications when my phone isn't next to me. My ADHD makes it difficult to have my phone near me during work hours as it is a major distraction, so I usually keep my phone in another room. I would sometimes miss important calls and texts, however, so having a notification station essentially on my wrist is a game changer! I can see notifications as they come in to make sure I'm not missing anything, but it's not a distraction by any means.
I purchased the non-GPS version for the better price, and also because I will never leave home without my phone. As a woman who often exercises outdoors alone, it is necessary to have all possible emergency resources with me during those times, not just the limited apps on the Watch.
I will admit that I was debating purchasing this Apple Watch or the newest FitBit (that supposedly acts like a smart watch), and the biggest factors for me were functionality and battery life. While the FitBit's battery life is muuuuch better, I decided functionality and compatibility with the iPhone were more important. And I'm more than happy with that decision! I just charge my watch each afternoon for an hour or two (after my stand goal has been accomplished, but before sleep), and it's good to go. With my current app settings, I could probably get 1.5 to 2 days out of one charge, but I prefer to maintain a decent daily charge.
One last thing I discovered, when you first receive an Apple Watch don't forget to inspect your notification and background app refresh settings! They can be battery draining. That's all :)
| Product Dimensions | 1.57 x 1.34 x 0.42 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.08 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| ASIN | B08J5ZRFRG |
| Item model number | MYDN2LL/A/ |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Date First Available | September 15, 2020 |
