Jumping on the Apple Bandwagon

The recent "Far Out" event turned out to be quite an expensive affair for me, as I ended up purchasing several new Apple products. My new iPhone 14 arrived over the weekend, and it has already proven its worth for my YouTube channel's A-roll and B-roll. The camera capabilities are impressive, and I can't wait to edit the footage.

Additionally, my AirPods Pro 2 are arriving soon, and I plan to share my initial impressions as soon as I get to try them out. But today is all about the Apple Watch 8! Here’s what you can expect right out of the box.

What Comes in the Box?

The Apple Watch is celebrated for its simplicity. I opted for the GPS model featuring a 45mm silver aluminum case and a midnight loop. Although I was tempted by the cellular model, I decided to hold off for now.

Upon unboxing, you'll find two separate packages: one for the loop and another for the watch itself. In line with Apple's sustainability efforts, there’s no plastic wrap—just the familiar green seals.

To order your Apple Watch, you first need to print a PDF template to measure your wrist for the correct loop size. If you're gifting it to someone, make sure you know their wrist size, as that can be tricky. My loop size was 12, which is the largest option. Should I be worried about that?

Inside the loop box, you'll find easy-to-follow instructions for attaching it. Trust me, it’s quite straightforward. Removing the loop requires pressing a small button on the back of the watch. I can see myself collecting more loops in the future.

The watch itself is housed in a sleek, embossed white box. Besides the usual setup guides, the only accessory included is the USB-C charging puck. A surprise awaited me: the Apple Watch doesn’t come charged out of the box. I had a similar experience with my daughter’s watch during the summer.

After connecting it to my Apple Studio Display, it charged rapidly—within 10 minutes, it had enough power to pair, and it was fully charged in about 30 minutes.

Setting Up the Watch

The setup process is incredibly user-friendly. Bring your iPhone close to the watch, scan the image displayed, and watchOS 9 takes care of the rest. The setup was even simpler than my iPhone 14 Pro, requiring only basic information like height and weight for accurate health tracking.

The only hiccup was forgetting the password for one email account, but otherwise, the process was seamless.

A Minor Issue

Now that I've been wearing the Apple Watch for a few hours, I want to use it to unlock my Mac, but it doesn't seem to be cooperating. Perhaps a restart will help.

I am eager to explore all the features of my new watch, but my week is packed with content creation. As soon as I publish this blog, it’ll be featured in my upcoming video, which focuses on the iPhone 14's camera capabilities.

I have a few questions about the watch’s notifications. Should messages from iMessage and email be appearing on the screen? They don’t seem to be showing up, but I assume I just need to spend more time familiarizing myself with it.

Health Features

Ironically, the week my Apple Watch arrives coincides with one of my most sedentary periods. I usually enjoy morning cardio, but my schedule is tight right now.

The setup process included setting health and fitness goals, such as daily calorie burn and step counts. Normally, I'd find these targets easy, but given my current situation, I might struggle. By mid-October, my Apple Watch may think it has a different owner as my activity levels hopefully increase.

The watch is equipped to monitor blood oxygen levels and can perform ECG readings, among other health features. I plan to wear it to bed tonight to test the sleep tracking functionality. Plus, I want to take advantage of the three-month Apple Fitness+ trial that comes with the watch.

Final Thoughts

I can now appreciate the value of the Apple Watch. Since the pandemic, I've been making an effort to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. While the timing of the watch's arrival isn't ideal, I look forward to the long-term health benefits it promises.

It feels comfortable and lightweight on my wrist, unlike some of the bulkier watches I've used in the past. I’ve already started playing music through my AirPods Pro and checking messages.

This blog post is aimed at anyone considering their first Apple Watch. I wanted to share my initial impressions from my very first day. Expect more updates about my experiences with the watch in the coming weeks.

For seasoned Apple Watch users, I welcome your advice on what features I should explore first. Also, any tips on unlocking my Mac would be greatly appreciated!

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In this video, I review the Apple Watch Series 10, discussing whether the larger size is truly beneficial and if it's worth upgrading.

Join me for an exciting unboxing of the Apple Watch Series 8! Experience the thrill of opening a brand-new tech gadget.