I recently switched from a first-gen SE to a Series 10 Cellular in Jet Black using regular aluminum.
I thought about the titanium and sapphire glass model but decided the higher price wasn’t justified, especially since my SE lasted nearly four years without issues.
Let’s be honest, smartwatches aren’t something you keep for life like a traditional watch that could be a family keepsake. How strong do they really need to be?
Besides maybe the appearance, what’s the actual benefit of the pricier versions?
It really depends on your budget and how much you want to spend on how it looks. In terms of how it works, I can’t think of many reasons except maybe the scratch resistance of the sapphire or the shine of the stainless steel before Series 10, but those are still about looks. However, for many people, the difference in appearance is worth the extra cost, and I’ve spent money on things that some stainless steel owners might think are unnecessary, so I won’t judge them.
I do find the Hermes versions quite confusing though.
I think everyone has to decide what’s valuable to them. Some prefer the SE, and that’s enough, while others love the Hermes versions. It’s mainly about personal preference, like choosing your favorite type of pizza. It’s always worth it if it makes you happy, at least for me.
@Amory
I got a Series 9 Stainless Steel earlier this year, and it’s exactly what I wanted, shiny steel that looks great on a night out. The Series 10 Jet Black Aluminum I got when it launched is also shiny! It looks sharp, but I use it for tracking sleep and workouts because it’s so lightweight.
Stainless steel is definitely worth it. The glass is sapphire glass. Do yourself a favor and buy a model from the previous generation used on eBay. You can get a stainless steel Series 9 for around $300 if you’re patient.
Nori said:
I dunno four to six years is a long time.
I kept a car I was embarrassed about for that long until I decided to buy my dream car a few weeks ago. You’re right. Four to six years is a long time for something you don’t really love.
Personally, no. I use it for workouts like gym and running, so it’s mainly a tool I’ll replace in three to five years. It really depends on how someone uses it.
They aren’t really worth the extra cost when bought new. But if you’re buying a model that’s two years old, the price difference between aluminum and stainless steel models is small.
It depends on how you treat them. I have an S6 stainless steel graphite, and my wife has an S6 aluminum. Her screen is scratched and the case is dented, while mine isn’t, even though I often bang mine on doorways and objects at work. The value of that varies for each person.
@Renny
The sapphire crystal glass alone is worth the extra cost for me. My S5 stainless steel body is scratched and dented, but the glass is still in perfect condition.
Darin said: @Renny
The sapphire crystal glass alone is worth the extra cost for me. My S5 stainless steel body is scratched and dented, but the glass is still in perfect condition.
@Renny
Exactly. I’m active and mine goes underwater, on hikes, to the gym, with me on home projects, chasing my kids and dog… anything less than the most durable material would make me very upset. But not everyone uses their watch that much, so they might not need titanium. Also, I’m lucky I can afford the titanium, which isn’t the case for everyone. Your mileage may vary.
I like the matte finish of the silver aluminum because it matches the standard Apple colors of my Apple devices and accessories. There’s nothing wrong with matching your hardware and software.
I switched from an S4 aluminum to a Series 10 natural titanium.
I thought that if I’m going to use the Apple Watch for another six generations, I might as well treat myself. Also, the natural titanium version is stunning; it’s my first non-black or space-gray Apple device since the iPhone 3G.
I wonder what someone who paid $17,000 for a gold original would say? I guess if you have that much money to spend on an Apple Watch, you probably upgraded it and left the old one in a drawer years ago.
The sapphire crystal alone is worth the extra cost. It’s only a $200 increase compared to the cellular aluminum model ($499), which isn’t much considering that’s similar to how Apple usually prices feature upgrades in their other products (like adding cellular to the iPad Pro).