Worth a Watch

One look at the Apple Watch Series 2 will have you wonder how similar it looks to its predecessor. But there are plenty of improvements and enhancements, which may compel you to consider going for an upgrade.

The most basic yet important improvement is that the Apple Watch Series 2 boots up much faster than the original Apple Watch. The display brightness has been improved, making it more visible in direct sunlight.

Unlike the original Apple Watch that was slightly slow in responding, the new Apple Watch impresses with its performance - be it while launching apps or accessing notifications centre. It is powered with a dual core processor and Watch OS3 that make it 50 per cent faster, more utility driven and convenient to use. The Watch OS3 offers a scribble feature that allows short replies (one to two words). The Breathe app helps in deep breathing sessions that are guided through the vibrations. Answering calls on the Apple Watch Series 2 speaker (ideally when alone) is hassle free and clear. The new watch has a water drop icon to lock the watch screen and speakers during water activities. Rotating the crown in this mode emits sound, helping speakers push out excess water. It really does. This has made the new Apple Watch water resistant, making it ideal for swimmers, too.

Apple has added the much needed built-in GPS to this watch, which means the watch will continue to track activities even when the iPhone is not in range (or left at home). Post a workout session, the Watch shows the route followed for the run on Apple Map. It also shows the pace - slow or fast - in colour coding. In areas where GPS signals are not found, it automatically shows dotted lines on the map so you can join the running path, which is mostly accurate. When swimming, the watch catches GPS signals when the hand rises above the water during strokes and records the activity.

A bigger battery has been added to compensate for the addition of a brighter display and GPS. In comparison to the original Apple Watch, this one has close to 30 per cent charge left at the end of the day (despite heavy usage). If used economically, it can be used for longer durations as well.