durability of watch vs watch sport?

[Ja Di ksw]

The sport is suppose to be used for active people, but I imagine (at least the screen) is more easy to damage. Is that right? I have no idea about the stainless steel vs silver aluminum body (though I assume that's more resistant on the normal watch as well), but isn't sapphire suppose to be the hardest to scratch after diamond? So why would the easier to scratch watch face be put on the sport watch that you expect to be used more in situations where it could get scratched? The only real benefit I see is that it's "lighter," but honestly, if the weight of a watch is not a real factor in a workout, the things are light enough already.

 

[Vundu]

The sport spin is just a way of advertising and selling the cheap model.

 

[fousfous]

Ion X is more resistant for scratch and personally I've never stripe the screen of my devices so I think the Sport one will be the more resistant.

 

[maflynn]

Two things.

Diamonds are the hardest material not sapphires, though sapphires are very hard.

Secondly, I thought the only distinguishing factor for the sports watch was the wrist band, its the same watch as the regular apple watch - or am I mistaken on that?

 

[OllyW]

Two things.

Diamonds are the hardest material not sapphires, though sapphires are very hard.

Secondly, I thought the only distinguishing factor for the sports watch was the wrist band, its the same watch as the regular apple watch - or am I mistaken on that?

The Sport has an aluminium case with composite back and toughened glass face. The regular watch has a stainless steel case with ceramic back and sapphire face.

 

[Julien]

Sport is more of a nomenclature than intended use. Many question (rightfully) the naming of the models. The SS has no name, just Watch and the Edition edition is named Edition.

Also the Sport's aluminum body will be FAR softer and much easer to dent and crack than stainless steal. So the SS will be a better durability choice for activities. However weight will be a factor. SS weighs about 3x what aluminum does so it will be substantially heaver.

Another factor could be costs. The SS has been rumored to cost as much as $1000 or more. If this is the case the Sport makes economical sense since the cost to replace if damaged outweighs the costs of the SS.

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Ion X is more resistant for scratch and personally I've never stripe the screen of my devices so I think the Sport one will be the more resistant.

This is the same Monster glass as used on the iPhone. Sapphire is the 2ed hardest material and is far more scratch resistant than glass. Only a diamond screen could be more scratch resistant than sapphire.

 

[maflynn]

The Sport has an aluminium case with composite back and toughened glass face. The regular watch has a stainless steel case with ceramic back and sapphire face.

Thanks for the clarification, I hadn't been following the apple watch close enough to know the distinction.

 

[fousfous]

This is the same Monster glass as used on the iPhone. Sapphire is the 2ed hardest material and is far more scratch resistant than glass. Only a diamond screen could be more scratch resistant than sapphire.

Sapphire can scratch the screen too, but do not "meet" this objects ^^

 

[VFC]

Sport is more of a nomenclature than intended use. Many question (rightfully) the naming of the models. The SS has no name, just Watch and the Edition edition is named Edition.

Also the Sport's aluminum body will be FAR softer and much easer to dent and crack than stainless steal. So the SS will be a better durability choice for activities. However weight will be a factor. SS weighs about 3x what aluminum does so it will be substantially heaver........

I hope it doesn't bend easily like the iPhone 6+. With straps pulling at both ends; the Sport watch will be under considerable stress during a workout.

 

[Dave245]

The SS has been rumored to cost as much as $1000 or more. If this is the case the Sport makes economical sense since the cost to replace if damaged outweighs the costs of the SS.

Some people thought i was mad when i suggested the Stainless Steel Watch could cost around $1000.

 

[Piggie]

I'm sure they will all easily last 1 year, which will be long enough till you upgrade to the next model

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Also the Sport's aluminum body will be FAR softer and much easer to dent and crack than stainless steal. So the SS will be a better durability choice for activities. However weight will be a factor. SS weighs about 3x what aluminum does so it will be substantially heaver.
.

Won't be much heavier actually.

from Apple website:

For Apple Watch [Sport], we created a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminum that’s 60 percent stronger than standard alloys. Yet it’s very light. Together with the Ion-X glass covering the display, it makes the Sport collection watches up to 30 percent lighter than our stainless steel models.

I hope it doesn't bend easily like the iPhone 6+. With straps pulling at both ends; the Sport watch will be under considerable stress during a workout.

Lol what? The slight pull of the bands are going to bend the aluminium? It's such a small amount of pressure, no chance that it bends. Plus the structure of the watch is way less prone to bending than the phone. Certainly not worth worrying about.

 

[technosix]

So many valid questions, yet until the watches are shipped and into the users hands we're only guessing.

Price aside I think it takes a lot of guts to order a first gen Apple Watch. My prediction is there'll be a vastly improved second gen model. Why anyone would buy this upcoming model seems to come down to impatience, impulse, or ego.

I'm sitting back enjoying the show. #

 

[Runt888]

It's possible that the ion x glass on the sport model will be less prone to shattering than the sapphire on the other models (from what we know about sapphire from all the iPhone 6 "leaks").

 

[Dave245]

So many valid questions, yet until the watches are shipped and into the users hands we're only guessing.

Price aside I think it takes a lot of guts to order a first gen Apple Watch. My prediction is there'll be a vastly improved second gen model. Why anyone would buy this upcoming model seems to come down to impatience, impulse, or ego.

I'm sitting back enjoying the show. #

I don't think that is true at all, there is nothing wrong with buying a first gen product. Me personally i want to try a smart watch and see what it can do for me, the fitness aspect alone has attracted me to the Watch, that's without all the other features. Some are still a secret according to Tim Cook, more information will be released near the time, hopefully with another keynote.

 

[cmChimera]

So many valid questions, yet until the watches are shipped and into the users hands we're only guessing.

No. We already know what materials are more durable.

My prediction is there'll be a vastly improved second gen model.

You don't say.....

Why anyone would buy this upcoming model seems to come down to impatience

I am impatient. I wanted the device in September

impulse

Impulse? By the time the device releases there will have been 7 months to contemplate the decision.

or ego.

Ego because they can afford to buy a product they want? Don't be ridiculous. People buy things they want. If someone wants a first gen Apple watch, it's because they feel like the device has enough for them to justify their purchase.

Oh and shocking news, people that buy the first gen can also buy the second gen, or the third gen which I predict will be a vast improvement over the second gen.

 

[extricated]

The sport is suppose to be used for active people, but I imagine (at least the screen) is more easy to damage. Is that right? I have no idea about the stainless steel vs silver aluminum body (though I assume that's more resistant on the normal watch as well), but isn't sapphire suppose to be the hardest to scratch after diamond? So why would the easier to scratch watch face be put on the sport watch that you expect to be used more in situations where it could get scratched? The only real benefit I see is that it's "lighter," but honestly, if the weight of a watch is not a real factor in a workout, the things are light enough already.

I've been asking these questions myself from the beginning.

I will largely be using the watch in sports scenarios (to include orienteering and obstacle courses). I'm confident of overall durability, but have wondered at the scratch resistance of the screen. I know from experience that sapphire is great for a watch face, but I (naturally) have no firsthand experience with "Ion X".

That said, although I can't speak to Ion X scratch resistance, from what I've read, it supposedly withstands hard impacts better than sapphire.

 

[fousfous]

And Ion X has a better transparency

 

[Julien]

...have no firsthand experience with "Ion X"...

If you don't own an iPhone you can't use an Watch anyway.

 

[extricated]

If you don't own an iPhone you can't use an Watch anyway.

I do have a 5s and plan to get the 6s (or whatever it will be called).
No firsthand experience with the 6. I wasn't even thinking about it using ion strengthened glass. I remember hearing that people reported issues with minor scratches. I don't know if that was in the oleophobic coating or the glass itself.

Do you (or anyone reading) happen to know if the ion-strengthened glass of the 6/6plus is the same that will be used in the Apple Watch Sport?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I do have a 5s and plan to get the 6s (or whatever it will be called).
No firsthand experience with the 6. I wasn't even thinking about it using ion strengthened glass. I remember hearing that people reported issues with minor scratches. I don't know if that was in the oleophobic coating or the glass itself.

Do you (or anyone reading) happen to know if the ion-strengthened glass of the 6/6plus is the same that will be used in the Apple Watch Sport?

Ion-strengthened/chemically-strengthened/aluminosilicate glass are all synonyms and has been featured on all iPhones going all the way back to the iPhone 4.

 

[Menel]

The sport is suppose to be used for active people, but I imagine (at least the screen) is more easy to damage. Is that right? I have no idea about the stainless steel vs silver aluminum body (though I assume that's more resistant on the normal watch as well), but isn't sapphire suppose to be the hardest to scratch after diamond? So why would the easier to scratch watch face be put on the sport watch that you expect to be used more in situations where it could get scratched? The only real benefit I see is that it's "lighter," but honestly, if the weight of a watch is not a real factor in a workout, the things are light enough already.

Ion strengthened glass is more impact resistant than Sapphire.

Aluminum weighs less, so not only is it less cumbersome, but less inertial mass behind any impacts.

 

[extricated]

Ion-strengthened/chemically-strengthened/aluminosilicate glass are all synonyms and has been featured on all iPhones going all the way back to the iPhone 4.

Correct, but haven't their been different iterations/formulas?
Gorilla Glass 2, 3 and soon to be 4?
I thought the 6 used a different type than the 5/5s, which is why I wonder if the watch will use it's own formulation.
I honestly don't know a ton about this. I'm just curious.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Correct, but haven't their been different iterations/formulas?
Gorilla Glass 2, 3 and soon to be 4?
I thought the 6 used a different type than the 5/5s, which is why I wonder if the watch will use it's own formulation.
I honestly don't know a ton about this. I'm just curious.

Apple likes to keep that information hidden from the public. They won't even acknowledge Gorilla as a supplier.

 

[jafingi]

Ion X is more resistant for scratch and personally I've never stripe the screen of my devices so I think the Sport one will be the more resistant.

But this is a watch. Not a device you keep in your pocket. If you have ever worn a watch without Sapphire, you know it _will_ get scratched at some time.