Apple watch for graduation; recommendations?

[DizMe]

I would like to get my daughter an Apple watch for high school graduation. What should I look for? She's into musical theater and likes to work out. She'll be going off to college in August (about 500 miles away). Thanks!

 

[J'aime Paris]

If she likes to work out, Apple Watch Nike+ is a good choice.
Be sure to get her a Series 3. Young adults tend to prefer the newest option.

 

[DizMe]

I'm reading mixed reviews about whether to go with the connected version or the regular. Verizon charges $10/month to add it to my account; are the benefits of being able to use it as a mini-smarphone independent of your iphone worth it? I know that depends on the individual, of course, but as a mom with a daughter about to leave home for the first time I'm thinking of safety and what would be most beneficial to her at school.

 

[havaneselover]

I have a series three gold with a pink band. Love it. I went with the smaller size. I have a tiny wrist and would not like the bigger size. I exercise in mine all the time and the regular band is fine. I do have a fancier band as well that I got off Amazon.

If you just want a basic one, I got mine from Kohl’s and got Kohl’s cash.

I’m way too frugal to pay $120/year so went with gps only.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

are the benefits of being able to use it as a mini-smarphone independent of your iphone worth it?

I upgraded from the first apple watch, to the series 3 with cell connection. I like that I can still communicate in places where I can't/don't have a phone. Think out at night and phone battery dies, you can still text and call with the watch.

 

[wishuponastar1984]

I love that I can make calls and get texts without having my phone nearby. Before my Apple Watch I would hate when I was just going out to run an errand and realized that I left my phone at home. I felt like i was missing something unless I went back to get it. It will never completely replace my phone but I do like not being tethered to my phone.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Don't go crazy getting her a watch band. The ones apple sells can get very expensive. When we bought one for my sister we got the standard watch and got the band in whatever color we figured she would like and then went on to amazon and found some beautiful bands for like $25. Granted they're not real gold or anything but they look super nice and it really dresses up the watch. I was a musical theater major in college! She'll love the watch! I would just get her the smaller of the 2 watch faces the larger size can feel and look cumbersome.

 

[DizMe]

This is great information; thank you! Good to know about the bands. I was tempted to go with the bigger size face but it sounds like the smaller one is what most people prefer here.

Does the watch need some kind of extra protection like apple care or is there a good warranty that will cover it?

 

[havaneselover]

This is great information; thank you! Good to know about the bands. I was tempted to go with the bigger size face but it sounds like the smaller one is what most people prefer here.

Does the watch need some kind of extra protection like apple care or is there a good warranty that will cover it?

Not sure about Apple care but mine did scratch I think it’s hard to avoid.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm reading mixed reviews about whether to go with the connected version or the regular. Verizon charges $10/month to add it to my account; are the benefits of being able to use it as a mini-smarphone independent of your iphone worth it? I know that depends on the individual, of course, but as a mom with a daughter about to leave home for the first time I'm thinking of safety and what would be most beneficial to her at school.

I got the Nike series 3. It has cellular capability, but I never bothered enabling it. I don't want to spend $120 a year since I am rarely anywhere without my phone. I got this one because I liked the band the best. Getting a non-cellular and then buying the Nike band separate would have actually cost me more.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Not sure about Apple care but mine did scratch I think it’s hard to avoid.

I bought a plastic case for my watch on Amazon. It has kept it in perfect condition. No scratches. I do have to take the case off every now and then to clean it, but overall it has been worth the few dollars that I paid for it.

 

[Alexle2007]

I have a series three gold with a pink band. Love it. I went with the smaller size. I have a tiny wrist and would not like the bigger size. I exercise in mine all the time and the regular band is fine. I do have a fancier band as well that I got off Amazon.

If you just want a basic one, I got mine from Kohl’s and got Kohl’s cash.

I’m way too frugal to pay $120/year so went with gps only.

I have this same watch and LOVE it! I got the Mon before BF and made out great with reward points and Kohl’s cash.

I did order a face guard for it from Target and it is still in perfect condition with no scratches.

I will take calls on it sometimes and it feels weird and texting also. I prefer my iPhone for those activities.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I have this same watch and LOVE it! I got the Mon before BF and made out great with reward points and Kohl’s cash.

I did order a face guard for it from Target and it is still in perfect condition with no scratches.

I will take calls on it sometimes and it feels weird and texting also. I prefer my iPhone for those activities.

We got ours right when they came out. I bought them through the Nike store when it was offering 15% cash back through the Chase shopping portal. The Apple store, Best Buy and Target specifically excluded cash back on Apple watches in the shopping portal terms, but the Nike store did not. It was very nice to get a bit of a deal on them.

And I actually really like texting on my watch. I got the watch right after my baby was born and it was so very helpful. I used it to set timers a lot, since I was pumping every 2 hours back then. And I often found my hands full with a baby or a bottle, so being about to just say, "Hey Siri, text DH . . ." was amazingly helpful. DH pushed me to get the watch and I was a bit hesitant at first, but I love it so much more than I ever did my fitbit watch.

 

[richmo]

Not sure about Apple care but mine did scratch I think it’s hard to avoid.

Or get tempered glass to cover the face. Plenty of custom fit options on Amazon and they're quite inexpensive...and if applied right, you wouldn't know its there.

 

[havaneselover]

Or get tempered glass to cover the face. Plenty of custom fit options on Amazon and they're quite inexpensive...and if applied right, you wouldn't know its there.

Good to know for next time