So I just tried this with the AirPods and my Apple Watch -
1. Placed iPhone in airplane mode.
2. Started playing a music playlist from the Apple Watch through the AirPods: Success
3. While the music is playing hold the watch up to my watch and say "Siri lower the volume".
4. Watch the words from the Siri request appear on the screen.
5. After a few seconds the music volume does indeed lower.
6. Notice the screen has not returned to the music player and the Siri graphic is visible along the bottom horizontal portion of the screen.
7. Screen is now locked with the Siri graphic visible on the bottom horizon.
8. I am able to double press the crown to return to the music player.
9. Notice that when I do return to the music player the volume returns to its previous higher level.
So it is possible to issue Siri commands on the Apple Watch when it is not connected to the iPhone. However the watch still has some issues transitioning between apps when using Siri. Although I randomly have this problem with the watch where I can sometimes use Siri for one command and then it does not work when I try a second command shortly afterwards.
Interesting.
OR - just realized that I did this test inside my home and maybe the watch was connected to my WiFI network even though it was not connected to the iPhone and this is what allowed Siri to work.
1. Placed iPhone in airplane mode.
2. Started playing a music playlist from the Apple Watch through the AirPods: Success
3. While the music is playing hold the watch up to my watch and say "Siri lower the volume".
4. Watch the words from the Siri request appear on the screen.
5. After a few seconds the music volume does indeed lower.
6. Notice the screen has not returned to the music player and the Siri graphic is visible along the bottom horizontal portion of the screen.
7. Screen is now locked with the Siri graphic visible on the bottom horizon.
8. I am able to double press the crown to return to the music player.
9. Notice that when I do return to the music player the volume returns to its previous higher level.
So it is possible to issue Siri commands on the Apple Watch when it is not connected to the iPhone. However the watch still has some issues transitioning between apps when using Siri. Although I randomly have this problem with the watch where I can sometimes use Siri for one command and then it does not work when I try a second command shortly afterwards.
Interesting.
OR - just realized that I did this test inside my home and maybe the watch was connected to my WiFI network even though it was not connected to the iPhone and this is what allowed Siri to work.