The wait is over:

With introduction of New Series Smart Watch by Apple it is evident to know the differences in Apple Fitness Watch S2 an update of S1 !

This Is Hands Down The Coolest!

Obviously Newer version gets to be more powerful with High end Processor, Extra bright Display, Waterproof and most of all the Style Quotient 🙂 Here I will try to explore and find out how much worth it is spending $250 [as on Jan 2017] more to buy the Series 2 Sport watch from Apple.

Executive Summary Table:

Before I dive deep into each feature, you can refer to quick Specs & Feature comparison of Series 1 Vs Series 2 Apple fitness Watches ! If you are running out of time this table shall suffice the purpose, if you have more time, get into detailed analysis post table.

Apple Watch S1 vs S2 Difference

Apple Fitness Watches : What’s Improved in S2 over S1 ?

• Inside Hardware : High End Processor Chip 50% Performance gain
  
  Series 1 features Dual-core Apple S1P processor [S1 processor in the original Apple Watch was a single core processor]Series 2 is powered by Dual-core Apple S2P processor  updated with an integrated GPS chip, the CPU delivers 50% speed performance gain over the old gen & GPU is twice faster !!Built in GPS:Now here is thing to ponder for, the Series 2 has built in GPS, over Series 1 which needs iPhone GPS sharing. However it is important to note that S2P CPU processor speed with GPS is as fast as S1P.

  How Many Of You Carry Mobile While Running:

  Question is that do you really get out for fitness exercise without your phone ? Yes, if you are a serious athlete then it might be true, but for person like me ! I need my iPhone with me while running !! you can call it an addiction .. but can’t help, so even if I have built-in-GPS in watch I would carry my iPhone.

  Again one more point is that built-in-GPS sucks battery quickly and I don’t ever like to recharge my smart watch again and again ! S1 will get GPS of phone and hence will not drain battery as fast as S2.

• As on Sept 2016, the Golf Pad app will need the iPhone + Apple Watch (including Series 2) to be paired for working, so built-in-GPS as on now can’t be used by Golf Pad app Reference news read

• Software part : The Operating System, the super efficient & faster watchOS 3
  The OS upgrade clearly reveals the learnings from the competitors & better understanding of fitness lovers requirements. While the Series 2 works super efficient & faster with OS3 powered by S2P processor, Series 1 also gets basic advantage of tuning of OS3 delivering faster App loading.1) The Intuitive User Interface with reduced swipes & taps!
  User interface is now more intuitive, reduces need for swipes & taps than before. Side button launches “Dock” showing thumbnails of recent and favorite apps.
  Identifying need of “SOS”, the side button is designed to serve emergency service calls (you need to press & hold it for preventing accidental SOS calls).2) Social Sharing, happiness of sharing with family & friends is back 🙂
  Remember Fitbit is king in making you happy by being in touch with family & friends on the fitness front, Apple with this update has added the Social sharing, get intimated for exercise completion from friends, even text them from inside the app 🙂3) A bit of Yoga – Breathe control, get more Oxygen to your Lungs
  One of the missing things in our life is we forget to Breathe !! Yes, this is fact, in-spite of having around 6 liters of Lungs volume, now a days a person breathes only 0.5~0.75 liters, making blood purification process bit difficult for immune system, with OS3 “Breathe” app, you are reminded to do Deep breathing exercise. If you buy this watch I strongly suggest to use this app (For me I don’t even need to be reminded by someone to have Deep breathe 🙂 I am so used to it due to regular Yoga practice including the Asana’s). Further if you are really interested go ahead and adjust the target breathing rate + the length of the breathing session
  That'll Make You Wonder: In-spite of having around 6 liters of Lungs volume, now a days a person breathes only 0.5~0.75 liters!Click To Tweet
  
  4) Disabled too taken care …Count wheelchair push counts
  With upgrade, you have an option to track the wheelchair push counts, taking into consideration persons on wheelchairs, I can see good thought has gone inside developing the OS3.

  5) Misc features like Tapbacks, Scribble, Home app
  Tapbacks, lets you respond with emoji’s or pictorial reactions.
  Scribble, use your finger to draw letters and hearts on the screen !
  Home app, to control smart home devices (using Apple’s HomeKit standard)

• Display
  Both Series 1/2 are available in 38 mm and 42 mm screen sizes.
  Both Series 1/2 feature OLED Retina displays with Force Touch.
  Now here is an improvement in the Series 2, it has a second-generation display that is brighter and hence S2 is better to read in sunlight [its Twice as bright as the 450 nit Series 1 display]

• Design
  Series 1 serves mere 1 model available with an aluminum body with Sport Band.
  Series 2 is introduced with options of an aluminum body with Sport Band or Woven Nylon band, or a Stainless steel body with Sport Band, stainless steel band, or leather band. So S2 is a boon for fashion freaks 🙂

• Waterproof or Water Resistant ? Not for Swimming please!
  For me Series 1 with IPX7  water resistant rating protects my watch in light showers & splashes. And for sure I know it will not last in Swimming or Ocean surfing !
  Maybe if you are swimmer, you can go for Series 2 with higher water resistant rating (50 meters). This means the Series 2 can be worn in the pool or ocean while swimming, however it is not waterproof, caution is not to use it in any high speed activity or scuba diving as per Apple.
  For swimmers like you, pool and open-water-swimming workouts are available, also the watch detects the stroke type + average pace, so you know how much calorie burn happened during swimming ! Also the watch automatically activates the screen lock to prevent accidental “touches” by water splashes during workout.

• Battery Charging – Upgraded to USB power adapter 🙂
  Series 1 comes with Apples own Magnetic charging cable, but lacks my favorite USB into it 🙁
  Whereas Series 2 has additional USB power adapter which is surely helpful.
  Having said that charging facility has new USB adapter, still battery life remains same as series 1 ! So the most boring task of putting the watch for charging remains !! At least once in a day !!! Preferably you leave it on magnetic charging disc overnight after returning back home ?

• Map App – Get Info on Nearby Restaurants, Coffee Shops …
  I look at this as most important thing that Apple did in S2, the GPS used smartly to get information on nearby Shops, Restaurants, coffee shops and much more. This eliminated need to carry smartphone with you still helping your exercise plus need to find places to eat.

Apple Watch Series 1 & Series 2 : Which are common features ?

• Operating System [watchOS 3]
• Memory & Storage [512 MB & 8 GB]
• Connectivity
  Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz) + Bluetooth 4.0 + NFC
  
• Display
  Resolution 38 mm = 272 x 340 pixels / 42 mm 312 x 390 pixels
  
• Sensors
  Accelerometer, Ambient Light Sensor, Gyroscope, Vibration/Haptics engine, Heart rate sensor, Barometer
  
• Battery
  Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery with Up to 18 hours

What’s the bottom line?

Before we call of for the comparison it is evident that we compare  iOS compatible, Stylish, Fitness oriented & highly competitive priced Fitbit Blaze Get Latest Price here

Also read my detailed review of Apple vs Fitbit Blaze Fitness Tracker Review & Comparison

Another interesting option is Polar M600 Get Latest Price here powered with “Android Wear” with its own dedicated fitness app, GPS and GLONASS, it’s also waterproof with IPX8 certification. And remember it looks great for both men & women 🙂

Anyway still if you are upto buying Apple watch, think of spending that extra $250 [as on Jan 2017] for having Built-in GPS, Brighter Display [Easy to read in Sunlight] and a submersible waterproof tracker ! I am not so sure if they are worth spending $250 worth [as on Jan2017] !!! Maybe if you teardown the apple watch you find more things like use of nyloc screws which are best in class, maybe the tesrdown reveals many secrets, surely I would love to do so one day.

So finally my upvote goes to Apple Watch Series 1. (Don’t forget to look at Fitbit Blaze though) But who knows the next release of series 3 might boom the market with unknown features !! maybe series 3 features spy camera inside the watch !

Hope this helps !!

Cheers !!