I just upgraded from an aluminum watch to a stainless steel. There’s no way I could go back to aluminum. This thing is just so nice and feels more like a real piece of jewelry.
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Aluminum or Stainless?
- Thread starter judyg951
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Counterpoint. I went with the 42mm aluminum S3 because the weight is lighter, and I didn't need LTE features. Would it have been nice if I could have gotten a ceramic back? Yes, but I didn't want to pay extra for features I knew I wasn't going to use.
Interesting tidbit. I've heard that even though the stainless steel casing has a more premium feel the glass front of the aluminum models actually tends to be more legible than the sapphire front on the stainless steel models. http://www.displaymate.com/Apple_Watch_ShootOut_2.htm
So, even though the stainless steel casings have a more "premium" feel overall I wouldn't say one model is better than the other. Completely depends on what your looking for in a smart watch.
Interesting tidbit. I've heard that even though the stainless steel casing has a more premium feel the glass front of the aluminum models actually tends to be more legible than the sapphire front on the stainless steel models. http://www.displaymate.com/Apple_Watch_ShootOut_2.htm
So, even though the stainless steel casings have a more "premium" feel overall I wouldn't say one model is better than the other. Completely depends on what your looking for in a smart watch.
I got the aluminium watch the first time round and liked it a lot. This time I’ve opted for stainless steel partly for the sake of variety. I’m now using my aluminium one at night to track sleep but it’s good to have it as an option if I want greater informality or just fancy a change. It’s silver all the way for me though; I don’t like the gray or black options at all.
I actually don’t like the look of the SS very much. I’ve been wearing my SG aluminum all day every day since I got it and I think it looks just as sharp. I got it primarily for the LTE connection while running outdoors, so I wanted the lighter weight too. I did put a screen protector on it, which I know some people don’t want to do, but I’m clumsy and I’ve dinged up several Fitbit faces in my time.
After two years of SS, I decided to try out SG. I suspect if you're average in terms of roughness in wearing the AW it won't make a significant difference. I'll find out how susceptible the Ion glass is to scratches. 
For a dress up watch you could get a traditional watch. I even found pretty good-looking mechanical for under $200 for those rare days when I dress up.
I have less than 6 bands at the moment. Unless you plan to get a dozen or more bands I don't think you need to get a SS. The steel bands and leather bands definitely go better with the SS, but after wearing the Milanese for a year and trying out other steel bands and bracelets, I decided to go with sport and Nike bands. I may go back to Milanese in the future. I try to avoid leather, although my mechanical has a leather strap.
For a dress up watch you could get a traditional watch. I even found pretty good-looking mechanical for under $200 for those rare days when I dress up.
I have less than 6 bands at the moment. Unless you plan to get a dozen or more bands I don't think you need to get a SS. The steel bands and leather bands definitely go better with the SS, but after wearing the Milanese for a year and trying out other steel bands and bracelets, I decided to go with sport and Nike bands. I may go back to Milanese in the future. I try to avoid leather, although my mechanical has a leather strap.
My Series 0 was stainless steel, it was nice but I wasn't a fan of the weight and how easily the body scratched. When I sold it and got the Series 2, I chose space grey aluminum which worked out great. Sold that recently and upgraded to Space Grey aluminum again.
Curious, how many scratches on the Space Gray screen vs. the SS screen? I assume you were just as rough with both the Space Gray and the SS, and you had both for about the same amount of time.
I had one light scratch on my stainless steel screen from accidentally banging it off the end of a metal table. It was hard to see though. My SG was pristine, but I babied it and don't recall hitting it off anything. My girlfriend's has taken a beating and is fairly scratched up as she's not as careful.
I have a S2 SS. I shoot pistols competitively frequently. I have caught myself with the sapphire crystal against the edge of an outdoor, metal, rusty prop while while shooting. Even with recoil scratching against the metal, there is not a mark on my crystal. I have about 50 watches including a new S3 SB SS model and wouldn't go any other way than sapphire screen. The silver SS will easily polish out most scratches. Do be careful though with milanese loop or similar metal bands as they can scratch the HR monitor (even ceramic) if allowed to rub against them.
I think maybe it’s time to report your wife to the Apple Watch Domestic Violence dept. I probably should turn myself in as well.
I have a 42 alum and it says ceramic back…that’s because it’s LTE? What’s the advantage of that?
I had doubts about the LTE originally due to $10 month…do I need it, etc. I’m still not sold 100%, but it has been very convenient to receive calls or make them without the phone on me. Tho, I’m a little disappointed that Things 3 and Weather Underground didn’t seem to function off LTE…is it only for calls, messages, and eventually apple music?
Clumsy Master Race Internet Stanger checking in…Which did you use? I just received these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VZ6Q7W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
[QUOTE="Pseudo-Fed, post: 25301916, member: 1066996”]…the sapphire crystal against the edge of an outdoor, metal, rusty prop…recoil scratching against the metal...[/QUOTE]
Thanks for this. I no longer feel the need to watch more than 1 halloween horror film tomorrow.
I just upgraded from the Nike aluminum version to the space black stainless and so glad I did. The SBS is awesome! I was worried that it would look too much like a dress watch when doing crossfit but after looking at it in the Apple store I pulled the trigger. It still looks sporty with just a hint of dressiness. I love how the black stainless steel fades into the watch and makes the watch look bigger than the aluminum version. With the right bands it looks really nice dressed up or toned down for working out. I have the black and dark olive sport loop and they look and work great.
I got stainless steel, only because of the sapphire glass on it, I workout a lot and work on my car a lot, I scratched the hell out of the ION-X glass on my aluminum and replaced it with a SS Apple watch and completely worth it, the screen still looks brand new.
I’d normally say SS. ( I have original in SS) but my battery started to die. So I replaced with 42mm Nike space grey with lte.
Reason was money first
Second I would say next year they will revamp the watch. It’s been the same now for 3 yrs. they def need to make it bigger I’d say don’t spend the extra cash this year. Wait to see if it’s gonna change next year.
Go for the space grey now
Im enjoying having both but the original one runs slow compared to my new one
Reason was money first
Second I would say next year they will revamp the watch. It’s been the same now for 3 yrs. they def need to make it bigger I’d say don’t spend the extra cash this year. Wait to see if it’s gonna change next year.
Go for the space grey now
Im enjoying having both but the original one runs slow compared to my new one