Realistically, how many years can I expect to get out of a S4?

[Mythicstatus2]

Launch day SS Milanese S0 here also. Did not have a reason to upgrade until now. Mine crapped out last year due to expanding battery and apple gave me a replacement which I still have. I wear it every day and can't imagine life without it.

Upgrading to the S4 Hermes which comes with 3 yrs warranty with AC. Thats at least how long I plan to keep it.

 

[Brien]

I see lots of folks upgrading from an S0. That's a solid 4 years of use. Batteries, cases, screens, speed... how did it all hold up? From what I understand, resale tanks after the next series is announced, so you either keep them for 1 year or you're in it for the long haul. If that's the case, there's maybe good reason to go for a more durable stainless/sapphire versus an aluminum. Thoughts?

In my experience even before the new ones are announced... SS version resale is crap, marginally better than the aluminum models.

That said my S0 is still going strong after 3.5 years.

 

[OneMike]

I see lots of folks upgrading from an S0. That's a solid 4 years of use. Batteries, cases, screens, speed... how did it all hold up? From what I understand, resale tanks after the next series is announced, so you either keep them for 1 year or you're in it for the long haul. If that's the case, there's maybe good reason to go for a more durable stainless/sapphire versus an aluminum. Thoughts?

My original Apple Watch held up fine.

Never had a case. Just had the original base aluminum model. Use at gym on average 5 times a week and wore every day from start till end.

Only real complaint is workout app sometimes takes a solid minute to become responsive before you can start.

 

[jclardy]

My dad is using my old day one S0 stainless steel. I used it for about two years day in/day out. Still looks great, and works fine, although I could never use it with it's single core processor. Battery seems to be holding up fine, lasts through the day.

I think software is the biggest limiting factor - the S0 is 4 years old now and is just now losing OS updates (though it will still work.) The problem is by the end of the 4 years it will feel dreadfully slow compared to current offerings.

But also to note on SS vs aluminum - if you are just looking for resale - go aluminum. Only go SS if you really want the look, or are planning on keeping it for a while. The S3 SS is going for about 50% of its original price just one year later, the S3 cellular aluminum are going for around 60-70%.

 

[barjam]

I feel like 4 maybe 5 on the 4 is reasonable. The 0 was a bit of a special case. It started slow and remained slow. The 4 will start out very fast.
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My dad is using my old day one S0 stainless steel. I used it for about two years day in/day out. Still looks great, and works fine, although I could never use it with it's single core processor. Battery seems to be holding up fine, lasts through the day.

I think software is the biggest limiting factor - the S0 is 4 years old now and is just now losing OS updates (though it will still work.) The problem is by the end of the 4 years it will feel dreadfully slow compared to current offerings.

But also to note on SS vs aluminum - if you are just looking for resale - go aluminum. Only go SS if you really want the look, or are planning on keeping it for a while. The S3 SS is going for about 50% of its original price just one year later, the S3 cellular aluminum are going for around 60-70%.

Or go with the SS if a scratched screen bothers you. It is extremely easy to scratch the glass screens and extremely difficult to scratch the sapphire ones.

 

[mjr1000]

Thanks for all the great responses! To my surprise, a lot of S0 aluminums are still out there and holding up (some still looking like new!?) I had originally asked the question thinking that I’ve got a better shot at 3-4 years if I go with the stainless and sapphire, being more worried about materials than hardware/software issues. I love the look but might stick with aluminum and save $300. How do you guys feel about Apple Care? Have you needed it? Will you buy it again?

 

[44267547]

How do you guys feel about Apple Care? Have you needed it? Will you buy it again?

Buy it. You’re going to find a bunch of varying opinions on this, but it’s the one product that I would highly suggest you consider being the nature of a watch that is worn on our wrists with objects we encounter on a daily basis. Without AppleCare, it’s very expensive to have the watch repaired and it’s the little mishaps that you don’t expect that will set you back without AppleCare.

 

[Watabou]

How do you guys feel about Apple Care? Have you needed it? Will you buy it again?

Haven't needed it for the watch, but I bought it again.

This time around, you can pay monthly. $4/month doesn't sound too bad too me.

 

[OllyW]

My 1st gen is going to have to last for as long as possible until it actually stops working because I'm not sure if I would buy another one.

 

[vintagekeys]

Honestly for me personally 2 years would be the max for a wearable.

My iphone 6 plus going strong for more then 3 years, and i will make it 4. I have no incentive to upgrade it due the way i use my phone. But for a personal watch that i will be using as my phone replacment, while my iphone is taking a rest at home, i want have it upgraded every 2 year.

I think we are getting close with the S4 to for example the iphone 6/7 in terms of user experience being sufficient to enjoy it and not having to upgrade it every 1/2/3 years, as i feel now we are getting into the iphone 5 area of the AW. Not quite there yet but getting close.

 

[Jamesk811]

I bought a stainless steel S0 but then got an aluminium S2 and aluminium S3 and just pre-ordered aluminium S4.

I just sell it online when the new one comes out and use that money towards the next watch. I love having the latest watch with the latest features.

I will always pick aluminium over stainless steel for cost, resale value and more functional for every day use. I have expensive Rolex and Tissot watches for formal occasions, don’t need a stainless steel Apple Watch.

 

[I am Sampson]

I guess it’s up to you really. I don’t see much point constantly upgrading if it still works.
I have a s0 from day one and will continue to use it until it doesn’t work.
If I upgraded what would I get for my hundreds of pounds?
Let’s see:
Faster
Slightly slimmer and larger screen
Some extra workout / monitoring.

That’s it really. It’s a device that is 99% used for notifications. That wouldn’t change at all (other than being 30% bigger).
For me; hardly worth hundreds of pounds and very VERY little change in 4 generations.

I know there will be many who feel strongly otherwise though, so you just need to decide what you feel about previous versions and how long you’d be happy to keep one and then that will help you realise how long a s4 is likely to be used by you. Everyone is different.

 

[iBreatheApple]

I look for 2 or 3 years which is why I go with the SS. Having said that I am upgrading from a series 2 because of the new health features in the 4. So this one lasted just at 2 years, but I'd rather get 3.

Is your interface clunky as hell with the latest OS? It was intermittent before such as with the messaging app and just a few others situations. But now, swiping up for the control center, engaging with complications, workouts, and I'd say 70% of my interactions are unacceptably laggy/jittery. Most all of my Watch use is lived on the face or the dock and I have only a few third party apps installed. I was a little perturbed with OS 4 although I guess it was acceptable, but OS 5 is not at all.

 

[caelius]

My Aluminium S0 is still going pretty strong after exactly three years of use, except for the really poor battery life and the fact that it's sooo damn slow. Never missed the new features on S2+3, but the redesign of the S4 got me really excited, so I'll make the switch now. Hoping it will at least last me another three - four years.

Btw: I was wearing the SG S0 every single day for three years and went pretty rough on it. No scratches or dents on the case, just one pretty mild scratch on the screen from when I accidently smashed it against a concrete wall face-on.

 

[techno-Zen]

Buying a stainless Apple Watch and keeping it one year is a bad idea. The resale value plummets to like 45% of what you pay for. Unlike the iPhone where you can typically get a 70-75% return after using it a year

 

[caligurl]

another series 0 release wearer. I did add a rose gold to the mix a few months later, but before the next series came out, so it's still a series 0 but not an original release. wore one or the other 24/7. the original black sport is perfect. the rose gold that was more the "good" watch of the two since it's pink somehow got a huge scratch section on it (I don't know when or how!?!?) but both still work. slower than molasses so really unuseable for a LOT of the apps. but it was great for messages, alerting me to phone calls is my phone was in the back of the house, and of course workouts, stand, etc.

I originally bought the sport version because I thought I was going to upgrade every year. then when I added the second watch, I decided I didn't need a new watch (or two new watches). same the next time a new one came out (ya... I surprised myself!)

I was disappointed I couldn't upgrade to the latest OS. seems really early to make a product obsolete (at least you get 5 years out of apple computers).

I did upgrade both watches to brand new series 4. I originally got a silver SS and then decided to get a SG sport to continue the 24/7 I was used to. (and truthfully, I got paranoid that i'd scratch the SS screen doing yardwork, working out, housework, etc.) so rather than stick with a series 0 for those purposes... i'd just get a second sport version series 4!

 

[Soba1]

I’m going for the SS gold. I currently have the series 3 space black. When I wear it to the gym I put the silicone cover on it. I’m pretty careful when I’m wearing it. From what I have learned the aluminum screen will scratch but more durable if u should drop it. The stainless screen is more resistant to scratches but will shatter if u drop it. But I’m not one that’s hard on my watches. I will rock the gold until the cows come home. Hopefully it will be a while until they come out with something new

 

[44267547]

Buying a stainless Apple Watch and keeping it one year is a bad idea. The resale value plummets to like 45% of what you pay for. Unlike the iPhone where you can typically get a 70-75% return after using it a year

I don’t disagree that the stainless Apple Watch doesn’t hold value, it’s really not much of a secret to anyone that owns this watch model. But for some, I generally don’t care about the resale value, I want to purchase the watch I want and enjoy it for what it is, that means if I take a hit selling it, I’m perfectly fine with that. My tip would be to sell the Apple Watch at least 3/4 weeks before the keynote, because as the September Keynote usually approaches, more Apple Watches flood the online market. That way it’s least an alternative to maximize the most profit as possible.

 

[queshy]

My S0 is in great shape. Got it a few months after it came out, and have probably worn it 80% of the time since then. No scratches. Battery life still fine. The issue is it is extremely slow, and is pretty much only really good at telling time. If you’re lucky, the notifications for text/email will work reliably. Also good for tracking workouts once it loads.

 

[Broken Hope]

My plan is every 2 years for my phone and watch, alternating, so I upgraded my watch this year after owning a series 2 for 2 years and I'll update my iPhone X next year when it will also be 2 years old.

Upgrading yearly really doesn't give me that new device feeling, I've had a play with an iPhone XS and it's just so similar to my X that it wouldn't feel like a new device to me, where's my Series 4 over a Series 2 does.

 

[Benz63amg]

1-2 years tops and that will depend on what features the series 5 will bring to the table