Apple Highlights Three Benefits of Apple Watch for Kids Without iPhones

[Xand&Roby]

All ******** from a company that is afraid of losing the only product it really aims for, a 20-year-old phone.
Apple Watch was already born, in the head of the hated Ive by MacRumors, as a stand-alone device, it was the board of directors that prevented it.
Same question with iPad: why doesn't it run CarPlay, pairing functions with Apple Watch and Health/Fitness?
Because Apple is afraid that you won't buy the phone from 20 years ago at exorbitant prices for what it is.
No one needs an iPhone but Apple.
There are Apple products that would be used better if the iPhone dictatorship were no longer in the company's balance sheets.

 

[mk313]

Super practical - my youngest daughter have one instead of a phone. Nothing to scroll on, nothing to look at endless hours but still able to call me when she wants a play date with a friend after school etc.

100% agree. This is why I favor my own watch over the phone. Still need a phone for some apps, like Microsoft authenticator, but the watch covers you for the basics. Pretty much everyone I've met carries their phone to remain reachable. With the watch you have that; call & text are available, plus calendar, music, weather, etc. But there just isn't a lot to do. You get bored with the watch pretty quickly, plus it's ergonomically not great for long sessions. It ends up being the perfect way to stay connected, but not fall into scrolling on your phone all day. Kind of like a flip phone from years ago.

 

[_tf]

What is the cheapest kids “watch-only” cellular plan available? I’d be interested in a <$5/mo plan, but once they start adding fees and taxes I quickly lose interest.

 

[sich]

My kiddo uses Apple Watch SE with family setup, it's useful, but the big problem is that with a cellular connection the battery dies 2 times quicker. E.g. new watch SE has 100% battery in the morning, and by 6 PM it has less than 10%. Whole school time the child has Schooltime enabled on the watch, and after school the watch is not actively used. As you can imagine, regular polling geoposition, texting and calling will make battery die in the middle of the day at best. Turns out, AirTag is more reliable for child tracking purpose. The bottom line is that Apple Watches are not usable as full-time independent communication devices, they are complementary to iPhone, and cellular feature is usable only for temporary usage without iPhone.

 

[xDKP]

100% agree. This is why I favor my own watch over the phone. Still need a phone for some apps, like Microsoft authenticator, but the watch covers you for the basics. Pretty much everyone I've met carries their phone to remain reachable. With the watch you have that; call & text are available, plus calendar, music, weather, etc. But there just isn't a lot to do. You get bored with the watch pretty quickly, plus it's ergonomically not great for long sessions. It ends up being the perfect way to stay connected, but not fall into scrolling on your phone all day. Kind of like a flip phone from years ago.

Spot on my thoughts. People have their phone on them all the time - and during office hours it makes sense but I can easily leave my phone at the desk and still know if something comes up. Need a total break (like when going for a run) the different profiles to block out notifications and calls etc. will do good

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

100% agree. This is why I favor my own watch over the phone. Still need a phone for some apps, like Microsoft authenticator, but the watch covers you for the basics. Pretty much everyone I've met carries their phone to remain reachable. With the watch you have that; call & text are available, plus calendar, music, weather, etc. But there just isn't a lot to do. You get bored with the watch pretty quickly, plus it's ergonomically not great for long sessions. It ends up being the perfect way to stay connected, but not fall into scrolling on your phone all day. Kind of like a flip phone from years ago.

Add airpods and I can leave the house all day and it almost feels like I'm back in 1999. Highly recommend.