I picked up a watch as a toy gadget to try. Seems absolutely horrible. Apps take FOREVER to load. Twitter crashes on startup. The dock is barely navigable - certainly way faster to just use my phone for any task besides checking the time. Returning this unless someone can help me figure out how this is useful at all. I like my kaleidoscope face.
I think how Apple started to advertised the Apple Watch when it first came out is still causing some confusion out there. Honestly, the original Apple Watch was not really able to handle those apps back then. They were more akin to bite sized versions of their iPhone counterparts and were really only meant to be used to check something quickly and moving on with your life. Of course getting your iPhone out is going to be a far better experience.
To me, the Apple Watch is a companion device that lets me handle notifications differently and take care of my health. Honestly, now its a lot more of a fitness device than it was before.
So, whenever someone asked me if the Apple Watch was worth getting, Ive always told them that its definitely worth your money if youre into fitness or would like to handle your notifications a bit better. Beyond thats, its really hard to recommend when people think its yet another way to browse their favorite apps.
A good example would be the Amazon app. I think originally you could buy stuff from it. Why? Im not sure, it makes no sense to browse the amazon shop on your wrist, the screen is too tiny. Makes much more sense to use your iPhone instead. I think now its gone, but it wouldve make more sense for the Watch app to be used to check in the status of your orders real quick, or say reordering an item, like the dash buttons.
Like someone else mentioned, its fantastic for notifications. I mean, I think its nice to see a notification and decide if it needs my attention immediately or not. If it does, and as long as the app is supported, it can handle it right from my watch. Otherwise it can wait and I can see it on my watch later and take care of it then.
For Fitness, I gotta say that it has improved my health dramatically. To the point that its addicting trying to close those damn rings. I mean, the watch really does a wonderful job trying to get you to be a bit more active than usual. I usually sit at my desk for 9 hours a day, so its nice to get a reminder when Im busy, lost track of time, to stand up and try to get a bit of activity before the hour expires. The watch doesnt demand much either, just go walk down the hall for a bit and youre closer to your goal for the day. Thats it, its so simple yet so effective. You can even adjust your active calorie goal to your liking.
So, to me, the watch was a valuable investment that I continue to use every day for the past year and a half.