Apple Watch thread

[CranialBlaze]

Apple watch series 8 always on display... yay or nay?

I’ve never had it on, don’t really see the point.
Raise watch, see what’s on screen.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The only first-party bands I own for AW are the ones that came with the watch... the pricing on official bands is just whacked.

You do get what you pay for though.

Especially the Braided Solo Loop which you sadly don’t get here is well worth the money. Made to fit and so comfortable.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Pretty nice strap for R500, would really like to know what makes the official one worth R2200.

That being said I got the knock-off alpine strap and that was actually rubbish, the quality was meh and it was thicker, less comfy and much harder to adjust. The clips where also plastic which had more flex in them than I would like.

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Well ignoring the R/$ screwing us the materials are simply so much better and not allergy inducing.

Also last so much longer. (Indefinitely)

I’ve tried plenty of knock offs and they firstly don’t last but secondly day to day they have a lot of skin irritation or even rashes, primarily I think from just sweating badly.

I always ended up back at the one that came in the box and never had the same issues, until I invested in the Braided Solo Loop when a mate went to the US and I couldn’t be happier.

 

[CranialBlaze]

Well ignoring the R/$ screwing us the materials are simply so much better and not allergy inducing.

Also last so much longer. (Indefinitely)

I’ve tried plenty of knock offs and they firstly don’t last but secondly day to day they have a lot of skin irritation or even rashes, primarily I think from just sweating badly.

I always ended up back at the one that came in the box and never had the same issues, until I invested in the Braided Solo Loop when a mate went to the US and I couldn’t be happier.

Never used on official one, I’ve found they wear out and stretch. Had that with the 6 and Ultra, the unofficials lasted longer.

I actually still have the one for my 6 which I tried on the ultra but the bigger face made finding a comfortable fit tricky.

I will say the knockoff alpine loop is a pile of ****, I guess it depends on which on you but.

The exchange rate does not actually screw us that much with Apple stuff, esp the cheaper items, at $99, excl shipping and customs duties thats 1850, so even with someone flying it down, your not saving all that much.

I’ve only replaced my originals out of a need, with the 6 the strap stretching and with the ultra, the official sports strap, starting to stink and becoming immune to cleaning detergents.

 

[bwana]

Especially the Braided Solo Loop which you sadly don’t get here is well worth the money. Made to fit and so comfortable.

Those look nice - will add one to my shopping list.

They're sized to fit as opposed to made.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Those look nice - will add one to my shopping list.

They're sized to fit as opposed to made.

Exactly as long as you measure it correctly they are excellent.

Also why they aren’t sold here as there just isn’t enough marker to carry every size.

 

[bwana]

I used mine on my Series 5 forever and a day until the battery starting struggling and now I’ve turned it off.

Would definitely want it on otherwise, unless the sensitivity for raising the watch has become so much better you never need to “help” it.

I’ve never had it on, don’t really see the point.
Raise watch, see what’s on screen.

I'll try it each way and see what the battery hit is.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Never used on official one, I’ve found they wear out and stretch. Had that with the 6 and Ultra, the unofficials lasted longer.

I actually still have the one for my 6 which I tried on the ultra but the bigger face made finding a comfortable fit tricky.

I will say the knockoff alpine loop is a pile of ****, I guess it depends on which on you but.

The exchange rate does not actually screw us that much with Apple stuff, esp the cheaper items, at $99, excl shipping and customs duties thats 1850, so even with someone flying it down, your not saving all that much.

I’ve only replaced my originals out of a need, with the 6 the strap stretching and with the ultra, the official sports strap, starting to stink and becoming immune to cleaning detergents.

That should all be warranty covered though?

Never managed to stretch any of them. Was it a specifically tight fit from the start?

I’ve used the original sport strap and later the Nike one for at least a year but probably longer each.

But yeah you get third party and you get third party.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I'll try it each way and see what the battery hit is.

Because of the low frequency of the screen it’s not really a battery drain at all when it’s new and fresh.

Four years on though what was 1% is now more like 5% so it matters more.

That being said I’m going to turn it on again and see.

 

[CranialBlaze]

That should all be warranty covered though?

Never managed to stretch any of them. Was it a specifically tight fit from the start?

I’ve used the original sport strap and later the Nike one for at least a year but probably longer each.

But yeah you get third party and you get third party.

It was comfortable from the start, but within less than a month, both with the OG Simone strap and the Alpine loop one I had to keep moving it tighter and tighter to stop it from moving around.

The ultra I got when it came out, that was what last week of September and I’ve had to move it 2 notches already.

 

[SauRoNZA]

It was comfortable from the start, but within less than a month, both with the OG Simone strap and the Alpine loop one I had to keep moving it tighter and tighter to stop it from moving around.

The ultra I got when it came out, that was what last week of September and I’ve had to move it 2 notches already.

Wonder if you maybe have extremely acidic sweat or something that would affect this.

I would warranty claim that ****.

 

[AfricanTech]

It was comfortable from the start, but within less than a month, both with the OG Simone strap and the Alpine loop one I had to keep moving it tighter and tighter to stop it from moving around.

The ultra I got when it came out, that was what last week of September and I’ve had to move it 2 notches already.

I've never had a strap stretch

 

[Priapus]

You do get what you pay for though.

Especially the Braided Solo Loop which you sadly don’t get here is well worth the money. Made to fit and so comfortable.

Oh those do look nice. You say they’re not available here, though?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Oh those do look nice. You say they’re not available here, though?

Unfortunately not.

Chatted to Digicape’s MD and she says because there are like 10 sizes per colour per Watch size the amount of stock they would sit on and not sell just isn’t worth it.

 

[Priapus]

Unfortunately not.

Chatted to Digicape’s MD and she says because there are like 10 sizes per colour per Watch size the amount of stock they would sit on and not sell just isn’t worth it.

Yeah, that makes sense. Where to import from? Amazon?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yeah, that makes sense. Where to import from? Amazon?

I bought directly from Apple (you need their sizing tool to get the right fit).

This time my mate brought it with, but previously used MyUS without an issue for my Homepods.

 

[bwana]

That being said I’m going to turn it on again and see.

Yesterday was a Always-On off day. After 17:21 hours the battery was at 56%.

Today is an Always-On on day. I'll alternate for a week or two (unless the results become apparent sooner) and see what's what after that.

 

[FiestaST]

If the MSRP of 20k for the Ultra is too much perhaps this is a more wallet friendly option

$48 Apple Watch Ultra clone is ‘designed with perfection’ so you can ‘explore the un-explored’

The next Apple clone has arrived, this time a carbon copy of the company’s Ultra wearable. What may be most laughable are the bold claims that the $48 copycat has been “designed with perfection” so you can “explore the un-explored” and “out perform your sport.”

Indian tech company Pebble (not that Pebble) is the one making this Apple Watch Ultra clone – among a variety of other explicitly copied smartwatches.

Pebble went for an epic name for its Ultra, the “Cosmos Engage” which you definitely won’t get mixed up with its Apple Watch Series 8 clone, the “Frost.”

Pebble has the Ultra clone listed at the equivalent of ~$48 with a “Coming Soon” button on the product page – which it says is a 47% discount.

Many of the product images appear to be ripped straight from Apple and watchOS 9. While others have been poorly modified.

Pebble is promising the moon here with the Cosmos Engage. It’s “designed with perfection” with an “all metal shock-proof casing” so you can “explore the un-explored” and “out perform your sport.”

$48 Apple Watch Ultra clone is 'designed with perfection' so you can 'explore the un-explored' - 9to5Mac

Check out this Apple Watch Ultra clone that's popped up in India claiming to offer some wild features for $48.

9to5mac.com

Pebble Cosmos Engage

4.9 CM (1.95”) Largest Full Screen Display with 320*385 High Resolution | 600 Nits Brightness | Always on DisplayAdvanced Bluetooth Calling | Answer and make calls with Bluetooth directly from your watch| Call, Message & Social Media Notification| AI Voice Assistant (Google & Siri)Rugged Design...

www.pebblecart.com

 

[Dave]

Pebble is promising the moon here with the Cosmos Engage. It’s “designed with perfection” with an “all metal* shock-proof casing” so you can “explore the un-explored” and “out perform your sport.”

* may be metal coloured plastic

 

[bwana]

Yesterday was a Always-On off day. After 17:21 hours the battery was at 56%.

Today is an Always-On on day. I'll alternate for a week or two (unless the results become apparent sooner) and see what's what after that.

First day with Always-On on wasn't encouraging. After 17:53 hours it was down to 31%. I'm giving it a second day with it on.