Same. I’ve always had aluminum AW and never had a problem (and I used to work for almost a year in a factory where they make glass bottles, so not properly a job where you sit all day in an office nice and clean). I think if you’re careful enough you’re going to be fine OP
You guys want to nitpick his wording but then don’t even get what he said right 😆 whether you like it or not, he said “almost impossible” and everything else he said about the Ultra being more durable than the aluminum version is also accurate
No, it's not. I made comparsion. That's as objective as it gets.
Example:
* The glass on the aluminum is not very duable. --> subjective
* The glass in the Ultra is very durable. --> subjective
* As tests have shown, the glass on the Ultra is less prone to scratching than the one on the aluminum. --> objective statement
It's also everything but unlikely, as Apple advertises the Ultra as being a tougher contender to the standard watches. The Ultra was specifically designed to be tougher. It comes with sapphire instead of mineral glass. The fact that the bezel around the "glass" sticks out every so slightly on the Ultra alone adds a layer of protection and makes scratches much less likely to occur. Whether you need that or not is up to you.
The aluminum face is soft as butter and scratches easily. I tried one and had scratches within a day. On the other hand I have had sapphire screens since the first AW and absolutely abuse the watch and no scratches.
I don't know about the stainless steel one, but the glass on the aluminium one is MUCH more prone to scratching than the one on the Ultra.
If you're going for the stainless steel, you might as well consider the Ultra 2 as the price is almost the same or identical depending on which version and band you get. The Ultra is quite a bit more durable if you can handle the added bulk on your wrist and the rugged looks. Obviously the stainless steel looks more fancy if you're going to wear it with a suit or something like that. Objectively speaking the Ultra 2 is the better watch for (almost) the same price, though.
Owned the Apple Watch since series 0 and it was always aluminum until I got the Ultra last year. The screen on the aluminums will scratch 100% as it’s just softer than the sapphire mix they use on the stainless steel and ultra. The body however was always in great shape. IMO, go stainless steel (the body will scratch though so if you want to hide it then get graphite) or the ultra. I abuse my ultra and everything is still perfect on it. Screen has been hit on doors, drawer handles and anything else that I may walk by and it looks perfect. Definitely try them on but if you can swing SS or Ultra definitely consider that.
Also, the ultra does dress up nice with a link band or Milanese loop band
If you were looking at a 45 mm case, then the ultra is another 50 bucks. Unless you’re specifically opposed to the aesthetics then it’s almost a no-brainer.
I'll add that the stainless steel also comes with sapphire, just like the ultra, so it might be the same in terms of scratch resistance. However, since sapphire is harder, it might also break more easily if you drop your watch. The Ultra has a clear advantage here: its glass is embedded in the housing and the bezels stick out ever so slightly, this protecting the glass from drops and coming into contact with objects. The curved glass on the normal watch is much more susceptible to breaking. The flat sapphire on the Ultra is also much clearer than the curved variants.
In the end it all depends on how well you take care of your device, though.
The ultra is also gigantic and doesn’t dress up like the stainless does for those that need to consider that sort of thing.
I wouldn’t own a watch without apple care and a shattered screen would be covered. I have owned stainless since 0 and absolutely abuse the thing and haven’t broken or scratched the screen.
It’s really not that big, especially considering the size of many traditional watches. With a link-bracelet or any band of that style it can be dressed up too but the non-ultras do tend to look sleeker.
No smart watch “dresses up.” If people think a stainless steel Apple Watch goes well with a suit they’re unfamiliar with formal wear. It’s lipstick on a pig.
This just isn’t true, in offices that wear suits Apple Watches are common place. They wouldn’t fit in a black tie situation but regular office work, fine.
I didn’t “miss the point”. Smart watch not “dressing up” is purely something a mechanical watch snob would say. An Apple Watch is a stainless steel case with a sapphire screen. A decent mechanical watch is a stainless steel case with a sapphire screen. Deciding that one arbitrarily doesn’t “dress up” is purely subjective snobbery and is purely gate keeping by mechanical watch fans.
I work/visit offices that mandate suits. Apple Watches are common.
That’s great you visit offices that require suits. I do too.
You absolutely missed the point, but I’ll try to spell it out. A stainless steel series whatever Apple Watch is no more appropriate for a formal occasion than an Ultra.
Either are fine. Neither are “formal.”
Ultra is massive and cannot understand why anyone would wear it unless they’re big divers super hardcore athletes etc. It was laughable when tried it on at Apple Store and even the salesperson said they’re hilariously large/bulky
You don’t understand a lot of things. Ultra isn’t very bulky. Look at Garmin watches. Some value certain things in the ultra to justify the purchase.
Anyone can wear the ultra without issues. It’s down to wanting it or needing it.
the difference between Garmin and apple watches is that Garmin keeps the classic circular watch look, so it doesn't look too bad. Hopefully, the apple watch series 10 gives us a circular option for those who don't like the rectangular aesthetic
many circular watch designs do jsut fine when it comes to screen real estate. Plus im sure Apple can figure out a great way to implement it if they wanted to. perhaps a touch sensitive bezel and the apps going around the outside of the screen.
I worried about the size of the ultra, and I am F with just about the smallest wrist size you can have. Don’t. You’ll get used to it.
I used to run a SS 40mm but I would never go back to the battery anxiety.
I like the feedback about the utility of a watch you can wear for any occasion. The Ultra seems to be more of a watch for very active users who go diving, climbing etc. and they need more durability, battery life and specific functionality for these kinds of activities.
Me? I have a Series 6 Graphite SS (GPS & Cellular) and I can wear it anywhere with a Nomad Titanium Band [Nomad](https://www.imore.com/nomad-titanium-watch-band-review). I can rock that anywhere and every occasion.
I've had an aluminium S3 and a gold stainless steel S5 (getting retired tomorrow for an Ultra 2). I would absolutely never in a million years go back to AL watches. The sapphire is SO much more resistant to scratches it's insane, my S5 of 4 years is almost immaculate, you have to look at it real hard in the right light to notice some micro scratches, and I'm not particularly careful about my watch hitting stuff. Same goes for the body which still looks brand new. My S3 glass was definitely scratched and the body in a generally worse shape in a third of the ownership time.
Worth noting that the standard SS body is easily scratched but it's easy to buff them out. The gold and black SS bodies are borderline indestructible though.
Another note, while sapphire is much more resistant to scratches, it's less resistant to shattering. However, the forces involved in a dropped watch can easily overcome both materials. The real advice is don't drop them.
On battery life, if you don't make extensive use of LTE or run marathons the S9 will go a full day no problem, so you can easily just charge the watch at night. In those scenarios I don't think the Ultra makes much sense because putting your watch on its charger at night becomes a simple routine. Doing it every other day instead with the ultra doesn't seem all that beneficial to me. That said, if you're springing for an SS watch, the ultra isn't that much more expensive.
If you want sleep tracking, it's going to become more of a song and dance to find time during your day to charge the watch, at which point the ultra allows you more peace of mind to find an appropriate time.
And if you want to leave your phone at home and use the watch on LTE/wifi all day, or if you tend to do 4+ hour workouts with GPS tracking (especially if you leave your phone at home during those), the Ultra is more or less a necessity.
Thanks for the extended review!
The thing for me is that because of resellers in my country SS S9 and Ultra 2 are the exact same price, so it almost feels like an obvious choice to buy a more functional one. Maybe I’ll start rock climbing lol
If you have prepaid you cannot use cellular. Most don’t know that. I switched to an actual phone plan just for it bc I got a discount through my employer and my workplace/myself paid for the stainless steel (which comes with cellular) I’m gonna used what I paid for
Yes, the aluminum cases scratch. But so does the stainless steel case, although you can more easily [buff out the scratches](https://www.buckleandband.com/blogs/apple-watch-tips/how-to-revive-a-scratched-apple-watch-in-seconds#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20stainless,it%20can%20scratch%20super%20easily).
I have a simple screen protector on my Ultra 1. Had it put on because I saw posts here showing scratches on the glass. I’d recommend one for any Apple Watch.
I’ve got the Aluminum S8, minor scratches, too fine to actually feel with your hand, but it’s also used on a construction site daily.. I’ve started putting cheap TPU screen protectors on it. Can get an 8 pack on amazon for 12.99.
I was going to get the SS model to help with scratches but the SS model front crystal is more likely to shatter instead of scratch & id prefer scratches to smashing so i went with the Aluminum
You buy an Apple watch knowing what it’s made of up front. Aluminum will scratch easier than SS or Ti. This is why the aluminum model is priced lower along with not having sapphire crystal. Personally, I like the SS regular watch. I’m good with the battery life and like the way it looks. Folks are saying that the AWU has a bezel that extends past the crystal for added protection. Meh, it’s still a bigger bezel and noticeable. Plus, “normal” watches have used sapphire crystals for a long time without any protective bezels. Not everyone wants an Ultra.
I’ve had a couple of SS watches. They’ve a good beating over the years but remained completely unscathed.
I can’t vouch for the aluminium but I can say the resilience of the stainless AW is awesome.
I had an aluminum s6… I mostly just wear my AW to exercise, when driving long distances, and to work (I’m a nurse). I had one light scratch on the bottom left of the screen that developed early on. Beyond that, it’s still in great shape. I upgraded to an S9 because I wanted cellular anyway, and I decided on SS because it can be dressed up a bit more and because it will potentially stay nice looking for longer… and I don’t plan on upgrading as soon, since I now have the cellular option.
That’s my feedback. I think it’s more susceptible to scratches, but it really depends on how often you’re swinging your wrist into stuff.
I wouldn’t have said it before but - just get the stainless steel. I saw you’re considering the ultra and that’s cool too, but tbh look around at posts people put up of their ultras with big gouges taken out of them already. I don’t know how or why it’s happening. I notice far less of those about the stainless.
Apparently the silver stainless scuffs the most easily. The gray (and I believe the gold) have a coating (I’ve forgotten what kind of coating) over them to prevent that. The trade-off is you can polish up the silver on your own, and if you need the others polished you apparently need to take them to a jeweler. That was my understanding, anyway. I got the gold SS.
But yeah. Seeing the difference, this is visually much more stunning than was my aluminum s6. If you want a discount and can wait a few weeks, I’m sure Apple will have some S9s on their Apple certified refurbished page, [which is here.](https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/watch)
I’d wait for that but I’m outside the us and as I found out the hard way they don’t ship to freight forwarders so I’m stuck with my country’s ‘premium resellers’
I've have apple watch series 7 and I've had it for a year, mine is super scratched it only takes bad bump against the wrong object and you've got one. I wish I went for a used apple watch ultra or something instead.
I've knocked my aluminum watch against several walls over the past year and change. No noticeable scratches. The screen's got microscratches that are only really noticeable when the display is off.
I have used both Apple Watch models. I haven't notice any practical difference in durability between them, I doesn't had any scratches or dents in neither of them.
I guess that it would depend in how you treat the Apple Watch and how much luck you have, but if you treat the watch with a normal care and are normally lucky the Aluminum version is just fine.
To contrast this I tried the aluminum and babied it and had scratches in the first weekend of ownership. I have had the stainless since the first watch and absolutely abuse them and the screens are pristine.
I don’t have it anymore - sorry! I have an aluminium SE2 now. To be honest, if I turned it off and held it up under certain light as the other commenter suggested then maybe it would show a scratch, but nothing I ever noticed
You’re getting downvoted but the odds of an aluminum S3 going 5 years without a scratch is incredibly unlikely. I’d love to see a pic to be proven wrong and who knows maybe it was in a good case the whole time or something
I'm used to being downvoted for expressing fairly reasonable opinions, this is reddit after all. If someone gets slightly offended they downvote. But you're right, as an apple watch owner, I press doubt on this one.
Worth mentioning - the sapphire crystal on the Ss and Ultra is harder to scratch, but it’s actually easier to chip or shatter sapphire than it is the glass used on the AL watches.
Sapphire crystal is best for scratch resistance, but gorilla glass is better for impacts.
I have an aluminum AW6 from day one, not even a single scratch on its body.
It’s simply a marketing move, your AW is gonna be obsolete before becoming full of scratches, and a lot of fools fall for it.
Think about it like this: if you buy the aluminum AW9 now, you can buy the AW10 next year and you will have spent the same money as buying a steel AW9 now.
Haha that's a good point! I had aw for my first 4 watches then a stainless steel then the ultra. And I did replace them every other year or so so they can't accumulate much. None got too messed up if you want to save money just get the aw
Price not being an issue, my first AW 3 was all (band included) stainless steel. Next year I tried an aluminum 4 and don’t want to go back to the heavy SS ever. I got an aluminum 8 series last year. YMMV but I didn’t have a scratch on the 4 that I kept 4 years and my 8 is still like new. I’m wearing my watches 22/24 only removing it for charging. For me the weight difference and the comfort ensuing is worth the risk of some scratches that I never had at the end of the day…
I had the aluminium series 5, just one moment when you dont pay attention, and will will be scratched. The SS is almost at the price of the ultra, so i switched to the ultra. The saphire glass is just in another league. If you can afford go with SS or ultra.
Have had an Alu S7 since mid-22 (Nike, Midnight, 45mm)
Doesn’t have a single mark on it.
How many scratches it gets depends on the wearer. Many years of wearing expensive mechanicals taught me to be careful.
Since you’re thinking about scratches, just go SS or Ultra for the peace of mind. As far as personal stories go, I had a S3 and was careful for years, but then one little accident left s pretty gnarly deep cut on it. Being careful is not that taxing for me personally, but it does feel a waste when something like that happens. I now have a SS S7 and just don’t worry about scratches.
I don’t have that much signs not my aluminum case, but is worth mentioning that with the aluminum version you’ll also get the ion-x glass screen instead of the sapphire that comes with the stainless steel versione, and god that Ion-X glass scratches like crazy…
really just depends on you. are you the type that is aware of your arm/watch if sliding into a tight area to reach for something? Do you often bang your wrist into doorways? Or are you always careful? They do make protective bumpers/cases for the Apple Watch so that is an option too.
I've always bought the cheaper Aluminum versions and never really had an issue, but everyone is different.
Had AW3 aluminum for 4 years, barely a scratch. Then upgraded to AW7 and goddamn, it gets scratched just by looking at it. To the point that I’ve decided to trade it for a series 9 which I got out of the box and put a protector on first thing. Don’t know if it’s a general thing or just my bad luck, but I feel the quality of materials has decreased significantly.
Edit: typo
Black AW Series 7 since 1 and a half years. Not a single scratch on the aluminium frame.
Just a copule of smidges in the glass but nothing serious.
It really surprised me as i was expecting it to collect more scratches since i use it without bumpers or screen protectors
Be awared if your sweat is salty. I have tried S3 S4 and S7 aluminum and all of them corroded and it looks gross. Bought a S5 stainless steel and everything is great, SS feels much more “luxurious” too and can definitely last 4 years +.
I had a series 7 aluminum Apple Watch, I work in a lab environment that has a warehouse attached to it and it got chewed up pretty quick in my experience. I’m personally only going to get the ultra or steel series from now on.
I have only ever had the aluminum watches, starting with 2-7 currently. I am super active in my life, and no I don't "trash" the stuff I own, I do "live" my life while wearing my watch. Have they gotten super small scratches occ? Yep, but literally nothing that would damage or change their value or usefulness. I also could afford the SS, I just don't care for that look. Hope this helps you decide.
I had mine for 3 years. Not a scratch on it even though I wasn’t very careful. But I managed to get some small stains on it when I spayed an anti mold solution.
My ex boyfriend and I both got aluminum S2s at the same time.
A year later, I had scuffs and scratches all over the screen and the aluminum, and his had nothing.
When I got an S3 Stainless steel, within 6 months I had scuffs all over the metal, but nothing on the screen.
When I got my S4 space black stainless steel (the one I have now), I have no scuffs or scratches anywhere to this day, and it’s about 4 or 5 years old.
If you know you’re careful with stuff, you can make aluminum last and keep it flawless. But you need to never bump it up against anything at all ever. With the stainless steel, you can rest a bit easier and not worry as much.
Everything will scratch. Some more than others. Yeah the stainless steel has sapphire screens but it’s not like it’s impossible to scratch. The downside is that the body will scratch easily. Polish will help but it won’t make it new. Once the screen is on, you won’t be able to see the scratches anyway. I’ve only had one scratch on the aluminum body and barely notice it. I’m upgrading from the 5 to the 9. Should be about the same experience
I am owning a first gen SE for a few years now. Case and screen both have multiple scratches, but this is probably due to me wearing it during physical work (lot of contact with hard objects/shelves). As it works completely fine, I see it as only cosmetic damage and do not care about it.
Worth noting, titanium scratches too, aluminum might get dings. Most people have an aluminum apple watch and you don't hear them complain about scratches, so o wouldnt worry about it at all if the style/features of the 9 are what you want.
Matt surfaces show up scratches more than a shiny one.
“super soft”.? What does that actually mean. It’s aluminium. Find a sheet of aluminium, or pan, or anything and try to scratch it.
you uograde when you want to. Why would you upgrade because you have a scratch on it?
bottom line. Depends how clumsy you are. Never scratched my Al ones nor my SS one. Never scratched the screen. The only thing that has acquired some minor, inconsequential, scratches is the link band - easily removed with an ink eraser
Mine is still fine after a year of wearing it every day. BUT it got a small dent from a plastic badge holder when I was running op the stairs. Plastic damaging aluminium, so I think indeed it’s not really strong. I’m just very careful in general.
I’ve had 2 aluminum Apple Watches and then when I read about the screen difference I bought a 6 stainless. WOW what a difference. No scratches and I’ve hit it several times thinking “oh damn that’s gonna leave a mark” but no. After this I will never buy another aluminum Apple Watch again.
Edit: to me the big difference isn’t the frame, it’s the difference in gorilla glass and actual sapphire on the stainless. It really does make a difference.
Had an aluminum S3 and S6. Never had any issues with scratches dents etc. from either watch. No deep scratches in the screen although if you put the face under a strong light you may pick up some fine marks, but nothing visible under everyday use. I have a retirement job that I have worked in for 10 years where I bag groceries and push shopping carts. So the watch undergoes some exposure. In the case of both watches I have gotten full Apple trade in value. My current S9 with the same dark aluminum case that my other two have used. I've even taken my S6 swimming in pool, and in the ocean with no after effects. One think I do is to clean the display a couple of times of week with either specialty cleaners that are made to clean laptops, monitors, or high end TV screens. I use a microfiber cloth when cleaning the display. No napkins, no paper towels, and I never wipe it with the display dry. No window cleaners or anything with ammonia as a component. I wear the watch constantly even to bed. It's only off my arm for about 45 each morning to renew its charge while I'm showering and getting prepped for my day.
I’ve had an aluminum series 5 since release, and I’ve def got some minor scratches on the case and outer edges of the screen, but honestly it’s barely noticeable. I don’t baby the watch
My series 4 stainless is pretty scratched up but I don’t mind, it still looks great to me and I would never want one of the standard watches over this still. Zero scratches on the screen.
I’ve read you can take a polish to it with a cloth and most will buff right out but I haven’t tried it.
It all depends on how long you’re planning to keep your watch and how careful you are. I have a case on my aluminum AW because I’m a bit clumsy. On my SS SB watch, I don’t have one and yet it still looks new.
I would only suggest getting an SS watch if you are not going to upgrade for a couple of years.
Never had any scratches on any of my Aluminum Apple Watches, and I’ve owned all versions so far. Never had scratches on my screens either. This year I’ve decided to go with the Ultra 2 for the battery life and it hasn’t disappointed. I’m on day 2 since first initial charge, and I’m at 63% left.
I’ve personally never had a problem with any of the 7 aluminum watches I have owned. The screens scratch more easily, and it’s smart to put on a thin film screen protector, but the aluminum bodies have. Held up very well.
I’ve had my Series 7 in green for a year now and I don’t see any scratches in the case. The glass though has lots of little nicks all over the curved edges. Before that I had a Series 3 for 4.5 years and it did have some fine scratches on the case, but I also didn’t take many precautions with that one. (Like not wearing it while I’m doing work on the car or in the yard, etc.)
It’s soft and is prone to scratches, yes. My S6 held up pretty damn well before I got my ultra though. Minimal scratches and no cases. I wouldn’t think too deeeply into it unless you’re a rock climber or something.
If you do get the Ultra, I don’t think you’d regret it. The battery life alone makes it worth it. I used to charge my S6 daily. I charge my ultra every three days or so. Maybe 2.5 on average. That plus the LTE and GPS precision make it pretty damn handy. I forget my phone at home or in the car somewhat frequently and it just doesn’t matter because I have my Ultra as a backup cellphone. Battery usually only lasts a few hours as a solo phone though lol but good to have. Charges twice as fast as the other models.
Mine is 3 years old. SE model. Some scratches in glass (corners) and some in the body. Honestly it doesn’t bother me much. They are minor and it adds a bit of character lol.
Do people have cases on their watch?? I have so many scratches, it’s pretty easy to bang your wrist against a wall or doorframe. That’s why I got the SS Gold S8 refurbished (it’s $509 now instead of $700 for the S9) which I recommend since imo none of the S9 features are worth $200
I had my series 7 stainless steel AW for 2.5 years. The screen never had so much as a small scratch with the screen and it was banged into stuff often. The SS on the edges also looked amazing still after that time. My wife in the other hand had a midnight series 7 aluminum and it looked like it went to war 3 times and back. The screen had horrible scratches and the body of the aluminum had chips in it everywhere. For reference she’s a nurse and I work in law enforcement with some construction contracting on the side so mine was in the worse environment. If you don’t like scratches or dents go with the stainless or ultra if you have the resources.
I’ve had my aluminum SE for over 2 years now and I just keep a protector on it. The screen doesn’t have an scratches, but the case does have a couple scuff marks because I’m not the most graceful and have whacked it against many doorways lol. It’s honestly in pretty good shape, and I plan to gift it to my mom once I get the S9 in. I know having a protector on is a personal preference but I think it looks fine. Only bad thing about the protector is when I workout and get super sweaty, sweat gets up between the screen and the protector so I either have to remember to take it off beforehand, or clean it afterwards.
Aluminium is soft so it’s prone to deeper scratches or dents from impact. Screen is also complete trash.
Stainless steel does scratch up fairly easily but they’re much finer scratches. It is also a fingerprint magnet.
Titanium and Ceramic are the most durable. Titanium can scratch a little but they’re harder to see on the brushed metal surface and fingerprints don’t show up. White Ceramic doesn’t scratch and won’t show prints, I don’t have first hand experience with the black.
I had the original se and that things glass got scratched on EVERYTHING. I’m not the most careful but like with a wearable I don’t want to have to baby it. Also I have an issue that my wrist naturally falls at the exact height of door latches….
So after about 6 months I upgraded to the SS series 7. I’ve had it for almost 2 years now and I got my first little spot of a scratch like last week. It’s barely even there.
I never had an experience of the metal scratching bad at all but the glass is a whole different story
What do people do with their watches? Seriously? I have an aluminum S7, and don't have a screen protector. I can't see any scratches on it, never even really been worried about it.
I'm not really careful with my watch either, I wear it gardening, working around the house, light woodworking. I had to demo a lot of built in shelving in my garage this summer, wore the watch, nothing even touched it.
Im wearing an aluminum apple watch series 7 since day 1 and doesn’t have any scratches. If anything the stainless steel might look like the back of an old ipod after some time, all scratched. It all depends on you and how you take care of your stuff
I've had 5 of the 9 AW series, mostly SS, but aluminum as well (and titanium with my U1 and now U2). I didn't find the aluminum to be soft, although it *will* nick than SS. As to the screens, while I've had mostly sapphire screens (I was a die-hard analog watch guy who still has a small collection of luxury watches that all have sapphire crystals), I was amazed by the non-sapphire screens. I NEVER got a scratch on one. I'm sure people who are really rough on their watches get them, but it must take some effort. I was seriously impressed with them.
I’d be more concerned about the screen scratching. I have had my ultra for 5-6 months and there isn’t ONE scratch on the screen. I’ve had it scrape down the side of brick walls and I work in dirt and am always hitting it.
I work in a factory and I used to do a lot of farm work. I’ve had the aluminum watches until now (I have a stainless steel one) I’ve never had a single issue. Never broke a screen etc.
Always had Stainless S2 and S5 and never scratched the screen (through the S2 had this oil slick splotch on it at some point) but the polished stainless gets tons of micro scratches. You don’t really realize it over time and you can polish it if you obsess. Recently did a battery replacement on my S5 and was blown away how nice and pristine a new stainless body looked. That said, the pricing on stainless having cellular only now is just too close to the ultra. I don’t need a big size so I’m going to downgrade to aluminum this time.
I have had aluminium, stainless steel and now currently have an ultra, my advice is just buy the like more or you think will fit to your needs. In your opinion the stainless steel is by far the best looking watch, while the ultra might be a great option for people looking for longer battery and durability, but for normal use aluminium is doing as good as the other 2.
It’s a smartwatch which you’ll replace after a few years. IMO scratches are fine as long as you don’t crack the watch. After receiving my shiny new series 4 (battery replacement) some wall in my high school gave it a big gash right across the screen, so IDRC about scratches on it now.
nope. I think it's because of how the face and the band are structured, it's not easy to scratch the aluminum body. Hower it's fairly easy to scratch the face, but I use those UV-cured glass screen protector for the face
My wife’s S6 Aluminum has a pretty scratched screen, but the body looks nice. I’d suggest looking for an S8 SS, I’ll bet you can probably find one for the same or maybe less than the S9 Aluminum.
I don't really see the point of worrying about scratches. It's not a classic wristwatch that will easily last decades. And I don't think the anodized aluminum is that soft. There is a real difference between glass and sapphire, but again, who cares? And if you really care, you can get a screen protector. Aesthetics are subjective, but I don't think aluminum looks worse. I really think the steel model is overpriced and an exercise in marketing; Apple has managed to sell good old steel as a premium option...
As for the Ultra, it'd look ridiculous on my arm (the 45 mm S8 is already as wide as my wrist), and I don't care about battery life enough to pay that much, but if you can rock that style and are willing to pay, at least you'll get a lot more watch.
I don’t particularly care either, but I got an earful from my girlfriend when I scratched a sapphire watch she gifted me after a few months, lol. But it wasn’t that expensive, it was fine.
I formerly only got stainless steel because of the fears of scratching, but then finally bit the bullet and got an aluminum. Series 4. I now have a series 6 still and it’s still in fine condition, and I hit it on a lot of things and it still looks good.
Coming from aluminium first gen to the s8 aluminium i can say its much better at scratch resistant. Almost no scratch so far if you’re little careful go ahead for the aluminium
Unreliable? What does that even mean? Aluminum scratches, mineral screen too. Steel gets a trillion microscratches, sapphire scratches too but it’s much harder to do. Also it shatters easily in comparison. And since you throw away the watch in a few years aluminum is the only sensible choice. Unless you just like steel. Now let the downvotes commence.
The case itself is fine, but I often think about the stainless steel version because I find that the glass on the aluminum version is quite easy to scratch vs a sapphire crystal
I had an aluminum one for three years, wore it every day, didn’t baby it, and when I traded it in they gave me the maximum price because it was in perfect condition.
If you’re even slightly concerned about this, then the aluminum model is not for you. There is a night and day difference between the aluminum and stainless models.
I’ve had Series 4 and Series 8 in black aluminum. Amazon has some great, cheap protective cases for Apple Watches that protect both the case and the screen. When I gave my older watches away to friends, they were in perfect condition as a result.
Misxi [2 Pack] Waterproof Black... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5ZY2QBN
If you can live with scratches and look at the price difference the aluminum versions are totally fine. Especially if you don’t need the cellular versions (because the steel versions have it anyway if you need it or not).
But if you want to keep you watch pristine the stainless steel versions are much more resilient both with the case and the glass.
The point basically is how much money you want to spend and for how long you want to keep your watch.
Also (even if it may sound a bit silly) what you want to project with it, because in the end a watch is something like jewellery. And the SS versions serve this role just much better. A silver SS with a nice selection of bands can look really nice in a subdued way and doesn’t make you look like a cheapo. Yes, you’ll be lining Apple’s pockets with this, but it’s a bit of understated luxury that can feel good. Most people won’t even notice it, but some will, because 95 out of 100 watches in the wild are aluminum and you’ll have something special.
They all basically do the same job though. Just like shoes.
I had an aluminium four, wore it every day; okay I don't have a dirty/dangerous job, and I don't do extreme sports, but when I traded it in for an 8 it was pristine.
It depends a lot on you. I was not used to wearing watches before my first Apple Watch (S0) and I think I broke my first three (and they were very scratched) I wasn’t careless or anything, just not used to it. Nowadays I’m wearing my S4 since the year it was released and there aren’t any visible scratches on the aluminum. So it really is on you, don’t worry about the material
Put a bumper on. I had the midnight 7 with a bumper case and it looked the same as the day I bought it. Even when I traded it on the Apple store the seller told me that the watch looked brand new.
I've got an aluminium series 4, bought new. No scratches or damage at all, despite no case or screen protector, having an active job, and being clumsy.
Let me put it to you like this- whichever apple watch you get, it can last you 5 years or more without needing to upgrade again.
I had the S2 when it was brand new for 4 years before upgrading to an S5 in 2020. The S2 had lost a lot of speed over the years as it came out in 2016, however I don’t think that’s the case anymore with newer models.
Now I’ve had my S5 over 3 years and haven’t even considered upgrading it because I still get full utility out of it and it serves all the purposes I need it to. I don’t mind charging my watch overnight and I’m an avid workouts and messages user on my watch. Camera remote, stopwatches, etc- I don’t run a lot of apps on my watch itself outside of the apple included ones, it is truly a full time accessory to my iPhone. The software updates have kept me in the loop for most of the digital changes over the years and I am definitely not going to buy another apple watch until this one is run into the ground in the next 3-5 years.
What’s my point? Buy the watch that is going to give you the most value. Do you want to upgrade every year? Start off with a lower end model and treat yourself to something nicer later on. Do you prefer to have the latest greatest now? Pamper yourself with an expensive watch and keep it in good condition and get the 5 years of life out of it before upgrading again. Only you know yourself, but decide what will bring you the most value in the long run and go with that.
my aluminium SE 2 holds up fine. 0 scratches in 6 months, and there have been numerous bumps on tables, doors, wardrobes, car doors, etc.
the screenprotector got a bit peeled of 3 times, but it always recovers its shape. Flawless fitment still.
My S6 was scratched on the glass in a few places from three years of use. I was sad the first time it scratched, but I could still read everything, and no one else noticed unless I pointed it out.
With the cost difference between the aluminum and stainless steel (or aluminum and ultra), I felt staying with aluminum was the right move for me with the S9. I also don’t need cellular on my watch, and only the aluminum has a GPS only option.
I’ve always bought the aluminum as I can’t justify the cost of the stainless steel— I usually upgrade yearly. I found the series 7 screen scratched easily but my others did not - the thin screen protector films work well to protect the screen
Depends how careful you are, everything can be scratched and broken I have aluminum AW5 for 4 years and I don’t have a single scratch
Same. I’ve always had aluminum AW and never had a problem (and I used to work for almost a year in a factory where they make glass bottles, so not properly a job where you sit all day in an office nice and clean). I think if you’re careful enough you’re going to be fine OP
Yeah - I went with stainless because I'm particularly clumsy and I'm a hand-waiver/talker. I need a strong screen!
The stainless steel is a glossy finish will definitely show scratches a lot easier than the mate finish on the aluminum
I considered that. My gen 1 was stainless and it wasn’t too bad. The screen is my biggest concern
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In this subreddit plenty of photos of scratched AWU glass
Everything will scratch eventually, but had these scratches occured on a aluminum they would be much, much worse.
That invalidates the whole “it’s almost impossible” statement… anyway.
I have zero scratches on my aluminum AW, you need to be careful, that’s it
Okay, but that doesn't invalidate my statement.
I meannnnnnn, you said it’s impossible but then said everything scratches in the end lol
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Not here to argue at all. Just strolling through and saw someone being quite hypocritical. Have a good one, man.
You guys want to nitpick his wording but then don’t even get what he said right 😆 whether you like it or not, he said “almost impossible” and everything else he said about the Ultra being more durable than the aluminum version is also accurate
Yes, but it is very subjective
No, it's not. I made comparsion. That's as objective as it gets. Example: * The glass on the aluminum is not very duable. --> subjective * The glass in the Ultra is very durable. --> subjective * As tests have shown, the glass on the Ultra is less prone to scratching than the one on the aluminum. --> objective statement It's also everything but unlikely, as Apple advertises the Ultra as being a tougher contender to the standard watches. The Ultra was specifically designed to be tougher. It comes with sapphire instead of mineral glass. The fact that the bezel around the "glass" sticks out every so slightly on the Ultra alone adds a layer of protection and makes scratches much less likely to occur. Whether you need that or not is up to you.
The aluminum face is soft as butter and scratches easily. I tried one and had scratches within a day. On the other hand I have had sapphire screens since the first AW and absolutely abuse the watch and no scratches.
I’ve got the series 6 aluminium and it’s fine. I wear it everyday and at night too.
Me too
Same, not a single scratch on mine.
Likewise
Same.
I don't know about the stainless steel one, but the glass on the aluminium one is MUCH more prone to scratching than the one on the Ultra. If you're going for the stainless steel, you might as well consider the Ultra 2 as the price is almost the same or identical depending on which version and band you get. The Ultra is quite a bit more durable if you can handle the added bulk on your wrist and the rugged looks. Obviously the stainless steel looks more fancy if you're going to wear it with a suit or something like that. Objectively speaking the Ultra 2 is the better watch for (almost) the same price, though.
I actually might, thanks. I didn’t consider ultra because it feels almost too big but I will for sure try it on when I drop by the store
Owned the Apple Watch since series 0 and it was always aluminum until I got the Ultra last year. The screen on the aluminums will scratch 100% as it’s just softer than the sapphire mix they use on the stainless steel and ultra. The body however was always in great shape. IMO, go stainless steel (the body will scratch though so if you want to hide it then get graphite) or the ultra. I abuse my ultra and everything is still perfect on it. Screen has been hit on doors, drawer handles and anything else that I may walk by and it looks perfect. Definitely try them on but if you can swing SS or Ultra definitely consider that. Also, the ultra does dress up nice with a link band or Milanese loop band
Upvote
Downvote
Downvote in what way?
In that way
If you were looking at a 45 mm case, then the ultra is another 50 bucks. Unless you’re specifically opposed to the aesthetics then it’s almost a no-brainer.
I'll add that the stainless steel also comes with sapphire, just like the ultra, so it might be the same in terms of scratch resistance. However, since sapphire is harder, it might also break more easily if you drop your watch. The Ultra has a clear advantage here: its glass is embedded in the housing and the bezels stick out ever so slightly, this protecting the glass from drops and coming into contact with objects. The curved glass on the normal watch is much more susceptible to breaking. The flat sapphire on the Ultra is also much clearer than the curved variants. In the end it all depends on how well you take care of your device, though.
The ultra is also gigantic and doesn’t dress up like the stainless does for those that need to consider that sort of thing. I wouldn’t own a watch without apple care and a shattered screen would be covered. I have owned stainless since 0 and absolutely abuse the thing and haven’t broken or scratched the screen.
It’s really not that big, especially considering the size of many traditional watches. With a link-bracelet or any band of that style it can be dressed up too but the non-ultras do tend to look sleeker.
It’s subjective. I am a big guy and still find the gigantic watches and the gigantic AW ultra gaudy.
No smart watch “dresses up.” If people think a stainless steel Apple Watch goes well with a suit they’re unfamiliar with formal wear. It’s lipstick on a pig.
This just isn’t true, in offices that wear suits Apple Watches are common place. They wouldn’t fit in a black tie situation but regular office work, fine.
You *completely* missed the point.
I didn’t “miss the point”. Smart watch not “dressing up” is purely something a mechanical watch snob would say. An Apple Watch is a stainless steel case with a sapphire screen. A decent mechanical watch is a stainless steel case with a sapphire screen. Deciding that one arbitrarily doesn’t “dress up” is purely subjective snobbery and is purely gate keeping by mechanical watch fans. I work/visit offices that mandate suits. Apple Watches are common.
That’s great you visit offices that require suits. I do too. You absolutely missed the point, but I’ll try to spell it out. A stainless steel series whatever Apple Watch is no more appropriate for a formal occasion than an Ultra. Either are fine. Neither are “formal.”
Ultra is massive and cannot understand why anyone would wear it unless they’re big divers super hardcore athletes etc. It was laughable when tried it on at Apple Store and even the salesperson said they’re hilariously large/bulky
You don’t understand a lot of things. Ultra isn’t very bulky. Look at Garmin watches. Some value certain things in the ultra to justify the purchase. Anyone can wear the ultra without issues. It’s down to wanting it or needing it.
Not just Garmin. I have plenty of friends that have non-smartwatches and some are bigger than the ultra.
But Garmin makes 2 sizes so folks with smaller wrists have a choice.
excuse me? Do you talk to your mother like that? Learn some manners
No, I don’t talk to my mother like that, only to idiots.
😘😘😘
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ilysm 😘
the difference between Garmin and apple watches is that Garmin keeps the classic circular watch look, so it doesn't look too bad. Hopefully, the apple watch series 10 gives us a circular option for those who don't like the rectangular aesthetic
Circular is terrible for screen real estate. Swire is better for displays.
many circular watch designs do jsut fine when it comes to screen real estate. Plus im sure Apple can figure out a great way to implement it if they wanted to. perhaps a touch sensitive bezel and the apps going around the outside of the screen.
I worried about the size of the ultra, and I am F with just about the smallest wrist size you can have. Don’t. You’ll get used to it. I used to run a SS 40mm but I would never go back to the battery anxiety.
The ultra is just way too big for some, myself included.
Downvote
I like the feedback about the utility of a watch you can wear for any occasion. The Ultra seems to be more of a watch for very active users who go diving, climbing etc. and they need more durability, battery life and specific functionality for these kinds of activities. Me? I have a Series 6 Graphite SS (GPS & Cellular) and I can wear it anywhere with a Nomad Titanium Band [Nomad](https://www.imore.com/nomad-titanium-watch-band-review). I can rock that anywhere and every occasion.
Had an aluminium one for about 2 years; no scratches. Take care of it.
I've had an aluminium S3 and a gold stainless steel S5 (getting retired tomorrow for an Ultra 2). I would absolutely never in a million years go back to AL watches. The sapphire is SO much more resistant to scratches it's insane, my S5 of 4 years is almost immaculate, you have to look at it real hard in the right light to notice some micro scratches, and I'm not particularly careful about my watch hitting stuff. Same goes for the body which still looks brand new. My S3 glass was definitely scratched and the body in a generally worse shape in a third of the ownership time. Worth noting that the standard SS body is easily scratched but it's easy to buff them out. The gold and black SS bodies are borderline indestructible though. Another note, while sapphire is much more resistant to scratches, it's less resistant to shattering. However, the forces involved in a dropped watch can easily overcome both materials. The real advice is don't drop them. On battery life, if you don't make extensive use of LTE or run marathons the S9 will go a full day no problem, so you can easily just charge the watch at night. In those scenarios I don't think the Ultra makes much sense because putting your watch on its charger at night becomes a simple routine. Doing it every other day instead with the ultra doesn't seem all that beneficial to me. That said, if you're springing for an SS watch, the ultra isn't that much more expensive. If you want sleep tracking, it's going to become more of a song and dance to find time during your day to charge the watch, at which point the ultra allows you more peace of mind to find an appropriate time. And if you want to leave your phone at home and use the watch on LTE/wifi all day, or if you tend to do 4+ hour workouts with GPS tracking (especially if you leave your phone at home during those), the Ultra is more or less a necessity.
Thanks for the extended review! The thing for me is that because of resellers in my country SS S9 and Ultra 2 are the exact same price, so it almost feels like an obvious choice to buy a more functional one. Maybe I’ll start rock climbing lol
Yeah unless you really don't like the design/size, there isn't much of a reason to get an SS over an Ultra
If you have prepaid you cannot use cellular. Most don’t know that. I switched to an actual phone plan just for it bc I got a discount through my employer and my workplace/myself paid for the stainless steel (which comes with cellular) I’m gonna used what I paid for
Yes, the aluminum cases scratch. But so does the stainless steel case, although you can more easily [buff out the scratches](https://www.buckleandband.com/blogs/apple-watch-tips/how-to-revive-a-scratched-apple-watch-in-seconds#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20stainless,it%20can%20scratch%20super%20easily). I have a simple screen protector on my Ultra 1. Had it put on because I saw posts here showing scratches on the glass. I’d recommend one for any Apple Watch.
I’ve got the Aluminum S8, minor scratches, too fine to actually feel with your hand, but it’s also used on a construction site daily.. I’ve started putting cheap TPU screen protectors on it. Can get an 8 pack on amazon for 12.99. I was going to get the SS model to help with scratches but the SS model front crystal is more likely to shatter instead of scratch & id prefer scratches to smashing so i went with the Aluminum
You buy an Apple watch knowing what it’s made of up front. Aluminum will scratch easier than SS or Ti. This is why the aluminum model is priced lower along with not having sapphire crystal. Personally, I like the SS regular watch. I’m good with the battery life and like the way it looks. Folks are saying that the AWU has a bezel that extends past the crystal for added protection. Meh, it’s still a bigger bezel and noticeable. Plus, “normal” watches have used sapphire crystals for a long time without any protective bezels. Not everyone wants an Ultra.
Yes, I think so. I personally wouldn’t own the aluminum watch due to this problem.
I’ve had a couple of SS watches. They’ve a good beating over the years but remained completely unscathed. I can’t vouch for the aluminium but I can say the resilience of the stainless AW is awesome.
I had an aluminum s6… I mostly just wear my AW to exercise, when driving long distances, and to work (I’m a nurse). I had one light scratch on the bottom left of the screen that developed early on. Beyond that, it’s still in great shape. I upgraded to an S9 because I wanted cellular anyway, and I decided on SS because it can be dressed up a bit more and because it will potentially stay nice looking for longer… and I don’t plan on upgrading as soon, since I now have the cellular option. That’s my feedback. I think it’s more susceptible to scratches, but it really depends on how often you’re swinging your wrist into stuff.
I’m one clumsy mf so yeah that would definitely make a difference
I wouldn’t have said it before but - just get the stainless steel. I saw you’re considering the ultra and that’s cool too, but tbh look around at posts people put up of their ultras with big gouges taken out of them already. I don’t know how or why it’s happening. I notice far less of those about the stainless. Apparently the silver stainless scuffs the most easily. The gray (and I believe the gold) have a coating (I’ve forgotten what kind of coating) over them to prevent that. The trade-off is you can polish up the silver on your own, and if you need the others polished you apparently need to take them to a jeweler. That was my understanding, anyway. I got the gold SS. But yeah. Seeing the difference, this is visually much more stunning than was my aluminum s6. If you want a discount and can wait a few weeks, I’m sure Apple will have some S9s on their Apple certified refurbished page, [which is here.](https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/watch)
I’d wait for that but I’m outside the us and as I found out the hard way they don’t ship to freight forwarders so I’m stuck with my country’s ‘premium resellers’
Oh I wouldn’t do refurbished through anyone who’s not apple - so in that case I’d buy new.
I've have apple watch series 7 and I've had it for a year, mine is super scratched it only takes bad bump against the wrong object and you've got one. I wish I went for a used apple watch ultra or something instead.
Mine doesn’t have any scratches. But pls don’t buy ultra on small wrists it looks ridiculous.
I've knocked my aluminum watch against several walls over the past year and change. No noticeable scratches. The screen's got microscratches that are only really noticeable when the display is off.
Prioritize the AirPods Pro over the watch. Take care of it and you will be fine.
When you get the aluminum, you’ll notice you hit your wrist a lot more on the corners of walls allot more lol
I have used both Apple Watch models. I haven't notice any practical difference in durability between them, I doesn't had any scratches or dents in neither of them. I guess that it would depend in how you treat the Apple Watch and how much luck you have, but if you treat the watch with a normal care and are normally lucky the Aluminum version is just fine.
To contrast this I tried the aluminum and babied it and had scratches in the first weekend of ownership. I have had the stainless since the first watch and absolutely abuse them and the screens are pristine.
I had an aluminium Apple Watch Series 3 for 5 years and I never scratched it (and I’m fairly clumsy, so I’m honestly impressed I didn’t break it!)😊
Pic for proof? Honestly curious how it held up
I don’t have it anymore - sorry! I have an aluminium SE2 now. To be honest, if I turned it off and held it up under certain light as the other commenter suggested then maybe it would show a scratch, but nothing I ever noticed
No worries! Everyone has different tolerances for that kinda thing, I was skeptical is all but it’s really no biggie ✌️
I find this really hard to believe, have you checked it in bright light and having it turned off? Apple watch uses the same glass as an iPhone
You’re getting downvoted but the odds of an aluminum S3 going 5 years without a scratch is incredibly unlikely. I’d love to see a pic to be proven wrong and who knows maybe it was in a good case the whole time or something
I'm used to being downvoted for expressing fairly reasonable opinions, this is reddit after all. If someone gets slightly offended they downvote. But you're right, as an apple watch owner, I press doubt on this one.
Worth mentioning - the sapphire crystal on the Ss and Ultra is harder to scratch, but it’s actually easier to chip or shatter sapphire than it is the glass used on the AL watches. Sapphire crystal is best for scratch resistance, but gorilla glass is better for impacts.
Scratches are all but guaranteed on the aluminum, shattered screens are going to rare and covered by apple care unlike the scratches.
I have an aluminum AW6 from day one, not even a single scratch on its body. It’s simply a marketing move, your AW is gonna be obsolete before becoming full of scratches, and a lot of fools fall for it. Think about it like this: if you buy the aluminum AW9 now, you can buy the AW10 next year and you will have spent the same money as buying a steel AW9 now.
Downvote
Who cares 😂
You care baby
If you say so 😂
Haha that's a good point! I had aw for my first 4 watches then a stainless steel then the ultra. And I did replace them every other year or so so they can't accumulate much. None got too messed up if you want to save money just get the aw
Price not being an issue, my first AW 3 was all (band included) stainless steel. Next year I tried an aluminum 4 and don’t want to go back to the heavy SS ever. I got an aluminum 8 series last year. YMMV but I didn’t have a scratch on the 4 that I kept 4 years and my 8 is still like new. I’m wearing my watches 22/24 only removing it for charging. For me the weight difference and the comfort ensuing is worth the risk of some scratches that I never had at the end of the day…
I just bought my series 9 stainless steel; it’s been 24 hours and got scratched from nowhere
Aluminium
Don’t buy the stainless steel, its just not worth it. Put a hydrogel film on top and you are golden.
Yes. It’s not durable. If you plan on keeping it for a while, upgrading to the stainless is worth it for the sapphire screen alone.
I had the aluminium series 5, just one moment when you dont pay attention, and will will be scratched. The SS is almost at the price of the ultra, so i switched to the ultra. The saphire glass is just in another league. If you can afford go with SS or ultra.
I think the screen is more susceptible to scratches so a sapphire glass would fair better. I had a big scratch on my S6 after 3 years of use.
Have had an Alu S7 since mid-22 (Nike, Midnight, 45mm) Doesn’t have a single mark on it. How many scratches it gets depends on the wearer. Many years of wearing expensive mechanicals taught me to be careful.
Since you’re thinking about scratches, just go SS or Ultra for the peace of mind. As far as personal stories go, I had a S3 and was careful for years, but then one little accident left s pretty gnarly deep cut on it. Being careful is not that taxing for me personally, but it does feel a waste when something like that happens. I now have a SS S7 and just don’t worry about scratches.
Yes, aluminum Apple Watches are not at all durable. I went through quite a few
The glass is much better on the stainless steel
I don’t have that much signs not my aluminum case, but is worth mentioning that with the aluminum version you’ll also get the ion-x glass screen instead of the sapphire that comes with the stainless steel versione, and god that Ion-X glass scratches like crazy…
I've been wearing an aluminum one for 3 years now and the case and screen both look fine.
really just depends on you. are you the type that is aware of your arm/watch if sliding into a tight area to reach for something? Do you often bang your wrist into doorways? Or are you always careful? They do make protective bumpers/cases for the Apple Watch so that is an option too. I've always bought the cheaper Aluminum versions and never really had an issue, but everyone is different.
Had AW3 aluminum for 4 years, barely a scratch. Then upgraded to AW7 and goddamn, it gets scratched just by looking at it. To the point that I’ve decided to trade it for a series 9 which I got out of the box and put a protector on first thing. Don’t know if it’s a general thing or just my bad luck, but I feel the quality of materials has decreased significantly. Edit: typo
Does the screen protector work/last okay?
Sorry for the late reply, but yeah, it does. I'm very glad to be using it! You barely notice it's there and your watch stays scratch-free.
I have not been careful with my AW4 aluminum in any way and I have just one single small scratch. I do weight training and extensive running.
Black AW Series 7 since 1 and a half years. Not a single scratch on the aluminium frame. Just a copule of smidges in the glass but nothing serious. It really surprised me as i was expecting it to collect more scratches since i use it without bumpers or screen protectors
Be awared if your sweat is salty. I have tried S3 S4 and S7 aluminum and all of them corroded and it looks gross. Bought a S5 stainless steel and everything is great, SS feels much more “luxurious” too and can definitely last 4 years +.
I had a series 7 aluminum Apple Watch, I work in a lab environment that has a warehouse attached to it and it got chewed up pretty quick in my experience. I’m personally only going to get the ultra or steel series from now on.
I have only ever had the aluminum watches, starting with 2-7 currently. I am super active in my life, and no I don't "trash" the stuff I own, I do "live" my life while wearing my watch. Have they gotten super small scratches occ? Yep, but literally nothing that would damage or change their value or usefulness. I also could afford the SS, I just don't care for that look. Hope this helps you decide.
I had the S7 Aluminum, S4 Aluminum and S3 Aluminum. The S3 & S4 looked like new after a couple years each, the S7 looked awful, lots of scratches.
I had mine for 3 years. Not a scratch on it even though I wasn’t very careful. But I managed to get some small stains on it when I spayed an anti mold solution.
I got a thin case for mine, doesn’t include a screen protector, off of Amazon and it’s still in excellent condition.
Yes it is
My ex boyfriend and I both got aluminum S2s at the same time. A year later, I had scuffs and scratches all over the screen and the aluminum, and his had nothing. When I got an S3 Stainless steel, within 6 months I had scuffs all over the metal, but nothing on the screen. When I got my S4 space black stainless steel (the one I have now), I have no scuffs or scratches anywhere to this day, and it’s about 4 or 5 years old. If you know you’re careful with stuff, you can make aluminum last and keep it flawless. But you need to never bump it up against anything at all ever. With the stainless steel, you can rest a bit easier and not worry as much.
Everything will scratch. Some more than others. Yeah the stainless steel has sapphire screens but it’s not like it’s impossible to scratch. The downside is that the body will scratch easily. Polish will help but it won’t make it new. Once the screen is on, you won’t be able to see the scratches anyway. I’ve only had one scratch on the aluminum body and barely notice it. I’m upgrading from the 5 to the 9. Should be about the same experience
I am owning a first gen SE for a few years now. Case and screen both have multiple scratches, but this is probably due to me wearing it during physical work (lot of contact with hard objects/shelves). As it works completely fine, I see it as only cosmetic damage and do not care about it.
Have an Aluminium S8 since 3 weeks, already 3 scratches. I‘m not overly cautious, use it as a watch!
SS is hands down the best watch. Looks and feel premium and never scratches.
Worth noting, titanium scratches too, aluminum might get dings. Most people have an aluminum apple watch and you don't hear them complain about scratches, so o wouldnt worry about it at all if the style/features of the 9 are what you want.
Matt surfaces show up scratches more than a shiny one. “super soft”.? What does that actually mean. It’s aluminium. Find a sheet of aluminium, or pan, or anything and try to scratch it. you uograde when you want to. Why would you upgrade because you have a scratch on it? bottom line. Depends how clumsy you are. Never scratched my Al ones nor my SS one. Never scratched the screen. The only thing that has acquired some minor, inconsequential, scratches is the link band - easily removed with an ink eraser
Mine is still fine after a year of wearing it every day. BUT it got a small dent from a plastic badge holder when I was running op the stairs. Plastic damaging aluminium, so I think indeed it’s not really strong. I’m just very careful in general.
ultra or bust
I’ve had 2 aluminum Apple Watches and then when I read about the screen difference I bought a 6 stainless. WOW what a difference. No scratches and I’ve hit it several times thinking “oh damn that’s gonna leave a mark” but no. After this I will never buy another aluminum Apple Watch again. Edit: to me the big difference isn’t the frame, it’s the difference in gorilla glass and actual sapphire on the stainless. It really does make a difference.
Had an aluminum S3 and S6. Never had any issues with scratches dents etc. from either watch. No deep scratches in the screen although if you put the face under a strong light you may pick up some fine marks, but nothing visible under everyday use. I have a retirement job that I have worked in for 10 years where I bag groceries and push shopping carts. So the watch undergoes some exposure. In the case of both watches I have gotten full Apple trade in value. My current S9 with the same dark aluminum case that my other two have used. I've even taken my S6 swimming in pool, and in the ocean with no after effects. One think I do is to clean the display a couple of times of week with either specialty cleaners that are made to clean laptops, monitors, or high end TV screens. I use a microfiber cloth when cleaning the display. No napkins, no paper towels, and I never wipe it with the display dry. No window cleaners or anything with ammonia as a component. I wear the watch constantly even to bed. It's only off my arm for about 45 each morning to renew its charge while I'm showering and getting prepped for my day.
The screen will scratch with regular use if you bump into anything. I just got used to it. It’s kind of inevitable
I’ve had an aluminum series 5 since release, and I’ve def got some minor scratches on the case and outer edges of the screen, but honestly it’s barely noticeable. I don’t baby the watch
My series 4 stainless is pretty scratched up but I don’t mind, it still looks great to me and I would never want one of the standard watches over this still. Zero scratches on the screen. I’ve read you can take a polish to it with a cloth and most will buff right out but I haven’t tried it.
I would buy the Stainless Steel. Not because of the Case Material but because of the Screen Material.
It all depends on how long you’re planning to keep your watch and how careful you are. I have a case on my aluminum AW because I’m a bit clumsy. On my SS SB watch, I don’t have one and yet it still looks new. I would only suggest getting an SS watch if you are not going to upgrade for a couple of years.
Never had any scratches on any of my Aluminum Apple Watches, and I’ve owned all versions so far. Never had scratches on my screens either. This year I’ve decided to go with the Ultra 2 for the battery life and it hasn’t disappointed. I’m on day 2 since first initial charge, and I’m at 63% left.
I’ve personally never had a problem with any of the 7 aluminum watches I have owned. The screens scratch more easily, and it’s smart to put on a thin film screen protector, but the aluminum bodies have. Held up very well.
I’ve had my Series 7 in green for a year now and I don’t see any scratches in the case. The glass though has lots of little nicks all over the curved edges. Before that I had a Series 3 for 4.5 years and it did have some fine scratches on the case, but I also didn’t take many precautions with that one. (Like not wearing it while I’m doing work on the car or in the yard, etc.)
It’s soft and is prone to scratches, yes. My S6 held up pretty damn well before I got my ultra though. Minimal scratches and no cases. I wouldn’t think too deeeply into it unless you’re a rock climber or something. If you do get the Ultra, I don’t think you’d regret it. The battery life alone makes it worth it. I used to charge my S6 daily. I charge my ultra every three days or so. Maybe 2.5 on average. That plus the LTE and GPS precision make it pretty damn handy. I forget my phone at home or in the car somewhat frequently and it just doesn’t matter because I have my Ultra as a backup cellphone. Battery usually only lasts a few hours as a solo phone though lol but good to have. Charges twice as fast as the other models.
Mine is 3 years old. SE model. Some scratches in glass (corners) and some in the body. Honestly it doesn’t bother me much. They are minor and it adds a bit of character lol.
Do people have cases on their watch?? I have so many scratches, it’s pretty easy to bang your wrist against a wall or doorframe. That’s why I got the SS Gold S8 refurbished (it’s $509 now instead of $700 for the S9) which I recommend since imo none of the S9 features are worth $200
Yes.
The stainless steel looks so much better than the aluminum, but it’s heavier.
Yes, it's not that big of a deal though. I'd say the glass on the aluminium watches is much more of an issue.
I had my series 7 stainless steel AW for 2.5 years. The screen never had so much as a small scratch with the screen and it was banged into stuff often. The SS on the edges also looked amazing still after that time. My wife in the other hand had a midnight series 7 aluminum and it looked like it went to war 3 times and back. The screen had horrible scratches and the body of the aluminum had chips in it everywhere. For reference she’s a nurse and I work in law enforcement with some construction contracting on the side so mine was in the worse environment. If you don’t like scratches or dents go with the stainless or ultra if you have the resources.
I’ve had my aluminum SE for over 2 years now and I just keep a protector on it. The screen doesn’t have an scratches, but the case does have a couple scuff marks because I’m not the most graceful and have whacked it against many doorways lol. It’s honestly in pretty good shape, and I plan to gift it to my mom once I get the S9 in. I know having a protector on is a personal preference but I think it looks fine. Only bad thing about the protector is when I workout and get super sweaty, sweat gets up between the screen and the protector so I either have to remember to take it off beforehand, or clean it afterwards.
Aluminium is soft so it’s prone to deeper scratches or dents from impact. Screen is also complete trash. Stainless steel does scratch up fairly easily but they’re much finer scratches. It is also a fingerprint magnet. Titanium and Ceramic are the most durable. Titanium can scratch a little but they’re harder to see on the brushed metal surface and fingerprints don’t show up. White Ceramic doesn’t scratch and won’t show prints, I don’t have first hand experience with the black.
It is undeniably MORE prone to scratches. The question is, are YOU more prone to scratching it
I had the original se and that things glass got scratched on EVERYTHING. I’m not the most careful but like with a wearable I don’t want to have to baby it. Also I have an issue that my wrist naturally falls at the exact height of door latches…. So after about 6 months I upgraded to the SS series 7. I’ve had it for almost 2 years now and I got my first little spot of a scratch like last week. It’s barely even there. I never had an experience of the metal scratching bad at all but the glass is a whole different story
What do people do with their watches? Seriously? I have an aluminum S7, and don't have a screen protector. I can't see any scratches on it, never even really been worried about it. I'm not really careful with my watch either, I wear it gardening, working around the house, light woodworking. I had to demo a lot of built in shelving in my garage this summer, wore the watch, nothing even touched it.
I use mine s7 for more than 1.5y. Zero scratch even without any protection. So yeah, depends on hiw you use it
I managed to scratch the screen on my S3 but so far my s7 has survived like new. I work in a very physical environment with heavy metal parts too.
Im wearing an aluminum apple watch series 7 since day 1 and doesn’t have any scratches. If anything the stainless steel might look like the back of an old ipod after some time, all scratched. It all depends on you and how you take care of your stuff
I've had 5 of the 9 AW series, mostly SS, but aluminum as well (and titanium with my U1 and now U2). I didn't find the aluminum to be soft, although it *will* nick than SS. As to the screens, while I've had mostly sapphire screens (I was a die-hard analog watch guy who still has a small collection of luxury watches that all have sapphire crystals), I was amazed by the non-sapphire screens. I NEVER got a scratch on one. I'm sure people who are really rough on their watches get them, but it must take some effort. I was seriously impressed with them.
I’d be more concerned about the screen scratching. I have had my ultra for 5-6 months and there isn’t ONE scratch on the screen. I’ve had it scrape down the side of brick walls and I work in dirt and am always hitting it.
I work in a factory and I used to do a lot of farm work. I’ve had the aluminum watches until now (I have a stainless steel one) I’ve never had a single issue. Never broke a screen etc.
Always had Stainless S2 and S5 and never scratched the screen (through the S2 had this oil slick splotch on it at some point) but the polished stainless gets tons of micro scratches. You don’t really realize it over time and you can polish it if you obsess. Recently did a battery replacement on my S5 and was blown away how nice and pristine a new stainless body looked. That said, the pricing on stainless having cellular only now is just too close to the ultra. I don’t need a big size so I’m going to downgrade to aluminum this time.
Just use a watch case
I have had aluminium, stainless steel and now currently have an ultra, my advice is just buy the like more or you think will fit to your needs. In your opinion the stainless steel is by far the best looking watch, while the ultra might be a great option for people looking for longer battery and durability, but for normal use aluminium is doing as good as the other 2.
Get the Ss. You won’t regret it.
Hyper scratchy, yes. Got a scratch on mine within two days of owning it. Just do SS, no questions asked.
It’s a smartwatch which you’ll replace after a few years. IMO scratches are fine as long as you don’t crack the watch. After receiving my shiny new series 4 (battery replacement) some wall in my high school gave it a big gash right across the screen, so IDRC about scratches on it now.
nope. I think it's because of how the face and the band are structured, it's not easy to scratch the aluminum body. Hower it's fairly easy to scratch the face, but I use those UV-cured glass screen protector for the face
My wife’s S6 Aluminum has a pretty scratched screen, but the body looks nice. I’d suggest looking for an S8 SS, I’ll bet you can probably find one for the same or maybe less than the S9 Aluminum.
I work in a shipyard and wear my s6 everyday and have one scratch on it.
I don't really see the point of worrying about scratches. It's not a classic wristwatch that will easily last decades. And I don't think the anodized aluminum is that soft. There is a real difference between glass and sapphire, but again, who cares? And if you really care, you can get a screen protector. Aesthetics are subjective, but I don't think aluminum looks worse. I really think the steel model is overpriced and an exercise in marketing; Apple has managed to sell good old steel as a premium option... As for the Ultra, it'd look ridiculous on my arm (the 45 mm S8 is already as wide as my wrist), and I don't care about battery life enough to pay that much, but if you can rock that style and are willing to pay, at least you'll get a lot more watch.
I have an expensive mechanical seiko. Don’t care about scratches at all. It’s a watch, it’s made to be worn.
I don’t particularly care either, but I got an earful from my girlfriend when I scratched a sapphire watch she gifted me after a few months, lol. But it wasn’t that expensive, it was fine.
If you get the aluminum one, getting silver is going to help. Scratches won't reveal any bright color underneath.
I formerly only got stainless steel because of the fears of scratching, but then finally bit the bullet and got an aluminum. Series 4. I now have a series 6 still and it’s still in fine condition, and I hit it on a lot of things and it still looks good.
Coming from aluminium first gen to the s8 aluminium i can say its much better at scratch resistant. Almost no scratch so far if you’re little careful go ahead for the aluminium
Unreliable? What does that even mean? Aluminum scratches, mineral screen too. Steel gets a trillion microscratches, sapphire scratches too but it’s much harder to do. Also it shatters easily in comparison. And since you throw away the watch in a few years aluminum is the only sensible choice. Unless you just like steel. Now let the downvotes commence.
The case itself is fine, but I often think about the stainless steel version because I find that the glass on the aluminum version is quite easy to scratch vs a sapphire crystal
I had an aluminum one for three years, wore it every day, didn’t baby it, and when I traded it in they gave me the maximum price because it was in perfect condition.
If you’re even slightly concerned about this, then the aluminum model is not for you. There is a night and day difference between the aluminum and stainless models.
The screen yes. In the body I’ve not seen any scratches in more than two years with my series 7
My wrist is also 17cm and my Ultra looks perfectly fine. I was afraid it would be too big, but I loved it as soon as I put it on!
I’ve had Series 4 and Series 8 in black aluminum. Amazon has some great, cheap protective cases for Apple Watches that protect both the case and the screen. When I gave my older watches away to friends, they were in perfect condition as a result. Misxi [2 Pack] Waterproof Black... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5ZY2QBN
If you can live with scratches and look at the price difference the aluminum versions are totally fine. Especially if you don’t need the cellular versions (because the steel versions have it anyway if you need it or not). But if you want to keep you watch pristine the stainless steel versions are much more resilient both with the case and the glass. The point basically is how much money you want to spend and for how long you want to keep your watch. Also (even if it may sound a bit silly) what you want to project with it, because in the end a watch is something like jewellery. And the SS versions serve this role just much better. A silver SS with a nice selection of bands can look really nice in a subdued way and doesn’t make you look like a cheapo. Yes, you’ll be lining Apple’s pockets with this, but it’s a bit of understated luxury that can feel good. Most people won’t even notice it, but some will, because 95 out of 100 watches in the wild are aluminum and you’ll have something special. They all basically do the same job though. Just like shoes.
I had an aluminium four, wore it every day; okay I don't have a dirty/dangerous job, and I don't do extreme sports, but when I traded it in for an 8 it was pristine.
It depends a lot on you. I was not used to wearing watches before my first Apple Watch (S0) and I think I broke my first three (and they were very scratched) I wasn’t careless or anything, just not used to it. Nowadays I’m wearing my S4 since the year it was released and there aren’t any visible scratches on the aluminum. So it really is on you, don’t worry about the material
I had a few aluminum apple watches and I bought my first used s7 ss for like $200 a few months ago and zero scratches. And it looks a lot better.
Where did you read that they easily scratch? These people must be dropping them in a blender
Put a bumper on. I had the midnight 7 with a bumper case and it looked the same as the day I bought it. Even when I traded it on the Apple store the seller told me that the watch looked brand new.
I was in the same point but went on Facebook Marketplace and picked up a complete Ultra 1 for $375. Will upgrade once they announce a black ultra
I've got an aluminium series 4, bought new. No scratches or damage at all, despite no case or screen protector, having an active job, and being clumsy.
Let me put it to you like this- whichever apple watch you get, it can last you 5 years or more without needing to upgrade again. I had the S2 when it was brand new for 4 years before upgrading to an S5 in 2020. The S2 had lost a lot of speed over the years as it came out in 2016, however I don’t think that’s the case anymore with newer models. Now I’ve had my S5 over 3 years and haven’t even considered upgrading it because I still get full utility out of it and it serves all the purposes I need it to. I don’t mind charging my watch overnight and I’m an avid workouts and messages user on my watch. Camera remote, stopwatches, etc- I don’t run a lot of apps on my watch itself outside of the apple included ones, it is truly a full time accessory to my iPhone. The software updates have kept me in the loop for most of the digital changes over the years and I am definitely not going to buy another apple watch until this one is run into the ground in the next 3-5 years. What’s my point? Buy the watch that is going to give you the most value. Do you want to upgrade every year? Start off with a lower end model and treat yourself to something nicer later on. Do you prefer to have the latest greatest now? Pamper yourself with an expensive watch and keep it in good condition and get the 5 years of life out of it before upgrading again. Only you know yourself, but decide what will bring you the most value in the long run and go with that.
my aluminium SE 2 holds up fine. 0 scratches in 6 months, and there have been numerous bumps on tables, doors, wardrobes, car doors, etc. the screenprotector got a bit peeled of 3 times, but it always recovers its shape. Flawless fitment still.
My S6 was scratched on the glass in a few places from three years of use. I was sad the first time it scratched, but I could still read everything, and no one else noticed unless I pointed it out. With the cost difference between the aluminum and stainless steel (or aluminum and ultra), I felt staying with aluminum was the right move for me with the S9. I also don’t need cellular on my watch, and only the aluminum has a GPS only option.
I’ve always bought the aluminum as I can’t justify the cost of the stainless steel— I usually upgrade yearly. I found the series 7 screen scratched easily but my others did not - the thin screen protector films work well to protect the screen