While the first Apple Watch seemed very much geared towards packing lots of familiar smartphone functionality into a wrist-worn device, Apple has fashioned the Series 2 model into more of a fitness tracker. And it could boost your fitness even in subliminal ways…
Water great new Apple Watch
Perhaps the most publicized new feature with the Series 2 is what Apple, at the launch event, branded a “swim-proof” design. To use the more technical term favored by Apple elsewhere, the wearable is water resistant. This, along with new, preinstalled swim tracking software, gives the wearable abundant practical usefulness for keen swimmers.
We’ve previously thoroughly investigated how swim-proof the Series 2 is… but we didn’t quite cover all of the bases. While the device’s water resistance is great if you enjoy routinely wearing an Apple Watch and don’t want the hassle of having to take it off every time you decide to go for a swim, should you still keep it on when you head to the shower?
The basic answer: yes. While Apple advises against exposing the wearable to soaps, shampoos and conditioners, if you commonly use these in the shower, you could simply take off the Apple Watch and put it in a safe, nearby place, like a sufficiently high shelf, during the brief time that you shower. And, if you keep the watch on when walking both to and from the shower, the device will be able to count the steps you make then.
Step by step by step
Yes, there’s the step tracking feature to keep in mind. Of course, your iPhone can likely track your steps as well; however, as you can more easily carry an Apple Watch with you in more situations, like when your half-naked self is walking to the shower, you could find it useful for tracking many more of your total daily steps than might be practical with an iPhone.
Now, the Apple Watch Series 1 includes step tracking functionality as well – meaning that, if you aren’t a regular swimmer, it could be wiser to opt for that and its retail price of $269, which is a not inconsiderable $100 lower than that of the Series 2.
Go the distance with GPS
However, forgoing the Series 2 for the Series 1 would mean choosing an Apple Watch without built-in GPS. As particularly seen with the demonstration of the ViewRanger hiking app at the Series 2 launch event, this GPS integration means that the wearable can, without needing a tethered iPhone, precisely detect your geographical location and the distance you have travelled. The Series 1, on the other hand, can only, sans iPhone, use other collected data to present a rough idea of how much distance you have covered.
So, while the Series 1 can still clearly help for furthering your personal fitness, it’s with the Series 2 that Apple has doubled down on the fitness tracking capabilities to especially impressive effect. For many people, that could make it easily worth the higher price.
