Choosing Between the Apple Watch Series 1 & Series 2
While some consumers have found smartwatch technology practically worthless, fitness fanatics are taking advantage of the many benefits of integrating wearable technology into their workouts.
It’s easy to figure out why smartwatches may be worthless for some; the watch is just a smaller display of your phone on your wrist. For active individuals, this serves an advantage as your phone can become bothersome to carry constantly while on the move.
This is especially true for many endurance sports, such as running, swimming, or any activity requiring quick movements.
For trainers and serious athletes, this technology can be highly effective for boosting overall performance and keeping track of fitness data over long periods of time.
As the new Apple Series 2 was released last fall, many features on the watch have been upgraded from the previous Series 1. Depending on the main sport that you participate in, the Series 1 or 2 may be a better option for you.
Differences Between the Apple Watch Series 1 & 2
The water resistance capability on the Apple Watch Series 2 is the major change from the previously released Series 1. The newer model has water resistance up to 50 meters, an upgrade from the Series 1 which can be submerged only up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Recreational and competitive swimmers will find the Series 2 more useful for this feature. The Series 2 is even more adapted for swimmers with the new Pool Workout app installed, which can record your pool lap times and heart rate while you swim.
The other cool feature on the Series 2 is the Water Lock, which clears any residual water from the watch from the speakers using distinct audible tones. For an in-depth review of the rest of the newest functions, you can check out this review here.
GPS Feature:
The new Apples Series 2 allows you to keep your iPhone in the gym locker and off the gym floor with the GPS feature installed. While you previously had to keep your phone on you for a GPS signal, the watch can now be used as a standalone device.
The standalone GPS is most helpful for individuals that perform in outdoor workouts or sporting events, such as decathlons and marathons. If you travel to a location that’s not familiar to you, you can easily navigate back to your starting point.
For people that workout only indoors, you may find the iPhone more helpful in addition to the watch, so you can record your workout routine or view instructional videos while connected to a network.
A video function for the Series 1 or Series 2 can be added using the CMRA video watchband (see How the Apple Watch Can Improve Your Workout Experience).
Processor Speed:
The performance of the Series 1 was sluggish as there were long delay times while opening up the apps on the watch. This has been improved by upgrading the Series 2 processor to the S2, which lowers the application loading time from 5 seconds to 2 seconds.
A delay in applications loading on a smartwatch doesn’t really matter from an athletic standpoint, but using slow technology can become frustrating for some who don’t have the patience.
The Wrap Up
For the difference in price, the Series 2 provides many features not found in the first model that some may find more useful than others. If you do a lot of swimming recreationally or competitively, the Series 2 may be useful for its water resistance and pool tracking capability. The Series 2 is also a better fit for outdoor fitness enthusiasts than indoor weight trainers as the standalone GPS function will be more effective for traveling events.
