Apple Watch: Why You Should & Shouldn’t Buy It

reasons why and why not to buy apple watch 2015

reasons why and why not to buy apple watch 2015

Unless you’ve been deprived of television, internet and social media, you know that the highly marketed and anticipated Apple Watch goes on pre-sale this Friday with prices starting at $349 before tax. Early adopters even seem a little cautious about jumping in as reviews have been decidedly mixed on the pricey product that seems determined to change the way you look at your wrist.

Here are a few reason why you should buy the Apple Watch and then playing devil’s advocate, why it might be smart to wait and make sure all the kinks are out of Tim Cooks flagship product.

reasons why not to buy apple watch 2015

Why To Buy the Apple Watch

You think it’s beautiful. Entirely independent of what the Apple Watch does, it’s an object you wear and display every day—a piece of tech jewelry. If you like the shape, the finish, and the bands, then it’s a piece of jewelry that could enhance your wardrobe. All of its many features will be frosting on the cake.

You own an iPhone 6 Plus. The notifications aspect of the Apple Watch becomes most helpful when you have a phone that you don’t always want to take out of your pocket. The iPhone 6 Plus isn’t a one-handed device for anyone who doesn’t have very large hands. The Apple Watch helps you keep your mini-tablet holstered until you absolutely need it.

You’re an optimizer. As Josh Topolsky points out over at Bloomberg, using an Apple Watch involves doing quite a bit of tweaking to your iPhone. Specifically, you’ll need to change the notification options on any app that sends notifications. This will make you very aware of what’s sending you notifications and how often. If that excites you, you’re on the right track here.

You want to track your activity. Since I started carrying around a Samsung phone with its S Health activity tracking app, I find I walk more, and I’m more aware of my physical activity. The Apple Watch will also get you healthy in a sneaky fashion.

You’re buying two. Some of the Watch’s most radical and interesting features involve sending messages to another Apple Watch—heartbeats, vibrations, and scribbles. If you’re buying watches with a friend or loved one, you’ll get to explore those features. If not, you’ll just be left dancing with yourself.

high end apple watch reason to buy 2015

Why Not To Buy the Apple Watch

You don’t have an iPhone. The Apple Watch requires an iPhone. It’s a cool gadget, but it might not be enough to make you throw over your existing operating system and go out and buy a new, high-end smartphone to support it.

You have an iPhone, but your friends don’t generally have iPhones. Some of the Watch’s most compelling features involve talking to another Watch. You can transmit your heartbeat or send little scribbles. If you don’t have any close friends with Apple Watches, you won’t be able to take advantage of these features.

Apple Pay holds no charm for you.Another of the Watch’s most compelling, unique features is its ability to tap and pay. You don’t have to pull your phone out of your pocket; you can use your watch to pay for things now. But if you haven’t set up Apple Pay or don’t go to a lot of stores where Apple Pay is supported, this compelling feature just won’t make a difference to you.

You’re a “Watch Person.” People who wear watches are their own breed. Over on Daring Fireball, avowed Apple partisan John Gruber points out that folks who wear watches are used to being able to glance over at them any time—which means that Apple Watch’s screen defaulting to off is a big bummer.

You don’t have patience for technology. Several reviews, most notably Nilay Patel’s at The Verge, have noted that the Watch is a bit sluggish. But more than that, the Watch will force you to learn a radical new interface, and Apple is clearly learning along with you. Answers will be discovered. Mistakes will be made. You have to be along for the ride.