Apple Watch Dominates Cellular-Enabled Smartwatch Market

[Endorphine88]

I feel like a smartwatch could make for a really fantastic wallet replacement.

Apple Pay, obviously, but then also boarding passes, driver's license/other ID, etc. I feel like how cheap they are (relative to a phone) means that if an officer is asking for your driver's license, people would have less reservation than if they were handing over a phone.

I don't think they are cheap at all. Although I do believe and hope that wallets will be replaced by something like the watch. I use ApplePay daily and any place or business that offers an electronic ticket option raises their chances of being frequented by me (movie theaters/ airlines etc.)

 

[Macaholic868]

Of course they do. How many other vendors are in the market with a halfway decent product?

 

[DanielSw]

Is anybody here using an Apple Watch regularly as a standalone device? Like, going out regularly with just an Apple Watch and no phone. I'm curious to see if this is doable yet.

I use the BeatsX earphones with both AW3 and iPhone7+ daily. Very easy pairing and switching back and forth.

When my wife is with, and when I go into a store, leaving her in the car, I leave the phone behind. It works well when I want to make or receive calls on the watch.

The main reason I don't leave the phone at home when I go for a walk is that I don't want to be without its great camera.

Citing the red dot as a reason for not buying Series 3 is just plain silly.

It's much faster than my Series 0, its display is visible in bright sunlight, a charge lasts far longer, and I now don't ever want to be without cellular on it. Well worth the extra monthly cellular fee.

 

[FelixDerKater]

If you could sign up from the device, I would have done so a few times.

 

[convergent]

Do you use the Gear S3 with an Android phone or iPhone? I've been researching fitness-oriented smartwatches and many of them--Apple Watch included--leave a lot to be desired. The Apple Watch loses out in GPS in comparison to dedicated fitness watches (such as Garmin and Polar).

I use it with an Android phone. I switched from AW to Gear S3 when I switched from iPhone to Android.

By gold standard I didn't mean the choice for everyone, but the one people first think of when talking about smartwatches and the one that each one is measured against. Some are better fitness devices, but the Apple Watch is the only one that has the perfect blend of design and features. All of the others are ugly including the overpriced Tag Heuer Connected modular. Going with a rectangular case was the right choice.

Well you had me right up to "perfect blend of design and features". By your description, its the "gold standard" because its popular. McDonalds is popular, but it doesn't make it the gold standard for a restaurant. There is absolutely nothing "perfect" about the AW. Everything you listed there is purely subjective and personal taste. I had an AW for 2 years and happily used it, but never thought it looked like anything other than something a total geek would appreciate. Its become fashionable purely because its Apple and a bit of a fad / fashion statement.

Bottom line... buy what you like.

 

[Abazigal]

That's not the discussion. The discussion is "cellular" enabled smartwatches being a "Billions and Billions" industry.

I think the cellular Apple Watch has the potential to kickstart its own platform of connected wearables. Imagine the watch being independent of the iPhone one day and being the “brains” of a whole host of health-tracking accessories that you wear on your body.

That’s where the real money will be.

 

[ronaldglenn26]

Is anybody here using an Apple Watch regularly as a standalone device? Like, going out regularly with just an Apple Watch and no phone. I'm curious to see if this is doable yet.

Yes. I use mine as a stand-alone device a lot! I have a 5 yr old, and we play outside I don’t have my phone. I stream my music when I’m mowing the yard. Also, when I’m walking around my work I leave my phone in my office so that people can get a hold of me if they need to. Having LTE has been the best thing that has ever happened to the Apple Watch if you ask me.

 

[GenesisST]

You're right. But we all know what he means.

It's better sometimes than using AW, which can get confused with Android Wear.

The meaning of iWatch, on the other hand, is clear to everyone.

Plus, it annoys the OCD nerds!

 

[ConfusedChris]

You're right. But we all know what he means.

It's better sometimes than using AW, which can get confused with Android Wear.

The meaning of iWatch, on the other hand, is clear to everyone.

Watch

Everybody copy and paste that into a text shortcut in Settings. You’re welcome.

 

[Tech198]

if the failure is limited third party support . on an LTE watch device, it IS still Apple's eco-system..

With each new device/impovement coming out, we keep forgetting this. and call it a 'short fall' The fact we keep bringing this up, just says we want third part support.

Otherwise, we would all be accepted by it.

 

[DaveN]

I stopped wearing a watch in 2001 when my last watch broke and didn't have a desire to replace it. Last December I needed a 24/7 heart monitor so I decided on the Apple watch. I wasn't thinking I would use it for more than the test but have been quite pleased with it and find it more useful than I had imagined. That said, I didn't get the cellular model. I didn't want to pay the extra couple of bucks a month to the cell phone company.

 

[BuddyTronic]

Great, so you are going to pay for mine too?
An addition $15 per month on my $45 phone bill IS significant especially when it costs the carriers essentially nothing.

I get what you are saying. If you have a $45 iPhone plan, that $15 extra is like a 17% increase!

The Apple Watch activation should be bundled in for free by now.

Phone companies here used to have "unlimited data" iPhone plans, then when people actually started using data, they got everyone to switch to a "better" phone plan. It's always a ripoff, I know.

Sorry to come across like Thurston Howell the III with my comments. I'm just saying, it's still probably worth the expenditure - these things are saving lives

 

[ipedro]

At $5, it's priced perfectly in Canada for a feature that is infrequently used. I love being able to leave my iPhone at home if I want to go on a phone free walk with my dog or for a run and yet remain connected in a less distracting way. $15 as is charged in the US is way too expensive. Shouldn't be any more than $10 max and that's already pushing it.

 

[thekeyring]

I feel like a smartwatch could make for a really fantastic wallet replacement.

Apple Pay, obviously, but then also boarding passes, driver's license/other ID, etc. I feel like how cheap they are (relative to a phone) means that if an officer is asking for your driver's license, people would have less reservation than if they were handing over a phone.

Plus the moment it's off your wrist, it can go into a locked mode where it's not going to give the officer anything but your driver's license.

Heck, if we're going with the idea of it being something you hand over, I'd be okay with giving it to waitstaff at a restaurant to run like it's a credit card.

For me, I’d love Apple Watch to replace my keys. They’re a lot more inconvenient that carry a credit card, and I really like Apple Pay, so I’d love (erm... Apple Keys?) even more, I think.

 

[recoil80]

At $5, it's priced perfectly in Canada for a feature that is infrequently used. I love being able to leave my iPhone at home if I want to go on a phone free walk with my dog or for a run and yet remain connected in a less distracting way. $15 as is charged in the US is way too expensive. Shouldn't be any more than $10 max and that's already pushing it.

5$ is a good price, I wouldn't pay more than that for a feature I'd only seldom use.
In my 20s I spent a lot of time cycling and AW with cellular would have been great. Now most of my outdoors activities is hiking, and I always carry a phone so I can take pictures at the landscape or animals etc.
Indoors as long as there's wi-fi coverage I can receive notifications. Unfortunately 802.1X is not yet supported on the Watch so I can have wi-if at home but not at work. Cellular would help, but I don't spend most of my day too far from my desk so even if I leave the phone there I can still receive notifications.
I'd never pay $10 or more for that feature, and I don't know anyone who would be willing to.
Anyway cellular is not yet available in my country and I wonder if it will be before next AW model is out.

 

[JackieInCo]

I bought three different series 3 LTE watches. Like many others, I only used the LTE service during the three month trial and then cancelled it, it's just not needed. I think I only used the watch as a standalone device with LTE enabled three times during the trial.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I was hoping the iWatchLTE would be a little iPhone on my wrist.

Sadly, Apple's developer restrictions are so onerous it's almost impossible to make a good untethered watch app. The watch is still nearly useless without being phone tethered.

I won't buy any more iWatches unless Apple lets people make real apps for it.

Still just an expensive toy.

So what “real apps” are you claiming to want to make for it then? What is restricting you?

Too many complain vs looking for another way or even work towards their goal and communication with Apple to enable certain functions. Your post would better serve the community sharif communications with Apple on what you require vs just complaining.

Complaining, it’s not good for your soul.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Of course Apple Watch could sell more, but health sensors is what will propel the watch to even greater heights. Yes, the battery life can be improved, but it's almost at what most people need it to be where the watch can already last 1.5 days (depending on your exercise routine). LTE was never going to be the thing that put the Apple Watch over the top, however it is good option for people that need it. I still have a series 2 and the AW3 was not a big enough leap to make me upgrade. Hopefully Apple will release a new version that will get my attention this year.

I used the cellular feature 0 times on my watch during the free trial period with T-Mobile lol..I did get rid of it because it’s crazy to pay more per month for a number I’m already paying for..not to mention the usage will be so small it should be criminal to charge for! If T-Mobile gets rid of the extra fee to use the Apple Watch I think T-Mobile and Apple would see even better numbers

Why would any company give things away for free? If Apple were to give away free Macbooks, of course we would see better Macbook numbers...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

For me, I’d love Apple Watch to replace my keys. They’re a lot more inconvenient that carry a credit card, and I really like Apple Pay, so I’d love (erm... Apple Keys?) even more, I think.

Get a Tesla. Your phone is the key (and there's a RFID card you can keep in your wallet as a backup, should your phone die, or if you need to give a key to a valet.)

I've had a Tesla Model 3 for 17 days. Loving it. Haven't had to keep keys on me since.

PM me if you have further questions (I'd share my referral code here, but mods don't like that.)

 

[podiki]

Never bought into the smart watch. Still only wearing mechanical watches.

 

[kdarling]

Just wanted an excuse to post these past predictions of the future:


1948 Wrist Radio


1960 Prediction of TV watch viewing friends on the Moon



Amazing! We actually are living in the Future!

 

[ipedro]

Is anybody here using an Apple Watch regularly as a standalone device? Like, going out regularly with just an Apple Watch and no phone. I'm curious to see if this is doable yet.

I had planned to go with AppleWatch LTE as my primary device and not replace my dying iPhone 6 Plus but then I was lured in by the iPhone X and the rest is history.

That said, I think that one can get by with just an AppleWatch. Calls and messages work well, though you can't be a big texter because it can be frustrating to get messages 100% right. Sending voice messages in iMessage would become your go to messaging format.

Checking email works well but writing them is not ideal on a watch. News services have apps that can keep you connected to the world. Twitter for watchOS was discontinued which is how I get most of my news. An AppleWatch without an iPhone in your pocket would give you an escape from the time wasters on smartphones: Facebook, Instagram, games, etc. I kind of look forward to a day when I'm not chained to social media — it's not easy.

For common knowledge questions, Siri does a pretty good job. Instead of Googling for information as you would on a phone, just ask Siri the question. And that's how AppleWatch will inevitably become self contained: as a Siri device. Once it becomes smart enough, conversational and 100% connected to third party apps, Siri will be able to replace the current touch screen UI. Speak to Siri like you would to a human that has access to all the information on the internet and you've got an iPhone replacement.

For that, I think we're a few years off — but close.

Watch

Everybody copy and paste that into a text shortcut in Settings. You’re welcome.

Anybody not on an apple device won't see the  character.

 

[ibwb]

A lot of people want something that allows others to know what they have. There's a reason people pay big money for the emblems on their cars.

Here are some stickers if you really hate it.
https://www.amazon.com/CoverCrown-Digital-Premium-Cellular-Aluminum/dp/B076DKTR1K

Approximately zero people in the whole wide world are impressed by the fact that your Apple Watch is a cellular model. The watch itself, maybe one of the fancy cases, a shiny band, etc could be seen as a conspicuous consumption thing, but the radio type is a technological detail that fundamentally does not inspire envy.

The purpose of the red dot, as others have said, is to make a big point of the fact that Apple now sells a watch with cellular capabilities. It advertises the manufacturer and not the wearer, which is why it's simply in bad taste. And nobody wants to put a cheap sticker that will be misaligned, get junky around the edges, and probably not be all that water resistant on their nice watch.

 

[Endorphine88]

Approximately zero people in the whole wide world are impressed by the fact that your Apple Watch is a cellular model. The watch itself, maybe one of the fancy cases, a shiny band, etc could be seen as a conspicuous consumption thing, but the radio type is a technological detail that fundamentally does not inspire envy.

The purpose of the red dot, as others have said, is to make a big point of the fact that Apple now sells a watch with cellular capabilities. It advertises the manufacturer and not the wearer, which is why it's simply in bad taste. And nobody wants to put a cheap sticker that will be misaligned, get junky around the edges, and probably not be all that water resistant on their nice watch.

I actually like the red dot. Looks sharp with a red band. But red happens to be one of my fav colors so that's subjective.

 

[ignatius345]

An AppleWatch without an iPhone in your pocket would give you an escape from the time wasters on smartphones: Facebook, Instagram, games, etc. I kind of look forward to a day when I'm not chained to social media

Bingo. You hit on exactly my motivation in checking this out!

Thanks for linking me to your other thread as well.