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
DESIGN
The Apple Watch Series 2 looks almost identical to the original, and I don’t mind that at all. This remains my favorite 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.
Instead, Apple has created a beautiful white ceramic smartwatch. The ceramic cast is treated at length at high temperature before it's polished smooth. Not only does it look super-attractive, it’s four times tougher than the stainless steel model.
Standing out from the crowd does come at a price, though. The ceramic Apple Watch Edition costs more than three times as much as the standard versions – the 38mm one setting you back a cool £1,249.
Suffice to say, it isn't necessary to spend such an amount for an Apple Watch that’s "tough". I’ve dropped my aluminium Apple Watch on several occasions and regularly whack it against door frames; it doesn’t have a single scratch on the screen or body.
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 rigors of arms swinging through water, as opposed to being plunged into the depths.
For those who intend to swim regularly with the Apple Watch 2 I'd recommend a Sports strap, rather than the metal or nylon straps. The Sports strap doesn’t retain any water, so you won't be left with a damp wrist all day after a brief plunge.
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 need to type is kept to a minimum – trying to input the PIN correctly to unlock it is tricky enough. Icons are easy enough to hit and swiping from the edges to access settings works well. Then there's watchOS 3's handwriting recognition, which is surprisingly handy in a pinch, too.
You can zoom in by tapping two fingers on the screen but I found this made the text too large to read, requiring me to scroll letter to letter in some apps.
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.
PERFORMANCE
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.
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