Hello and welcome to the show!
My name is Alex and this is TechFlow.
Let's talk about a hot topic right now.
Let's talk about Apple - more specifically, the Apple Watch series 3 with LTE.
I've had the watch now for about four or five days and I want to give you guys my take on it.
Let's do this.
So, before I start this video review, I want to preface to you guys that I've been wearing
an Apple watch on my wrist since 2015 as my main watch.
Obviously, it's come off my wrist when I've been wearing different watches like the Tag
Heuer and different ones like that, however, it's the one that I've always gone back to.
I've loved having my notifications on my wrist and I find it to be, for my lifestyle, a massive
convenience.
I've been wearing the Series 1 and now I've gone straight to the Series 3.
So, bear in mind, this is me coming from a Series 1 to a Series 3.
OK, so, the design - I wanted a little bit of a change from my Series 1 Apple watch.
I found that the finish on my Series 1 got really, really, really easily scuffed up and
I would never get that same chrome finish.
Anything that comes by that watch just scratched it.
So, I went for the black version instead and I think that it looks absolutely drop dead
gorgeous.
I've got the Milanese loop on it - I don't even know how you say that.
Milanese, loop, melon-, Milanese loop?
I'll put a picture of it on screen now.
And it's absolutely drop dead gorgeous.
I'll throw this in right now though; the Apple watch Series 3 is still compatible with the
same straps as a Series 1.
I've been wearing a third party, fake Luis Vuitton strap on my watch for the past three,
four years.
So, as I mentioned, I really like the black finish that I have on my Series 3.
However, there's two things that I don't like.
I don't like that red dot - what is all that about, Apple?
No.
However, the editor and cameraman of TechFlow seems to like it - I'm not quite sure why.
I'm on the team that doesn't like it.
It's also, Apple say, two sheets of paper thicker than the Series 1 and 2 Apple watch.
I'm not 100% sure what sheets of paper they were using.
I'm pretty sure it's not printer paper because it's a little bit thicker than two pieces
of paper.
But it doesn't really matter - I don't really tell.
So, that's the exterior of the watch covered.
Doesn't really matter though, because it's what's inside that counts.
MAN SINGS: It's what's inside that counts, my friend...
SECOND MAN: It's not the crust, it's the filling...
ALEX: Now, let's move on to performance because this is the only reason why I thought I should
upgrade from my Series 1 to the Series 3.
And boy, boy am I impressed!
It's the one thing, in this video, other than the colour of it, that I'm kind of impressed with.
Yes, I can actually use Siri on this watch and I can actually navigate the OS of the watch.
It's actually now quicker to do things on the watch than getting the phone out of my pocket.
Previously, with the Series 1, it was quicker to just get my phone out of my pocket because,
well, as you can see on screen now with the loading time, just trying to load up the settings
pane on the watch - Series 1 VS Series 3 - it takes a hell of a lot longer.
Now, let's move on to my main gripe with this watch - the LTE.
Now, I spent the extra money on the Series 3 to get my watch LTE enabled and I have a
few little, well, a few little things to tell you guys, in the negative light.
All of it is pretty negative.
Now, I have used a Series 2 watch - I haven't owned one but I've used one and I'd say that
if you own a Series 2, the performance is pretty much the same.
Series 1 though - definitely upgrade if you want the performance.
That's all I'd say.
Obviously, I have tested the watch's water resistance and it works as advertised - you
go in the bath with it, go in the shower with it and it's absolutely fine.
I still prefer to take mine off though - better to be safe than sorry.
Right, let's move on to LTE.
Why I spent the extra money on this watch and why I probably shouldn't have and why
you guys definitely shouldn't any time in the near future.
So, there's two versions of the Series 3 Apple watch - one with and one without LTE and I
opted for the one with LTE.
Now, I'm going to bust a few myths first.
No, the Apple watch does not 100% of the time stay connected to the LTE network.
If it did, you'd probably get about five hours of battery life.
The majority of the time, if you opt for the LTE enabled Apple watch, Series 3, it's going
to be connected via Bluetooth or WiFi to your phone.
Only then, when it disconnects from either Bluetooth or WiFi and it can't find your phone
will it turn on its cellular capabilities and connect to its cellular network - that's
if, in fact, you can actually get it set up in the first place with your carrier.
I've had my watch for three or four days now and only, about three hours ago, have I got
it set up.
Now, I don't know who to blame for this - my carrier or Apple.
It just seems to not be an easy process and I'm not just speaking for myself, I'm speaking
for the vast majority of LTE Apple watch 3 users - they have all said the same thing.
Mine though, now, is all set up.
Apparently, it doesn't work.
Now, I'm not sure if this is a firmware problem or if this is because the antennae in the
watch is so small that you have to have a really, really, really strong cellular signal
for it to actually work but I've never, in the past four hours, seen this thing get one bar of signal.
Now, you guys can choose to believe me or not but I've been, in the last four hours,
at home and at the office - two separate locations - and at each different location the Apple
watch - nada - no signal.
And there's actually a cellular network tower right behind the office.
About a hundred metres that way, you can see a load of masts.
And one of those, yes, before you pipe it in the comments, and say it's probably not for your
carrier - it is.
I've got full signal on my phone but watch - absolutely nothing.
It's really disappointing.
But other than that, I've been using the watch primarily on its Bluetooth and WiFi functionality
and I'm absolutely loving it.
Using Siri to interact with Home devices on your watch, telling it to ring people, send
texts, look at notifications.
It works like a dream.
I've even had it on in the gym, using the fitness tracking app and it is even more accurate
than my first generation Apple watch which was fairly accurate anyway.
So, let's wrap this up.
Alex - what are you trying to say here?
Well guys, I'm trying to warn you that if you are liking the LTE enabled Series 3 Apple
watch and what Apple are telling you, I would just hold off for now until Apple can sort
out all of the bugs and you can actually, well, hear some sort of report of someone
getting some signal on their Apple watch LTE.
However, if you haven't ever purchased an Apple watch and you're wanting to get one,
the Series 3 is definitely the way to go and I would definitely upgrade to the Series 3
if you are a Series 1 owner, not a Series 2 though.
But, other than that, the screen brightness is absolutely fantastic.
You can see this thing out in broad daylight absolutely fine.
It's super fast, super great battery life on this coming from the Series 1.
Again, not 100% sure about the Series 2 but if you're not an Apple watch owner and want
an Apple watch, go ahead and pick up the Series 3.
And, as I say, if you guys own a series 1, it's definitely worth the upgrade but probably
not from the series 2.
And also, just stay tuned about the LTE thing.
I'm really, really not convinced just yet.
But guys, I hope you've enjoyed this little review.
My name's been Alex, you guys have been awesome.
This has been TechFlow - we'll catch you in the next one.