If you are a keen long distance runner or cyclist, consider this:
Series2 Apple Watch provides the following *without* a phone paired nearby:
*GPS tracking of hillwalking/running/cycling
*listen to music or podcasts offline via Bluetooth headphones or speaker; currently Apple Music only or iTunes library but expect Spotify to provide an app. Up to 2Gb of podcasts/audiobooks/music can be synced.
*can connect the phone to wifi while out (another friend mobile hotspot or cafe wifi, for example) and it'll then receive your notifications! Even though your phone isn't paired or nearby.
Bluetooth music and gps tracking a marathon has been completed by many people with the 42mm version. Battery life for this larger version doing these things, plus Heart Rate monitoring is clearly more than 5 hours.
When Spotify allow offline music syncing and Strava produce their watch GPS app early January 2017 I'll buy one.
Strava is important as the in built Apple fitness app doesn't seem to allow exporting of all the data you would likely expect of a watch in this price range. I couldn't find a small watch that done all the above, let alone do it well. For fitness it's not quite there but is very nearly there.
Garmin's quality is questionable for fitness - many failures - plus their software is historically horrendous. Given the price of the more expensive watches some of the fault percentages are an outrage.
Fitbit - all models - have well known QC issues. Amazon reviews can be used to confirm this - but just ask your friends who use them. After a year they often need replaced. They can't withstand the sports usage they are intended for.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
