Apple Watch Review

Go ahead and laugh...I am an Apple fanboy. I admit this, and in doing so, we can move on. The Apple Watch was announced last year, and I was not sold on the product yet. Its release in April still did not sell me over to the wearable devices side, but once I played with one in the Apple Store, it did soften me a bit. The killing blow was seeing the new features that are to come out in October along with the release of iOS 9. This all being said, here is my opinion on the Apple Watch.

After I had decided to buy an Apple Watch, the hardest decision I had to make was what size of screen and what color/kind of band to get. The official Apple bands are extremely expensive, with the Sport model silicone bands starting at $49. My choice was really between the black and the white band. Once I tried them both on, it both sizes, I decided that the black 42mm Sport model was the correct choice for me. As with all Apple products, the Watch is an extremely attractive device. The way that the band goes under itself (so that you don't have any extra silicone flopping around) was well thought out. The apps on the screen are a bit small, but once you tap them with your finger, the watch will zoom in so that the apps get bigger, which is neat and efficient.

Some of my favorite features of the watch are as follows (in no particular order):

1. iMessage. iMessage is Apple's native iOS to iOS messaging app, which works rather well with the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch DOES NOT feature a keyboard, but you can program your own common responses to messages for a quick reply. Often when I'm walking around town or at work, I won't feel my phone vibrate, but the watch's vibration upon a new message lets me know that I have some waiting, and I can read the full message right from the watch. Siri's ability to transcribe a longer reply is consistent with the iPhone--sometimes she knows exactly what you said, and sometimes she makes a shot in the dark.

2. Phone Calls. Do you look stupid talking into your watch? You bet you do! But, in the comfort of your own home or in your car, it is acceptable, and from those that I've called from the watch, the reception on their end is incredible. My only complaint about the phone calls is that even at maximum volume, the caller can be hard to hear.

3. Apple Pay. I have an iPhone 5s, so NFC is not included on my phone, rendering me unable to use Apple Pay. However, my watch fixes that! I was able to add my credit card to the watch, and make my first Apple Pay yesterday at a Walgreens. WARNING: you may look like a pompous jerk if you do this.

With all of the great features, there are, of course, some things that I do not like about the Apple Watch. Here are some of them (in no particular order):

1. Battery Life. The Battery life on the Watch is mediocre at best. You will have to charge it once a day, unless you only use power saving mode (which is dumb...it's a smart watch...use the "smart parts.") Also, it mirrors your notifications from your phone, so it will also significantly decrease your iPhone's battery life if you fully utilize all of its features. But, if you have an iPhone 6 Plus, no problem!

2. Has to have an iPhone Link. For me, this has not been much of a problem, because I'm rarely without my phone within a few feet. But, to fully utilize the watch, you have to have your iPhone nearby. You cannot walk around town and make phone calls from your watch with the phone laying at home. It makes sense only because Apple did not want to put a cellular antenna into a watch and then force you to have yet another data/minutes plan from a cellular provider. The watch will do some things without the phone, such as track your activity, but most of the cool features require a totes BFF relationship with an iPhone.

Overall, I love my Apple Watch. It's a fun little device that is as Apple said...very personal. Is it a necessary purchase? Absolutely not! Is it vanity? Yes, it is. But I would recommend the purchase of one. If you do, be sure to go to an Apple Store and try them on. And make sure that you get the Apple Care warranty.

And no, I did not write this from my watch.