Apple watch and iPhone selection confusion!!

aja8888

aja8888

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I am a very long time Android user here with a fairly new, and very nice, Pixel 7 Pro phone and a Fitbit Versa 2 wrist device. I had an iPhone once (model 4, I believe) and had issues with it, so around that time, I moved to Android. But the Android gear I have now will not provide me with fall notification which is my main concern after my new health crisis unfolded a few weeks ago. Also, living alone is new to me and my dog has not been trained to make phone calls. :biggrin:

I researched getting a Pixel 2 smartwatch (and some others), but they have issues and really poor battery life, so I'm about done with Android, even though it meets my CURRENT needs. Everyone else in the family, and some close friends, have Apple gear. Even my lovely departed DW had an iPhone (6 Plus) and IPad (which both are still with me).

I have been scouring the internet for reviews on what would be a good selection of gear combinations (watch and iPhone) to handle a fall with or without my phone in my immediate possession at the time of the fall. I want to keep cost in mind as I am a frugal person and also don't need the "latest and greatest" models since 90% of the features won't be used by me.

To my dismay, I am thoroughly confused and would like some advice from the gang here as to what they would recommend as a cost effective combination of the two. I am not against buying a late model used iPhone as I have purchased used phones before from SWAPPA and have had great success (DW's iPhone was bought there). So an older model would be considered. As far as a watch, I would prefer buying new due to the complexity of getting it fixed and having an Apple warranty.

I would also prefer the watch to not have a dedicated LTE connection as I believe I would have to pay for a separate line for that (correct?). My phone is with me 99% of the time so a connection to that would be sufficient.

Thanks for your thoughts and recommendations!
 
The Pixel 2 life is much better than the pixel 1, it will last a full day, and recharge in 20 mins - not bad?

Pixel3 watch is coming out very soon.

I tried the pixel2, but found it too bulky and heavy vs. my fitbit5, so I went back to that.
 
The current ones have a far superior methodology. If it detects what it looks like a fall, it immediately alerts you to find out if it really happened. If you don't respond fairly quickly, it automatically notifies emergency services (and the newer iPhones also offer satellite capability). The older models didn't have the automatic smarts that the newer ones have.
 
braumeister said:
The current ones have a far superior methodology. If it detects what it looks like a fall, it immediately alerts you to find out if it really happened. If you don't respond fairly quickly, it automatically notifies emergency services (and the newer iPhones also offer satellite capability). The older models didn't have the automatic smarts that the newer ones have.
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Thanks, I read that the 14 can send an SOS message if you are out of cellular and wifi range. But the older Iphone will still be able to function with an iWatch? Am I correct here? For example, will my wife's older 6X Plus still work with a newer watch model? Her old phone has an IOS 15.4 version.

I am confused about the phone part as to what phones will work with a later model watch. I can buy new 9's and SE, but it seems like the older watches are all used (refurbed) and I want to buy a new watch.
 
aja8888 said:
Thanks, I read that the 14 can send an SOS message if you are out of cellular and wifi range. But the older Iphone will still be able to function with an iWatch? Am I correct here? For example, will my wife's older 6X Plus still work with a newer watch model? Her old phone has an IOS 15.4 version.

I am confused about the phone part as to what phones will work with a later model watch. I can buy new 9's and SE, but it seems like the older watches are all used (refurbed) and I want to buy a new watch.
Click to expand...
Should be fine, but that iPhone 6S Plus is near the end of its supported life (8 years) and won't be able to upgrade to the next iOS which comes out next month. You could look at this chart for more:
List of iPhone models - Wikipedia
 
If the main reason you want this is for safety and, you have the money, this is a good time to put the frugal gene away and just get a new iPhone and Watch. Not to say you shouldn’t try to find a good deal, but I think I’d just get a new iPhone 15 and a new Series 9 Apple Watch and be done with it.
 
Pixel 3 watch is coming out Tuesday, August 13th. Give it a look before you make any move to Apple.
 
Jerry1 said:
If the main reason you want this is for safety and, you have the money, this is a good time to put the frugal gene away and just get a new iPhone and Watch. Not to say you shouldn’t try to find a good deal, but I think I’d just get a new iPhone 15 and a new Series 9 Apple Watch and be done with it.
Click to expand...

I hear you! I'm going out for dinner with my daughter and her husband tonight and I'll see what they say.
 
You need a newer phone than the 6 to get full functionality of the watch. I had a 7 and recently got a 15 ( because I keep my phones forever) because there were too many apps that didn’t work any more. I also could no longer update my newer watch because of my old phone not supporting ios updates. The watch did work as a phone and presumably emergency notification on cellular wifi and fall detection ( never tested) but there were a few things that I wanted on the watch that only worked after the update. A newer phone also has gait analysis and I think would warn you if your gait changed ( but you have to carry it in your front hip area)
 
Sarah S said:
You need a newer phone than the 6 to get full functionality of the watch. I had a 7 and recently got a 15 ( because I keep my phones forever) because there were too many apps that didn’t work any more. I also could no longer update my newer watch because of my old phone not supporting ios updates. The watch did work as a phone and presumably emergency notification on cellular wifi and fall detection ( never tested) but there were a few things that I wanted on the watch that only worked after the update. A newer phone also has gait analysis and I think would warn you if your gait changed ( but you have to carry it in your front hip area)
Click to expand...
Yes, the old 6S plus is going to be a paperweight once I get the old data and photos off of it. A new phone is probably the way to go too.
 
The iPhone SE (current 2022 model) is a very good, low cost phone that is 5G and will work with all recent Apple Watches. Best Buy is having a sale on all Apple Watches thru tomorrow - many are $100 off. Price range from $199-$329.

The current iPhone SE has a 4.7 inch screen with a home button. It’s rumored Apple will release an update SE with a 6 inch screen and no home button within the next 1-3 months.
 
Al18 said:
The iPhone SE (current 2022 model) is a very good, low cost phone that is 5G and will work with all recent Apple Watches. Best Buy is having a sale on all Apple Watches thru tomorrow - many are $100 off. Price range from $199-$329.

The current iPhone SE has a 4.7 inch screen with a home button. It’s rumored Apple will release an update SE with a 6 inch screen and no home button within the next 1-3 months.
Click to expand...
Thanks. (y)
 
OP - you'll like the fall notification of the Apple Watch. I'm on my second one - a series 9. I've had several falls and it has worked every time. It even went off today while I was beating the dust out of my Jeep seats. I can't remember how DW has it set up for notifications other than to me. But I'm able to tell the watch that I'm ok to avoid notification to whoever she has it set up to.

Also great for monitoring your heart rate. Mine is set up to alarm any time below 40 for 10 ten minutes and I think 180 over 10 minutes. I know you said that your heart rate goes below 40. The watch will tell you. I've had mine notify me about 4 times a year for heart rates below 40. I have PVC's so maybe this is the reason. (I had a stress test and the technician said that low heart rate and pvc's are often seen in long term runners)

My watch does not have a data package. I always have my iPhone with me and they communicate with each other as they should.

I say BTD. Get the iPhone 15 and series 9 watch. Enjoy!
 
Ronstar said:
OP - you'll like the fall notification of the Apple Watch. I'm on my second one - a series 9. I've had several falls and it has worked every time. It even went off today while I was beating the dust out of my Jeep seats. I can't remember how DW has it set up for notifications other than to me. But I'm able to tell the watch that I'm ok to avoid notification to whoever she has it set up to.

Also great for monitoring your heart rate. Mine is set up to alarm any time below 40 for 10 ten minutes and I think 180 over 10 minutes. I know you said that your heart rate goes below 40. The watch will tell you. I've had mine notify me about 4 times a year for heart rates below 40. I have PVC's so maybe this is the reason. (I had a stress test and the technician said that low heart rate and pvc's are often seen in long term runners)

My watch does not have a data package. I always have my iPhone with me and they communicate with each other as they should.

I say BTD. Get the iPhone 15 and series 9 watch. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Thanks Ron, yes as an old runner, my heart rate is at 40 - 42 or so now and when I was in the hospital, it was in the high 30's at times. Doc was not too concerned because there were no symptoms from it. But they are keeping an eye on it and looking at the heart block they found in the ECG. I'll probably go with the Apple gear as I just reactivated my account from 10 years ago! It was still there, but there were some hoops to open it back up again. It's a shame as I have this nice Google Pixel 7 Pro phone that I bought in January. But Android is wearing on me.
 
If I had to buy a watch and phone today I would get an Iphone 13 or 14, and an Apple Watch SE. I would buy them new from Apple and keep them for about 4-6 years. I would treat myself to a new battery in the Iphone every 2-3 years. My wife has had an Iphone 13 for 3 years and she uses her phone a lot. Her battery still lasts all day. I currently have the Iphone SE released in 2020. It's a good phone but the battery needs charging mid day on a busy day. I am hoping to holdout for the new Iphone SE to be released next year
 
This isn’t the time to be frugal. Get the watch and phone that meets your needs. A newer model will get software updates for longer and you won’t need to upgrade as soon.
 
Ronstar said:
OP - you'll like the fall notification of the Apple Watch. I'm on my second one - a series 9. I've had several falls and it has worked every time. It even went off today while I was beating the dust out of my Jeep seats. I can't remember how DW has it set up for notifications other than to me. But I'm able to tell the watch that I'm ok to avoid notification to whoever she has it set up to.
Click to expand...
I have a 2-year old Apple watch, also series 9. I'm not thrilled with the fall detection. In the two years I've had it I've fallen three times (once on a sheet of ice, once in Macchu Picchu, once pushing a mower uphill when my feet rolled over some chestnuts in the lawn- nothing serious). It detected only the first. OTOH, I've had plenty of false positives, similar to the above. I'm sure not ready to set it to call anyone.
 
athena53 said:
I have a 2-year old Apple watch, also series 9. I'm not thrilled with the fall detection. In the two years I've had it I've fallen three times (once on a sheet of ice, once in Macchu Picchu, once pushing a mower uphill when my feet rolled over some chestnuts in the lawn- nothing serious). It detected only the first. OTOH, I've had plenty of false positives, similar to the above. I'm sure not ready to set it to call anyone.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the honest review.

I guess nothing will be 100% failsafe, but I really need to sort out something for my living alone at my age One option is to keep my Pixel 7 Pro and get a new Pixel 2 watch, which has terrible reviews overall. Or wait for the new 3 model coming out this Fall which is untested.

The other options are all Apple related since the off brand smartwatches are pretty much focused on fitness and very little is said about their fall detection capabilities in reviews.

I was with my daughter tonight and she said get the Apple hardware. Since she is old enough to tell dear old dad what's right to do these days, I'll probably listen to her. :biggrin:
 
Don't pass up making an appointment for your free one-on-one appointment to have someone from Apple show you the ropes and get you started properly.
 
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