Looking forward to my next Apple Watch (Series 5)

Well, Apple has a new event this week and as usual, we have a good idea of what they are going to announce. I’m looking forward to seeing that they are going to do with that crazy triple lens set-up that the iPhone 11 is rumored to have (Its been rumored that its going to allow you to “Zoom-out” of a photo you’ve already taken, which is kinda wild when you think about it). I’m looking forward to upgrading my Apple Watch this year. I currently have the Series 3 with LTE and it’s been a great watch. Its the first thing I put on in the morning and the last thing I take off at night. I feel like its helped me immensely over the last two years get a handle on my stomach issue and stay on task. I recently enabled LTE for the first time back in May and while I did not get to use a ton over the summer because of where I lived (The signal was super weak in the gym), in my new apartment complex I’m finding it super cool to be able to leave my iPhone in my apartment and go exercise with just my Apple Watch and AirPods. It allows me to have one less thing to worry about falling out of my pockets and and it forces me to stay on task with my workout because short of replying to things on the watch there’s not a ton of things you can do with it while you workout. I’m still connected to family, friends, and coworkers with iMessage, Mail, and phone calls, but Do Not Disturb while working out automatically triggers so unless I open the app its not spamming me during the workout. I skipped the Series 4 because while I really wanted the new design, I splurge a little on the Apple Watch and get the stainless steel model. Its completely unnecessary, but I love the way it looks and the extra stretch-resistance that you get on the screen because I’m a klutz, but paying that much for a watch every year is a lot. I was excited to hear that we may be getting a Titanium Apple Watch because while I do like how shiny the stainless steel models are, I do envy my friends who have the Sports models with how lightweight they are. Here are a few things I’m looking forward to maybe getting in my next watch

1. Bigger Screen: I’m a Series 3 user, so moving up to the Series 5 is going to give me the same screen that my Series 4 friends have been enjoying the last year. I particularly like the edge-to-edge fun watch faces like water/fire and smoke, which are neat on the Series 3, but pale in comparison and the extra utility of the modern complications that let you wrap more information around the watch face on several faces.
2. Faster Processor: The jump from Series 0 to Series 3 was a HUGE processor jump for me. Third party applications were useful and my battery life got much better. From what I’ve seen with the Series 4, the Watch finally got powerful enough last year that there isn’t any noticeable lag even with third party apps.
3. Better battery life: The Series 3 battery life was night and day over the first Apple Watch, particularly near the end and after about two years of more advanced use I’m starting to feel my Series 3 watch struggle to reach the end of the day, particularly if I do a workout and use LTE on that day. LTE is a battery hog so I’ve gotten to the point I toggle it off unless I go for a workout. It would be nice to see enough battery improvements to not have to worry about this with the LTE. I’m hoping that a newer chipset on the Series 5 watch will improve battery life when using it with LTE as well. X
4. Sleep tracking: This rumor came out last week and I would LOVE sleep tracking, even if I had to top off my watch in the mornings when I was getting ready for work. That was one of the things I loved the most of about the Fitbit that I had a few years ago. I’m really bad about not getting enough sleep and seeing that data was very helpful to making some changes in my life.
5. Always-on Display: I’m hoping that we see this with the Series 5 in particularly. I doubt Apple would do it with the Series 3 or Series 4, but I’m hoping the new processors have enough energy efficiency gains in the last year that they are comfortable to finally give us the ability to have an ambient display. While the Apple Watch is a “watch” in the way that the iPhone is a “phone”, meaning its much more the simple name connotes, it would be nice to have it do a better job at being a watch
6. Titanium: The Apple Card is a slick titanium and its rumored that the new Apple Watch will come in titanium and ceramic. I could see that maybe titanium could be the “Sporty” premium watch body that’s more rugged than the stainless steel. Most of my bands are the sports variety and I’ve wanted a darker watch for a while now to change things up, but I’ve never been a fan of the black stainless steel body. Its a fingerprint magnet and not sufficiently shiny enough compared to the silver body to make justify the extra cash in my opinion. For me, it would be a hard call between the stainless steel silver and a new titanium body that’s more rugged and lightweight than what I’m used to.
7. New Watch Bands: I’m a sucker for new watch bands. I’ve spent an ungodly amount of money over the last 5x years on Apple Watch bands, but I love them. I’m looking forward to more bands. If I end up getting the silver stainless steel again, I’d love Apple to return to making their leather bands again. The Hermes ones are just too expensive for me to ever pay for and not feel like a terrible human being. I know there are good third party leather band options (I have a Nomad and its pretty great), I did like how Apple’s bands were very lightweight compared to the Nomads with their super big lugs. If I do go with titanium, I do hope we get better Nike band colors. I’ve always wanted a Nike band, but the current colors aren’t really something I’m interested in. Maybe a ceramic or titanium link bracelet this year?
8. New Watch faces: With the bigger screen, I’ll be getting all those fancy Series 4 watch faces and the new WatchOS 6 watch faces Apple announced during WWDC. I also hoping we maybe get a neat “Sleep watch face” or maybe some more Disney watch faces for stuff like Star Wars or Marvel.

Well, with that being said, its the Apple Watch Series 5 is the thing that I’m most excited about this year. The Apple Watch Gen 1 and Gen 3 have brought me soo much joy and happiness over the last 4 years that I’m looking forward to the next iteration. I have an iPhone XS so unless the iPhone 11 is Earth-shattering from a photography perspective, I’ll most likely be sticking with my phone and iPad Pro 11 right now. I’d love the rumored 16” MacBook Pro, but to be honest, the 15” MacBook Pro w/Touchbar is probably the last MacBook Pro I’ll buy for myself. The new MacBook Airs are powerful enough for my needs at home and work will provides me whatever professional-level computer I need for the job. I currently use an iMac at work, but whenever that machine dies I’ll probably get whatever the current MacBook Pro is that year. I think its a sign that iPad is becoming capable enough that I don’t feel a huge need to have a MacBook Pro anymore at home. I’ll probably reverse things if I do buy another Mac and get a Mac Mini at home in a few years so I can have a big-screened Mac at my desk. I’ve been very happy lately with my Apple gear the last few years and thankfully they seem to last a long time for me so they feel like a nice investment. I know its childish to be this excited about what really adds up to technology toys when so much is happening in the world today, but tech is my hobby and weeks like this are like Christmas to me even if I don’t get 90% of what Apple announces. It’s just fun seeing what they’re coming out. I’m looking forward to Google’s Pixel event next month and Microsoft’s Surface upcoming Surface event. I’m a tool for shiny hardware at the end of the day. Well-engineered consumer electronics is what keeps me in the tech industry even on bad weeks.

Is there anything you’re looking forward to this week’s Apple event or the upcoming tech events from Google and Microsoft?