****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
As the saying goes, only time will tell, but for now, on day 3, I can share that the Apple Watch Series 8, 41mm GPS + Cellular, "Excellent Condition," arrived, as advertised. There are several sellers under this listing, my order was fulfilled by Woot & shipped by Prime, for reference. At startup, it had 95% battery remaining, and no visible specs or scratches to either the case or crystal. All prior data/user information was wiped & the device was unlocked. The watch surface was completely clean, even free of fingerprints! Keeping in mind that even though stainless models have a more resilient surface and scratch resistance together with a premium sapphire crystal, it could have shown some signs of wear, but didn't! Also enclosed was a startup pamphlet and USB-A charging pad.Sadly, the Pulse Ox function isn't working though it might have, because the watch was delivered with watchOS v11. That’s to be expected with the copyright case still in litigation. I noticed another reviewer said their watch's Pulse Ox works, but it might depend on OS version or region since the lawsuit involves US models. After the initial deep charge, battery capacity dropped 1%, which is what I'll consider as its starting point.I can say with honesty it looks amazing, and as far as durability, it should be a winner given its now 94% battery capacity. I expected some minor cosmetic flaws, and other than the average plastic band and underwhelming generic charging pad, I’m thrilled by it arriving is such pristine condition. I am going to purchase an Asurion plan of coverage.How I charged it & ease of operation:In saying all of that, it required several online searches to get accurate information beyond the included startup guide and Apple's instructions to learn how to setup the watch. Yes, it was tedious and nerve-racking. No fault of Apple's, their documentation is complete, but bringing a fully drained battery up to operation is beyond the User Manual's scope. As it turned out, the issue was that the battery was indeed completely drained. From what I know now, it entered a state that required a 2-1/2 hour deep-charge. The face showed a massive red thunderbolt and no sign of active charging, alternating with the more encouraging charging cable icon. When the watch connected to MagSafe charging pad it didn't show any sign of active charging. I checked Apple Watch subReddit for guidance & one thread said to be patient while allowing it to charge for about 2-3 hours. Apple's site had additional, step-by-step guidelines that were also helpful, but Reddit's information is what gave me hope because Apple's 30 minute charging recommendation (when the red thunderbolt showed) turned out to be too little time for that sort of battery recovery.If you buy one of these watches, what I would recommend is to read the Apple Watch User Guide in advance, because what information arrived with the watch on the brief, 3-step pamphlet (from Kissa Electronics) doesn't represent the entire process or possibility that the battery might be completely drained. The online Apple Watch User Guide suggested trying different chargers, cleaning the charger & watch back, and other tips, but I wasn't prepared for that sort of experience. Since I couldn't verify if the supplied charger was operational, and thinking of one of Apple’s suggestions, I felt more comfortable using my Nubeno 3-in-1 Folding Charging Station's 3W MagSafe pad over the generic MagSafe that was packed in with the watch because I've been using it for several months for my iPhone 16 Pro & AirPods Pro 2's and knew it was functional.After the deep charge, I was pleasantly surprised to see the red thunderbolt icon had vanished and in its place, the Series 8 watch face. All that was left was an OS update, pairing & cellular setup!! YAY. From that point on, my phone & watch took over the procedure and I was able to complete the setup by registering the watch with my cellular carrier. Pairing & activating cellular was flawless.At $222, from the original list price of $699, I think this offer is a wonderful cost-saving option if you aren't wanting a lighter weight aluminum model or newer series. I am very pleased with the purchase, and though it's too soon to know, it seems like the watch is a fantastic find.
