Apple Watch 2 review



PROS

  • Bright, beautiful screen
  • Great fitness tracking
  • GPS makes it more versatile
  • Solid battery life
  • Snappy performance


CONS

  • Expensive
  • Looks the same as previous version


KEY FEATURES

  • 38mm or 42mm case
  • Built-in GPS
  • 50m water-resistance
  • Heart rate sensor
  • 1,000 nits OLED screen
  • Manufacturer: Apple
  • Review Price: £369.00/4000MAD .


WHAT IS THE APPLE WATCH 2?

The Apple Watch 2 (or Apple Watch Series 2 to give it its official title) is the second version of the most successful smartwatch around.
While the iPhone 7 didn’t meet our high expectations of it, the Apple Watch 2 has. All our concerns about the original have been addressed: watchOS 3 is now intuitive and useful; there are plenty of compatible apps; and the Apple Watch 2 is now properly water-resistant.Owning an Apple Watch finally makes sense – especially if you’re the outdoorsy, fitness type.




APPLE WATCH 2 – DESIGN

The Apple Watch Series 2 looks almost identical to the original, and I don’t mind that at all. This remains my favourite smartwatch when it comes to looks, particularly since it isn't as chunky as rival watches. It helps that I prefer square watches; those who prefer round ones might not be as kind.



The Watch 2 is a fraction thicker than the previous Watch, but not enough that you’d notice without seeing the two next to each other. The square screen with rounded glass edges make it simple to swipe up, down, left and right from the edge to provide additional shortcuts, and the rotating Digital Crown still works well as a method of zooming in and out, and general navigation.
The button just beneath the Digital Crown has been re-appropriated from a useless shortcut to contacts and on/off switch to a much more engaging way to scroll through the new apps dock (more details to follow).
You can opt for either the stainless steel or, slightly cheaper, aluminium chassis, and one of two sizes: 38mm and 42mm. The Series 2 is available in a range of colours: Gold, Rose Gold, Space Grey and Silver. This time there’s no expensive gold-plated model.



The headline feature for the Apple Watch 2 is water-resistance. Not only will it survive a brief dunk in the bath, it's now fit for the sea. Apple claims it can withstand up to 50m of water – although we wouldn't advise that you go scuba-diving with it just yet. It’s meant to survive the rigours of arms swinging through water, as opposed to being plunged into the depths.








APPLE WATCH 2 – SCREEN AND SPEAKER

The screen on the Watch 2 is the same size and resolution as the Watch, but it benefits from improvements. Apple claims this is the brightest screen it has ever made – and I can believe it; it can be viewed on the sunniest of days without issue.
As with any display of this size, there are limitations. It works as a touchscreen, of course, but also has benefits from Apple’s clever Force Touch technology, so you can access further options the harder you press. Note that this is the same "Taptic Engine" tech that featured in the first Apple Watch; it was improved to offer greater levels of sensitivity as Force Touch in later iPhone models.


The clever speaker is loud enough to comfortably have a conversation with someone while your hands are otherwise engaged. I’m not a huge fan of talking to my wrist, especially in public, but I found the speaker and mic just about strong enough for me to chat away outdoors with both hands on a pushchair.







Voice recognition is very good, too. Speak to Siri and she’ll immediately jump to attention to dictate a message, look for something, or start an app.


APPLE WATCH 2 – PERFORMANCE AND WATCHOS 3

There’s a brand-new processor in the Apple Watch Series 2, and it makes the smartwatch tick along more smoothly than ever.
I wasn't of the impression that the original Apple Watch was particularly sluggish, and its only on using the Watch 2 that I've come to realise how slow it was. Apps open quickly, with everything being a little more immediate. The biggest difference can be seen when switching between apps. You can now jump from your calendar to the Activity app in an instant.
It isn't just the new S2 processor that helps the Apple Watch 2's more snappy feel. The latest version of the Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 3, also plays a big role.
watchOS 3 now allows developers to keep their apps in the Apple Watch 2’s memory once opened. This means they open up many times faster than before. It makes a huge difference.






APPLE WATCH 2 – BATTERY LIFE

Smartwatches don’t tend to last too long away from a plug socket. A day and a bit of use is what I’d become used to with the original Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 2 betters that by quite some distance. I regularly strap it to my wrist on a Monday morning and find that it needs charging by Wednesday night – that’s three full days of use. It means I no longer curse the fact that the battery is on 10% when I wake up in the morning and have to leave the watch to charge at home as a result.
This changes if you use the Apple Watch 2’s GPS. GPS tends to uses greater power and the watch discharges noticeably more quickly. Go for a long walk with the GPS on and the battery will last around five hours. That’s quite low, but then it’s unlikely you’ll be away from your phone for that long.
When the Apple Watch 2 is paired to your phone the GPS turns off, and your phone provides the location information.





APPLE WATCH 2 – BATTERY LIFE

Smartwatches don’t tend to last too long away from a plug socket. A day and a bit of use is what I’d become used to with the original Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 2 betters that by quite some distance. I regularly strap it to my wrist on a Monday morning and find that it needs charging by Wednesday night – that’s three full days of use. It means I no longer curse the fact that the battery is on 10% when I wake up in the morning and have to leave the watch to charge at home as a result.
This changes if you use the Apple Watch 2’s GPS. GPS tends to uses greater power and the watch discharges noticeably more quickly. Go for a long walk with the GPS on and the battery will last around five hours. That’s quite low, but then it’s unlikely you’ll be away from your phone for that long.
When the Apple Watch 2 is paired to your phone the GPS turns off, and your phone provides the location information.





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