Apple Watch Nike+ with Volt colors. With 'complications' at left on the watch face. (Credit: Apple)
The Apple Watch 2 Nike+ may be the best reason yet for getting a smartwatch.
For starters: (1) It's as cheap as an Apple Watch 2 gets, starting at $369 for the 38mm version and $399 for the 42mm. (2) It's the second generation of the Watch -- a year-and-a-half interval has given Apple ample time to iron out the Watch 1.0 kinks. (3) You get the cachet of a bold Nike Volt design (at no extra cost).
Yes, it's a standard Apple Watch Series 2 at its core but the little Nike extras make a difference.
I’ve been using the Nike+ edition for the past week and can say the Watch 2 offers welcome improvements, albeit some subtle, over the original Apple Watch – the latter I used pretty much every day for almost a year and a half. (And in the spirit of full disclosure, during that time I slowly but surely become a devotee.)
What is the Nike+ version?
In a word: branding. Some may consider the Nike+ branding thing frivolous. But consumers love brands and Nike is one of the biggest. The two standout features are the Nike+ band – available in the iconic Nike Volt lime color scheme – and the Nike Volt digital and analog watch faces.
Even if you're not impressed by the looks of the compression‑molded perforations (I like the look), the extra ventilation is reason enough to get the band. My previous Sport Band (essentially the same price) was not "breathable" and would quickly collect sweat. Yes, you're still going to sweat but a breathable band makes a difference.
The other half of the appeal is the Nike Volt digital time face. Next to the big, bold time readout appear "complications,” which are small, customizable widgets. Complications provide quick-glance stats or information like battery life and weather or a launch point for the Nike+ Run Club.
Run Club: The Run part of the Run Club app (which is not exclusive to the Nike+ version and can be downloaded to any Apple Watch 2), provides distance, duration, and speed. The watch will read those to you out loud via “voiceover” at, for example, one-mile intervals while you’re exercising. (Note: unless you adjust the volume, the voiceover is not quiet. That tiny speaker in the Watch is loud!) It also automatically pauses when you stop moving and restarts when you begin moving again. And, like any Apple Watch app, it can be started and stopped with Siri via voice commands.
The Club part of the Run Club app is a social network for runners. For example, you can share run results and offer each other encouragement (see image above).
Apple Watch 2 improvements that everyone gets
GPS: Most of what’s new on Watch 2 Nike+ is new to every Watch 2. That includes a built-in GPS -- which allows you to untether the watch from your iPhone when exercising. That's not possible on the first-gen Apple Watch, which needs the iPhone’s GPS.
You can go swimming: the first-gen Watch was only splash resistant, while the Watch 2 has a water resistance rating of up to 50 meters under water, which means you can go swimming with it.
Speed: The Watch 2 packs a faster processor (now with two processor cores). For me, that alone is enough of a reason to upgrade. For example, using the Watch’s Maps app used to be so slow that I stopped using it. Now, Maps launches faster and it’s easy to navigate. And pretty much everything works better with more processing power. I still rely on the Watch for email and text notifications (you can read and respond to both) and for short phone calls. I also use Apple Pay to buy food and for purchases at Starbucks as well as the Watch’s Photos app for quick glances at photos. All of the above is faster, more responsive on the Watch 2.
Combine Apple's full-featured second-gen smartwatch together with the Nike+ extras and, for me, it’s irresistible. After a week, I haven't been disappointed.
