Returning an Apple Watch: Why it sucks

The Apple watch may be a good fit for some people, but not me. After switching from my Pebble Steel, day to day operations with the Apple watch seemed to me more of a nuisance than making things more efficient.
-Jared Serfozo

[@theitechlab]

I'm personally a fan of my Apple Watch. I've had it since launch and it's only become better. I wore a Pebble Classic with iOS and Android, switched to Android completely and bought a Pebble Time, and then came back to iOS and the Apple Watch and I have to say the Apple Watch + iPhone combo is my favorite of the 3. I do respect your opinion though, this watch isn't for everyone. I definitely miss some things about my Pebble Time. I love the buttons but the functionality is limited compared to a touch screen. Like I said, the Apple Watch is my favorite watch out of all I've used since it is the most refined and functional (for my use case at least). Don't listen to the hate, if it's not for you, it's not for you. All the commenters here are just haters for the most part.

[@BanTaaax]

Thanks for sharing!! Too many reasons to buy the watch and not enough cons out there!!

[@BrianBourgeois-]

I agree with some of your points but some I don't. Like the movement to see your watch. My watch turns on when I just rotate my wrist. I don't have to pick my arm up to read a message. And why do you want to read your watch when it's not on your wrist. You could turn wrist detection off. But I do agree wit the hart monitoring it does loose tracking if you sweat a lot. But that's with a devices that use the light method.

[@shasantv]

Some of the same reasons I cannot justify spending $299 on a watch while there are so many good options for a lot less. Thanks for sharing.

[@TowDow3]

So Apple Watch doesn't suck. It just didn't fit your life. Doesn't mean it sucks.

[@LifeOnTech]

+Tow Dow 3 You're right, I'll change the title soon. Maybe "Why it's annoying"

[@releasedrehab]

No dude it's sucks I've had mine for three months now. You barley get the notifications, there is no screen time out adjustment and there are like six faces to choose from

[@HelloRealityCounts]

Nice review. Can you do a review on your new Pebble watch? What is your impression of the Fitbit Blaze?

[@shyamgandhi5546]

Nice video buddy. I see many people hating in comments, but that's a honest opinion. Great Job with the video☺👍

[@LifeOnTech]

+Shyam Gandhi Thanks!

[@Taylor-vy2gg]

There’s an option in settings on the watch to turn wrist detection off. It would be more convenient if Apple would give you the option while setting up the watch to either enable or disable it.

[@LogainAblar]

Forgive me in advance because I haven't used an Apple Watch as a daily driver but I have some questions. I thought the Apple Watch supported a "always on" option for the screen so if a notification comes through you can glance down and see what it is. The Pebble/Pebble Steel etc supports this, Android Wear supports this as well. I'm more familiar with Android Wear and the "always on ambient display" functions that doesn't require a wrist motion to see incoming messages. As far as the music playback from the Apple Watch, I can understand your argument there. But to be fair this is also a problem with any current smartwatch that's not a Pebble or any current version of it. The exception may be The Samsung S which does some great things with their bezel that no one else has. I actually thought general navigation with the Apple Watch was good when I tried it out at the Apple Store. The crown is a good idea after getting used to it. I don't like the bubbles for apps on the main screen but that too can be adjusted for. I'll have to disagree with you there. The other messaging bit in your video about receiving messages on your phone and the watch is a good one. I agree with you there. I think the point with this particular argument is Apple (if this hasn't been done already) should simply make wrist detection optional allowing notifications to show briefly on the watch as an alternative. Works great on Android Wear and Pebble. It does matter whether my watch is charging, on my wrist or sitting on a table away from me, the messages show briefly and then the watch goes back into ambient mode. I see some of your points. It just sounds like the Pebble Time is exactly what you need. A friend of mine has a couple of Android Wear smartwatches and two Pebble smartwatches. He likes the Apple Watch but doesn't own an iPhone. He likes aspects of Android Wear but Pebble wins for him overall so I'm familiar with how you feel in some regards talking with my friend. I tried the Apple Watch, a Pebble Time, Samsung S but bought a LG Urbane. I'm considering switching to a Pebble Steel or a Pebble Time but I'm currently testing Android Wear 1.4 (based on Android 6.0.1) on my Urbane. If I like it, I'll stick with Wear. If not, I'm going with a Pebble. Thanks for the video!

[@LifeOnTech]

+Logain UBiv Tnomal Ablar Great write up. I searched for a setting for "always on" mode for the Apple watch and couldn't find anything. This would have probably saved me from returning it. I ended up getting a Pebble time and have been happy with it. I do miss the bright display of the Apple Watch from time to time, but it doesn't make up for the ease of use of the Pebble. I think your point of the touchscreen being a problem with most smart watches is also good. The touchscreen being adapted to the watch doesn't seem to be as effective as when cell phones (iphone especially) switched over to complete touchscreens. Let me know how you're liking your Android Wear, I may have give that a try as well.

[@LogainAblar]

+Life On Tech thanks for the reply. I'm still doing some experimentation with Android Wear. A friend discovered that the watch face creation app Watchmaker may be the culprit causing some of my problems with Wear lately. I removed my custom watch face and the app to see if it makes a difference over time. I was going to buy a Pebble Steel last Friday but Best Buy had every Pebble except that one. I bought a Samsung Gear S2 (which runs Samsung's OS Tizen) instead since the goal is to try something other than Android Wear. Android Wear is good... when it works. the notification system is good, voice dictation is awesome... when it actually works and the ambient mode is excellent. The problems I have are Android Wear crashes far too often. Voice dictation can hang ultimately kicking back an error message or simply won't respond and Wear can lag horribly at times. Music player controls are as basic as it gets and Google Music on Wear sucks overall. But as I mentioned, a friend believes that the app Watchmaker is causing the instability with Wear. He's two days into his testing and that's his initial conclusion. So far, the S2 is really good. Set up isn't as straight forward as I like as the user is tasked to install a number of additional apps on their phone as well as create a Samsung account. But once I configured the watch and setup the notification section, it worked great. The rotating bezel you may have heard of is similar to the crown on the Apple Watch. It works well and is a fresh idea that was needed. It compliments the touch screen as opposed to trying to replace it. the notification system is better designed than Android Wear but takes an extra step and a separate screen to access as opposed to Android Wear notifications being displayed on the main screen of the watch. The S2 has a superior Music Player that's in the pull down panel of the watch and apps can be uninstalled from the S2 itself. Something I haven't yet experienced on Wear. The screen on the S2 is excellent but it's using Samsung's AmoLED technology for richer blacks and more vibrant colors so no surprises there. The Gear S2 Sport is fast stable and gives good battery life. mine lasted a full day with 50% left on the battery. App selection is limited but I found what I needed for daily use. Pebble Steel was my first choice but I don't regret buying the S2 Sport instead.

[@tekboi12]

But on another note.... What kind of desk is that?!

[@hardenmatt82]

When u want it to track your sleep put it in airplane mode. It will still track and use very little battery

[@kylesmitsdorff]

Id listen to this dude talk about anything :) Cute much??

[@bentownley3269]

I have a pebble time and I'm returning it and getting an Apple Watch.

[@kesasdaed6464]

Oh wow so many apple fanboyzzzz

[@macvonkraft4526]

I don't think people understand what a smart watch is, and expect too much out of what they can offer at this point in time

[@jonbrown1341]

Seems like the pebble offers much more functionality than the others. Its just not as fancy.

[@masew2012]

I wont hate on you because of your opinion... But man i don't feel or see the same issues with the watch as you do... But thx 4 sharing anyways and i hope you enjoy your pebble =) PC/Apple MasterRace

[@wujiyudi]

I bought an Apple Watch today, and I m going to return it tomorrow. It looks really good, and that's it....not a good watch though

[@crazyone5409]

Get a Ironman watch or a Pebble, I agree.

[@johny1220]

I like my Apple Watch I'm not crazy about it but I really like it also your stand up desk is so cool and I didn't know the Apple Watch could track your sleep lol :D

[@sallyllas]

These posts about how bad he sucks are stupid. This video was super helpful!!

[@LifeOnTech]

Sally Miller Thanks!

[@sallyllas]

Anytime! :)

[@furiousmojo1]

What a goof ball

[@SuperMatrix59]

How the fuck does it make your life harder?? Pebble wtf

[@damiansantos2764]

Gear s Is better bigger screen stand alone phone louder speeker Can search internet . Can't do that with apple

[@Justin-dp7pg]

My Apple watch missed 2 miles of my walk. My previous Galaxy S7 Edge, Google maps and fit bit mapped the walk at 7 miles. Apple Watch said 5 miles. What a piece of crap.

[@jackcola5513]

just another money crab instead of making a really usefull product it just not worth it i have already a smartphone why would i ever ever have an andvatage of using a 1 ich screen instead of a bigger screen uuuuh ........ uh.... yeah right there is no advatage

[@jackcola5513]

Not buying everything without thinking doesnt make me poor weird conclusion you make there but yeah have fun using a extreem overpriced divice that doesn nothing better then your phone but has almost the same price That your a fan of a company does not mean that everything they sell is good stupid idiot

[@GHAM3765]

This was a terrible review...

[@NikiasMolina]

I thought it was great

[@peternapoliello2490]

returned mine. overpriced kids toy.

[@Ali-su2zx]

Who r u a sassy 12 year old white girl