Apple Watch series 4

What is your typical usage?

The stats are in smartwatch mode: notifications, activity tracking.

The stats are in smartwatch mode: notifications, activity tracking.

So that includes GPS tracking? Interested in how much GPS is on for.

A touch screen running/fitness watch is a non-starter for me. As soon as you start to sweat, the watch is basically useless. Unless Apple changes to tactile buttons like the F5+ or the 935, it's no bueno for me.

A touch screen running/fitness watch is a non-starter for me. As soon as you start to sweat, the watch is basically useless. Unless Apple changes to tactile buttons like the F5+ or the 935, it's no bueno for me.

You can lock the touch screen.
I'm in no means trying to say that the AW is better than the 5+. I've just been having more fun and success with it while training right now and that is the point of this all of this. If you're not having fun while training, whats the point? I also have had better GPS routes so far, this doesn't mean that it will always be like this the 5+ could get better... maybe. To be honest I still like my 5+ TI, and use it still.
The Battery issue people talk about isn't really a big deal for me I get about 36 hours or more. I went to bed last night with 95% and woke up with about 85% this is with sleep tacking. I looked t my 5+ that was 100% before bed that was sitting on my dresser and it was down to 94%.

Interesting topic. I've sold my AW3 and replaced it with 645m and couldn't been happier since. Of course, Garmin screen is not that good and it has less smart watch features, but otherwise they are not comparable at all.
AW3 has the worst GPS accuracy I've seen in sport watches. It always overestimates, no matter what app or what location you're running. All my 5k runs shows as 5.2 to 5.3. The pace is also way off, say when watch shows you 4:10 it actually means you're somewhere at 4:20. As a runner, you can't trust those.
I can't comment on HR readings quality since I always used Polar H10 strap which is perfect. But there is more to add about usability of the AW.
First of all, you don't have any physical buttons to control during run. Mark a lap? You have to double-tap the screen in order to do that. Try to do it after a quick interval when your fingers are sweaty or it is raining.
Secondly, you don't have any indicators of gps acquisition or external HR is connected. It's not funny to lose first km of your run just because AW didn't manage to get constant GPS readings and you have no way to see this. The same for HR readings, it tends to lose connection to the strap if not rebooted regularly and again, there is no way you can see this except lifting your watch a bit to see if sensors blinking. It became a habit for me to check those before I start my run, but even that doesn't guarantee it won't lose it in the process.
The data you get from AW is poor. There are basically 8 fields you can choose from and half of them are useless. You can't create a multiple data screens either (in 645m I can have a few for warmup\traning\etc at the same time) iSmoothRun helps a bit here, but it has it's own drawbacks.
As for battery life, it was ok for the first couple of months, then it became degrading fast. From 100% in the morning, just after HM length run in a moderate tempo, I got 35% left. It's insane. I had to charge it everyday, otherwise I get the dead watch by the end of the day.
In the WatchOS 5 the Activity app got some very thin fonts impossible to read while you're running. I had to go from 4 line to 3 line data screen in order to be able to read my pace during my run. The last and the main reason to replace my AW was really the software. I've lost some of my runs (too good it wasn't my races), you can see it on watch, but it doesn't sync to your iphone. Sometimes it records the run, but doesn't show the gps track. You can see your pace, hr, etc, but no gps track. It's very annoying.

To sum up, I don't know if Fenix 5 is a bad watch for a serious runner, but AW certainly is. It's more focused on "smart" then on performance oriented features, battery life and usability is poor thanks to the touchscreen and the software keeps getting worse. I won't recommend it to anyone who wants accuracy.

Something a lot of folks don’t know, is that to conserve battery, the Apple Watch will use the phones GPS, unless you either turn off Bluetooth,or put the watch in airplane mode. The watch’s GPS is better mainly because the phone is in a back pocket or other obscured place. I discovered this with an AW4, that I returned, mainly because the upgrade from Series 3 simply wasn’t worth it. I use my Fenix 5 Plus now, but will strap on the Apple Watch occasionally. Yes, I own both. :-)

Hi there,
What about AW4 performance indoors? I have to run on a t-mill 2-3 times every week and a footpod+735xt do a nice job although I have to re-enter a calibration factor with every shoe.
Maybe AW4+some compatible footpod?

Hi there,
What about AW4 performance indoors? I have to run on a t-mill 2-3 times every week and a footpod+735xt do a nice job although I have to re-enter a calibration factor with every shoe.
Maybe AW4+some compatible footpod?

Apple watch external devices consist of only an external HR monitor, and Headphones/earbuds. No other devices will pair. One of the main reasons I switched back from the AW4 to the Fenix 5+, I'm using Bose Soundsport wireless earbuds, (not the free), and have no problems with that setup on my 5+.

Hi there,
What about AW4 performance indoors? I have to run on a t-mill 2-3 times every week and a footpod+735xt do a nice job although I have to re-enter a calibration factor with every shoe.
Maybe AW4+some compatible footpod?

A Stryd footpod will connect to AW.

A Stryd footpod will connect to AW.

Not with the default Activity app. You either have to use Stryd app or some 3rd party app that supports it, like iSmoothRun.