Get a Gen 1 watch now or wait until Gen 4

[jd1988]

Walmart is running a deal right now for a Gen 1 watch for $159 (38mm) and $189 (42mm).

I've been wanting a Apple Watch for a while but I've just been waiting for the right time. This deal seems too good to pass up

I saw that Apple has a trade in program for watches. I'm thinking if I bought my watch now and then decided to upgrade later this year with Gen 4, I'd still get enough value out of my few months of using the Gen 1 watch.

Does anyone know how much Apple gives you back for exchanging a Gen 1 watch towards a brand new Gen 4?

Or am I just better off waiting for the Gen 4 to come out?

 

[Julien]

It's not a Gen 1. It is a Series 1.

 

[NoBoMac]

I'd wait, to see what, if anything is new, if something is released in September. Because...

Keep an eye out for any Series 3 deals. For example, Target had a $90 off deal on Monday, so, that would have been $229 for latest device. And when/if 4 gets released, 3 drops in price, so again, can get a better watch at lower cost. Seems like everyone has been running a Series 3 deal every couple of weeks (Walmart, Target, Best Buy).

Or can pull trigger on a 4 if really whiz-bangy.

 

[jd1988]

I'd wait, to see what, if anything is new, if something is released in September. Because...

Keep an eye out for any Series 3 deals. For example, Target had a $90 off deal on Monday, so, that would have been $229 for latest device. And when/if 4 gets released, 3 drops in price, so again, can get a better watch at lower cost. Seems like everyone has been running a Series 3 deal every couple of weeks (Walmart, Target, Best Buy).

Or can pull trigger on a 4 if really whiz-bangy.

Thanks for your response. I hadn't seen any Series 3 deals but perhaps I hadn't been looking hard enough.

 

[JPack]

Wait for Series 4 - the news today shows a rather significant form factor change that enlarges case and display.

With a larger display, usability will likely increase. You'll want to try Series 4 first.

 

[44267547]

Thanks for your response. I hadn't seen any Series 3 deals but perhaps I hadn't been looking hard enough.

Also, if you find a Series 3 cheaper at a specific in-store retailer, most in store retailers will price match as long as the competitor has that Series 3 Apple Watch in stock. Or online, check Swappa for discounted prices for new in box models as well.

 

[The Game 161]

Wait

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I'd still get enough value out of my few months of using the Gen 1 watch.

Series 1 is actually - and somewhat confusingly - a generation 2 watch. It has the same SoC as the Series 2 watch so has the same level of performance, but it lacks waterproofing, GPS and the brighter OLED display from S.2 models.

 

[fokmik]

Wait for Series 4 - the news today shows a rather significant form factor change that enlarges case and display.

With a larger display, usability will likely increase. You'll want to try Series 4 first.

We dont need a larger case on a watch...iphone plus...ok,but this is a wearable..i dont want in 5 years to wear an iphone on my wrist

 

[Vanilla35]

I would at no price point buy a gen 1 device when gen 4 is coming out soon. Also for apple watch specifically I know the gen 1 started to run like crap after AW 3 software came out. From what I've read on here anyway. If you keep it on the default software you could probably get by, if you're super price sensitive.

 

[Gregintosh]

Since the series 4 will have a form factor change, it’ll be worth waiting for. Slightly larger screen, mostly due to smaller bezels probably, will make it look good. You’ll feel like your watch is outdated once the next ones come out.

Since Apple only changes form factors every 4 years on most devices, buying them at the start of their lifecycle let’s you keep it for all those years and still have the latest look.

Plus, if you get a series 1 chances are you’ll only get one or two more watchOS updates before you can’t run the latest software anymore. With series 4, you’ll probably get updates the next 4 or more years.

 

[44267547]

Since the series 4 will have a form factor change, it’ll be worth waiting for. Slightly larger screen, mostly due to smaller bezels probably, will make it look good. You’ll feel like your watch is outdated once the next ones come out.

Since Apple only changes form factors every 4 years on most devices, buying them at the start of their lifecycle let’s you keep it for all those years and still have the latest look.

Plus, if you get a series 1 chances are you’ll only get one or two more watchOS updates before you can’t run the latest software anymore. With series 4, you’ll probably get updates the next 4 or more years.

Outstanding post. I mentioned in another thread that Apple _may_ even retain the Series 3 GPS model for discounted price for those who are only seeking minimal upgrades under a series 2. I expect there to be some unidentified features with the Series 4 that we don’t know about, otherwise battery improvements or additional health sensors would be beneficial.

 

[Donfor39]

I’m going to use SE1 for quite some time. Although I wanted SE2 at time of purchase, I went se1 as costs rose as se2 was bumped upto se3 costing.
Either way at least a year or two as se1 suffices for gym/calls etc.
OP choose a watch the suits your needs currently don’t necessarily have to wait until next generation is announced.

 

[Ledgem]

I wouldn't buy a Series 1 at this point. It's not just that the Series 4 is rumored to be on the horizon, but that the Series 1 feels very sluggish now. Apps - Apple's own - take a few seconds to open, if they're not already loaded. The Series 1 was never a speed demon, but as one would expect, newer software updates are increasing the Watch's capabilities, and the added stress is felt pretty heavily by older devices. People who went from the Series 1 (or Series 2) to the Series 3 have reported that there is a very significant difference in the speed of the device.

I don't regret buying my Series 1 (over a year ago by now). It was really more just dipping my toe into the Apple Watch world to see if it was a product that would be useful to me, so I wasn't using apps much. It was useful, but now maybe I'm just trying to extend my usage of it a bit further. The delay in opening new apps, and occasionally even switching between them, is significant enough that there have been a good number of times when I thought about using the Watch, but decided not to bother because the delay would have been too significant at the time.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don’t know what the op means by gen 1. If series 0. Then no. Not only is it slow now but it won’t be getting watchOS 5 in September.

If they mean a series 1. Then possibly depending on how much it is. The series 1 and series 2 have the same processor I believe? So it should be pretty decent performance wise.

 

[44267547]

I don’t know what the op means by gen 1. If series 0. Then no. Not only is it slow now but it won’t be getting watchOS 5 in September.

If they mean a series 1. Then possibly depending on how much it is. The series 1 and series 2 have the same processor I believe? So it should be pretty decent performance wise.

Both Series 1 and Series 2 share the same dual core processor. It’s the Series 2 that also includes the 50 m water resistance, 1000 Nit display and GPS.