First thing first. Why do you even need a Smart Watch? Let alone paying a premium for an Apple Watch. Well, I thought the same and now I’m a big Smart Watch advocate! I actually inherited an Apple Watch (1st generation) several years ago from my partner who bought it but wasn’t using it. Unlike her, I have never looked back. I’d compare the experience to the first time you buy a smartphone, you think your current ‘dumb’ phone can do all you need but once you make the move it’s hard to imagine life without a Smart Watch.
Why buy a Smart Watch?
There are several reasons why someone might choose to buy a smart watch:
Convenience: Smartwatches offer quick access to important information, notifications, and apps directly from your wrist, eliminating the need to constantly check your phone.
Health and Fitness Tracking: Many smartwatches come equipped with fitness tracking features such as heart rate monitoring, step counting, sleep tracking, and workout tracking, helping users stay motivated and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Communication: Smartwatches enable users to send and receive calls, messages, emails, and social media notifications without needing to take out their phone, making communication more seamless and efficient.
Personalization: Smartwatches often allow for customization through interchangeable bands, watch faces, and app settings, allowing users to express their personal style and preferences.
Integration with Smart Devices: Smartwatches can connect and communicate with other smart devices in your home, such as smart thermostats, lights, and speakers, allowing for greater control and automation of your environment.
Time Management: Smartwatches come with features such as calendars, reminders, alarms, and timers, helping users stay organized and on schedule throughout the day.
Navigation: Many smartwatches offer GPS and mapping capabilities, providing turn-by-turn directions and navigation guidance right on your wrist, which can be particularly useful when walking, biking, or driving.
Overall, smartwatches offer a range of convenient features and functionalities that can enhance productivity, health, communication, and overall quality of life for users.
Why buy an Apple Watch? Is an Apple Watch worth it?
If you are in the market for a Smart Watch, an Apple Watch is certainly one to consider
There are several reasons why someone might choose to buy an Apple Watch:
Seamless Integration with Apple Ecosystem: If you already own other Apple products such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the Apple Watch seamlessly integrates with these devices, allowing for effortless synchronization of data, apps, and notifications across all your Apple devices.
Comprehensive Health and Fitness Tracking: The Apple Watch offers an extensive array of health and fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, ECG readings, blood oxygen level measurement, sleep tracking, workout tracking, and activity rings, making it an invaluable tool for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Advanced Health Monitoring and Alerts: In addition to basic fitness tracking, the Apple Watch includes advanced health monitoring capabilities such as irregular heart rhythm notifications, fall detection, and emergency SOS, providing users with peace of mind and potentially life-saving alerts.
Wide Range of Apps and Services: With access to the App Store directly from your wrist, the Apple Watch offers a vast selection of apps and services tailored to various interests and needs, including productivity tools, communication apps, entertainment options, and more.
Customization and Personalization: The Apple Watch allows for extensive customization through interchangeable bands, watch faces, and complications, enabling users to personalize their device to reflect their individual style and preferences.
Convenient Communication: With built-in calling, messaging, and email capabilities, as well as support for third-party messaging apps, the Apple Watch makes it easy to stay connected and communicate with friends, family, and colleagues directly from your wrist.
Apple Pay and Wallet Integration: The Apple Watch supports Apple Pay, allowing users to make secure payments directly from their wrist at compatible retailers, as well as store boarding passes, tickets, and loyalty cards in the Wallet app for convenient access.
Overall, the Apple Watch offers a compelling combination of advanced features, seamless integration, and intuitive functionality, making it an attractive choice for users looking for a versatile and feature-rich smartwatch experience.
Is an Apple Watch better than other smart watches?
Whether an Apple Watch is better than other smartwatches depends on individual preferences, needs, and priorities. Apple Watch certainly offers a comprehensive suite of features, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and a robust app ecosystem tailored to iOS users. Additionally, its focus on health and fitness tracking, advanced health monitoring capabilities, and premium build quality are often praised.
However, other smartwatches may excel in certain areas or cater to specific user demographics. For example, some Android-compatible smartwatches offer longer battery life, greater customization options, or unique features tailored to specific use cases. Additionally, budget-friendly options may provide essential smartwatch functionalities at a lower price point.
Ultimately, the "best" smartwatch is subjective and depends on factors such as operating system preference, desired features, budget, and personal style. It's essential to consider your specific needs and priorities when choosing a smartwatch to ensure it meets your expectations and enhances your daily life effectively.
What are the most popular smart watches?
Some of the most popular smart watches in the NZ market include:
Apple Watch Series: Apple's line of smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 8, and SE, are highly popular among iOS users for their seamless integration with iPhones, extensive health and fitness tracking capabilities, and premium design.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Series: Samsung's Galaxy Watch series, including the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Active 2, are popular choices for Android users, offering a wide range of features, stylish designs, and compatibility with Samsung and non-Samsung smartphones.
Fitbit Versa Series: Fitbit's Versa series, including the Versa 3 and Versa 2, are popular for their focus on health and fitness tracking, long battery life, and affordable price points. They offer features such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and exercise tracking.
Garmin Forerunner and Fenix Series: Garmin's Forerunner and Fenixseries are popular among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts for their advanced fitness tracking features, rugged designs, and long battery life. Models such as the Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 are highly regarded for their comprehensive fitness metrics and GPS tracking. Compare prices on Garmin Smart Watches.
OnePlus Watch: The OnePlus watch was initially met with disappointment from OnePlus advocates, but the new OnePlus Watch 2 that is due out in March 2024 seems much more promising! We have a detailed guide to the OnePlus Watch 2 here.
Amazfit GTR and Bip Series: Amazfit's GTR and Bip series offer budget-friendly smartwatches with a focus on fitness tracking, long battery life, and stylish designs. The Amazfit Bip U Pro and Amazfit GTR 3 are among the popular models in this lineup.
These are just a few examples of popular smartwatches, and the market continues to evolve with new releases and innovations. It's essential to consider factors such as operating system compatibility, desired features, and budget when choosing a smartwatch that best suits your needs.
The New Apple Watch for 2024 – should you wait to buy an Apple Watch?
If you are on our site because you are considering upgrading your Apple Watch or purchasing one for the first time then it is worth thinking about what could be coming from Apple soon. If your current smartwatch meets your needs adequately and you're primarily enticed by the prospect of a good deal, it might be prudent to wait until later this year when Apple introduces its next-generation model. Here's why.
New Apple Watch Design
First reason to wait to buy a Smart Watch, the rumoured fancy new design! The original Apple Watch made its debut in April 2015, marking the beginning of Apple's journey into wearable technology. As we approach the 10th anniversary of Apple's first foray into the wearable market, rumors abound regarding a significant update slated for as early as 2024.
According to reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is poised to unveil a substantial redesign for the Apple Watch in celebration of its milestone anniversary. The tech giant is reportedly focused on slimming down the device, aiming for a thinner casing that allows for alternative band attachment methods. Among these potential enhancements is the introduction of magnetic band attachments, a feature that could create additional space within the Apple Watch for larger batteries and other internal components.
New Apple Watch Health Features
One of the big advances on the new Apple Watch is rumoured to be that Apple plans to add blood pressure monitoring to the new Apple Watch in 2024. By adding the function to have blood pressure monitoring users will be able to know if their blood pressure is trending upward. A vital health stat. As a part of the Apple Watch's new blood pressure monitoring system, the Apple Watch is also expected to detect episodes of hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure
Other new health features are rumoured to include an Apple Watch-based sleep apnea detection feature. Sleep apnea is a relatively common sleeping disorder in which the wearer experiences a temporary cessation of breathing more often than normal during sleep. Scary stuff! Symptoms include loud snoring and making choking noises during your sleep.
What is the battery life like on an Apple Watch?
The battery life of an Apple Watch varies depending on factors such as usage patterns, settings, and the specific model. Generally, older models tend to have shorter battery life compared to newer ones due to improvements in hardware efficiency and software optimization.
Here's an overview of the typical battery life for various Apple Watch models:
Original Apple Watch (Series 0): The original Apple Watch had relatively modest battery life, typically lasting about 18 hours with mixed usage.
Apple Watch Series 1 and 2: The Series 1 and 2 models saw slight improvements in battery life compared to the original Apple Watch, lasting up to 1-2 days on a single charge with typical usage.
Apple Watch Series 3: The Series 3 introduced significant enhancements to battery life, offering up to 1.5-2 days of usage on a single charge, depending on usage patterns and settings.
Apple Watch Series 4: With the Series 4, Apple further optimized battery life, providing users with approximately 1.5-2 days of usage on a single charge, similar to the Series 3.
Apple Watch Series 5: The Series 5 maintained similar battery life to its predecessors, offering up to 1.5-2 days of usage on a single charge.
Apple Watch Series 6: The Series 6 introduced improved battery efficiency and optimizations, providing users with approximately 1.5-2 days of usage on a single charge, similar to previous models.
Apple Watch Series 7: While specific details on battery life for the Series 7 may vary, Apple typically aims to maintain or improve battery life with each new iteration. The Series 7 likely offers similar battery life to its predecessors, lasting around 1.5-2 days on a single charge with typical usage.
Apple Watch Series 8, 9 and beyond tend to offer incremental improvements in battery life compared to older models, thanks to advancements in hardware and software optimization. However, battery life can vary based on individual usage habits and settings, so actual results may vary.
We can make an assumption that the Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch X (if they name it that way) will be the best battery life of an Apple Watch to date.
Are Apple Watches really any good?
Overall, Apple Watches offer a comprehensive suite of features, seamless integration, and intuitive functionality that many users find valuable and beneficial in their daily lives. However, whether an Apple Watch is "good" for you depends on your specific needs, preferences, and budget.
With a heftier price tag than many other Smart Watches an Apple Watch is certainly a more expensive way to join the Smart Watch world than some of the other Smart Watch brands on the market. You can compare all Smart Watch prices on PriceMe.
What is the difference in the Apple Watches? Ultra vs SE vs Standard
Here's a brief overview of the main differences between the Ultra, SE, and Standard models:
Apple Watch Ultra: This is the most rugged and capable Apple Watch. It also comes with a much heftier price tag. The "Ultra" in Apple's lineup of Apple Watches offers the largest screen, greater waterproofing, all the features of the standard Apple Watch plus an increased battery life.
Apple Watch SE (Special Edition): The Apple Watch SE is a more affordable alternative to the standard Apple Watch. It offers many of the essential features of the Apple Watch, including heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, sleep tracking, and notifications, but with a more budget-friendly price tag. The SE lacks some of the advanced health features found in the standard Apple Watch, such as ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood oxygen level measurement.
Apple Watch Standard: The ‘standard’ Apple Watch features a larger and more durable display, faster charging, advanced health monitoring capabilities including ECG and blood oxygen level measurement, and a wide range of customization options when compared to the Apple Watch SE.
In summary, the main differences between these models revolve around features, price, and target audience. The Apple Watch Ultra is the most advanced and premium option, while the SE offers a more budget-friendly alternative with fewer features.
When is the new Apple Watch going to be released in NZ?
Apple typically releases a new Apple Watch model in or around the September alongside the launch of its latest flagship iPhone, which in 2024 is going to be the iPhone 16. BUT, it is worth noting that Apple could be planning a change in release dates and timings of releasing the new Apple Watch if it does indeed unveil a 10th anniversary "Apple Watch X" next year.
Apple Watch Series 10 NZ release date
Not yet confirmed by Apple, but based on past releases it’s very likely that the Apple Watch Series 10 will be released in NZ in early to mid-September 2024.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 NZ release date
The new Apple Watch Ultra will most likely be released at the same time as the Series 10. Expect an update in September 2024 for the release date in NZ of the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple Watch SE 3 release date
The Apple Watch SE models are not annual releases – or have not been to date. The Apple Watch SE is released on a two year cycle. The first Apple Watch SE model was released in 2020 and updated in 2022. Therefore, if it continues on a two-yearly update cycle, we will see a new Apple Watch SE in September 2024.
How much will the 2024 Apple Watch cost?
Without actual confirmed information from Apple we need to look at the past pricing. Apple has always offered its Watch models in a variety of configurations, shapes, sizes and functions. We predict starting prices in NZ of $469 for the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 10 from $749, and Ultra 3 from $1,599. You can compare prices on all Apple watches here on PriceMe.
Can I get the new Series 10 Apple Watch in NZ?
Yes – we believe the Series 10 Apple Watch will be launched and available in New Zealand in September 2024. Most major electronic retailers in NZ such as Noel Leeming, PB Tech, Harvey Norman and Parallel Imported will stock the Series 10 Apple Watch. You can also buy direct from the Apple store online or from major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay where you may get bigger deals or added extras.
Where to buy the Series 10 Apple Watch in NZ?
All the usual suspects – the big electronic retailers or online marketplaces. Compare the price of the Series 10 Apple Watch on PriceMe here once it is released.
Compare Prices on Apple technology in NZ
Apple is a globally renowned technology company known for its innovative products, including iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches, and more. In New Zealand (NZ), Apple products are widely available through various authorized retailers, Apple's official website, and Apple retail stores.
Buying Apple products in NZ offers consumers access to a wide range of cutting-edge devices and accessories, backed by Apple's reputation for quality, reliability, and customer service. Whether you're in the market for the latest iPhone, a powerful MacBook for work or school, or a stylish Apple Watch to track your fitness, there's an Apple product to suit every need and lifestyle.
In addition to purchasing individual products, Apple also offers various services and programs in NZ, including AppleCare+ for extended warranty coverage, Apple Trade In for trading in eligible devices for credit toward new purchases, and the Apple One subscription bundle for access to Apple's suite of services such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud storage, and more.
Shopping for Apple products in NZ provides consumers with the opportunity to experience the latest technology firsthand, receive expert advice and support from Apple specialists, and take advantage of convenient payment options such as Apple Pay and financing through Apple's installment program.
Overall, buying Apple products in NZ offers consumers access to cutting-edge technology, exceptional customer service, and a seamless shopping experience, making it a popular choice for tech enthusiasts and casual users alike.
You can compare prices on all manner of Apple products on PriceMe. Compare prices on iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches, and more.
