Apple Watch vs iPhone in pocket (Which will you choose?)

[sean000]

Returned my SS Apple Watch, just too much of a time waster for my preferences. Reaching into my pocket to retrieve my phone isn't a problem for me, it's automatic.

That Apple's followers even suggest that's an issue is just pathetic...

Gosh I didn't even think to just carry my iPhone in my pocket all the time. If it works for you it must work for everyone, right? What a fool I've been... and now it's too late to return this useless watch
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I have Vonage as my main number or if you live in the South, the “house phone.” lol. With the Vonage extension app installed on my iPhone, I can answer the house phone from the watch without getting up. Before the watch, the Vonage phone which is a cordless phone would be upstairs or in another room because we hardly ever used it. When it rings, my wife and I would just look at each other to see who is going to answer it especially when phone is upstairs. lol Other times the phone would be dead because somebody didn’t put it back on the base for it to charge. Now, I just answer on my watch even when I am not at home or the cordless phone is dead because of not being on the base. I got so used to answering the phone on my watch and not listening for a ring we actually went 24 days before we realized the cordless phone was not on the base.

We have a Google Voice number we give out as the official "house phone." That number rings my iPhone and my wife's iPhone simultaneously and I can answer it with my Apple Watch as well.

Sean

 

[zetaplus93]

Depends. In the winter (or when wearing long sleeves that covers up the watch), it's my iPhone. Otherwise, the watch and then the phone as needed.

In public, I do find myself using Siri on the phone instead of the watch. It feels less awkward.

 

[BarracksSi]

Finally looked at the poll options...

The long answer is, "It depends...", of course, because of what the task involves. But that's not a poll option.

If I had to pick, I'd say "Raise wrist to use Apple Watch", because it's what I do first. From there, I decide whether to use the phone or not.

 

[sean000]

Depends. In the winter (or when wearing long sleeves that covers up the watch), it's my iPhone. Otherwise, the watch and then the phone as needed.

In public, I do find myself using Siri on the phone instead of the watch. It feels less awkward.

Usually my watch is pretty easily accessed even when I'm wearing sleeves, but it depends on the sleeves and how many layers we are talking. I usually carry my iPhone in a bag or backpack, but if I'm wearing a jacket it might be in the jacket's inner chest pocket. Although my cold weather coat has nice big side pockets. I can put my iPhone in there and get it out while wearing gloves (the gloves are touchscreen compatible). So depending on what I'm wearing and where I'm carrying my iPhone, I might tend to use one or the other more readily. It's nice to have the option and not something I really think about very much. Not so much an either/or thing, but two devices that work quite seamlessly together. Having said that there are some activities I have gotten so used to doing on the watch, that I will use the watch for that activity even when my iPhone is already in my hand. Not many things, but a few. Mostly simple stuff like setting a timer, but I'm so used to checking my calendar on my watch that I sometimes catch myself doing that even when I'm actively using my iPhone.

As far as Siri goes... I know what you mean. I do use Siri in public when I'm on my bike and need to set a reminder or something, but in that situation it's not like I'm on a crowded sidewalk or bus. In close proximity to others I am more likely to get my iPhone out to enter that reminder using text.

Sean

 

[Guilefoil]

i'm surprised at these result, though perhaps I shouldn't be, given where we are. I only know I person with the watch & they don't have good things to say about it.

 

[ianfann]

It's amazing that people choose to raise their wrist rather than to just reach into their pockets to pull out the phone. I find raising the wrist for long periods of time in that awkward watch reading position tiring. I'd rather reach downward, grab my phone and do what I need to do. Also, I can hold the phone in a more natural, less tiring position for a much longer time compared to raising my wrist. I do agree, it depends on what task is at hand while making the choice but more often than not I find myself pulling out my phone more to raising my wrist. It's just comes naturally to me.

 

[sean000]

It's amazing that people choose to raise their wrist rather than to just reach into their pockets to pull out the phone. I find raising the wrist for long periods of time in that awkward watch reading position tiring. I'd rather reach downward, grab my phone and do what I need to do. Also, I can hold the phone in a more natural, less tiring position for a much longer time compared to raising my wrist. I do agree, it depends on what task is at hand while making the choice but more often than not I find myself pulling out my phone more to raising my wrist. It's just comes naturally to me.

What makes you think we are raising our wrists for long periods of time? The typical interaction with my watch is very quick. Sometimes it's just a one second glance, or a few seconds to read a notification or check the weather. For a quick glance it almost always it takes me longer to get out my iphone and launch the app or scroll through the widgets. If I need a longer interaction I will usually get my iphone out, but not always. However if your arm is getting tired, that's probably a sign it's time to switch to the iphone unless you're almost done.

Before I owned the watch most of my interactions with my iphone were very brief, and getting my iphone out and putting it back was not always convenient. You do that many times a day, all day long, and the convenience of the watch becomes clear. I can't tell you how often I would text someone, wait for a response, give up and put my iphone away, and then they'd reply.

I don't actually give much thought to what I use when. There are some tasks and info I probably turn to one device or the other for out of habit, but if I am using my iphone and want to check the weather... I use my iphone. If my iphone is in my pocket, I use my watch. The two devices compliment each other and I can go back and forth seamlessly. That's why the Apple Watch is a successful product in my book.

Sean

 

[Newtons Apple]

After one year with the watch. I personally find it easier, faster and more natural to reach for my iPhone in the pocket than to raise my wrist to use the watch instead. What do you guys think?

I did not buy my 6S+ to leave it in my pocket. My watch lives in my dresser drawer.

It is not for everyone.

 

[bambooshots]

It's amazing that people choose to raise their wrist rather than to just reach into their pockets to pull out the phone. I find raising the wrist for long periods of time in that awkward watch reading position tiring. I'd rather reach downward, grab my phone and do what I need to do. Also, I can hold the phone in a more natural, less tiring position for a much longer time compared to raising my wrist. I do agree, it depends on what task is at hand while making the choice but more often than not I find myself pulling out my phone more to raising my wrist. It's just comes naturally to me.

It's amazing how idiotic people look when they pull out their phone to use for 5-10 seconds then put it away, over and over and over throughout the day, especially when checking notifications.

It's much smoother with the watch. Watch buzzes, you glance at it, if unimportant out wrist down. If important, proceed to pull out phone like before.

Not to mention that I can't always feel the vibration in my pocket with the phone. Maybe the pants I wear aren't tight enough.

 

[Rok73]

It's amazing that people choose to raise their wrist rather than to just reach into their pockets to pull out the phone. I find raising the wrist for long periods of time in that awkward watch reading position tiring. I'd rather reach downward, grab my phone and do what I need to do. Also, I can hold the phone in a more natural, less tiring position for a much longer time compared to raising my wrist. I do agree, it depends on what task is at hand while making the choice but more often than not I find myself pulling out my phone more to raising my wrist. It's just comes naturally to me.

Yeah, amazing that people behave different. How dare they..

 

[sean000]

I did not buy my 6S+ to leave it in my pocket. My watch lives in my dresser drawer.

It is not for everyone.

True... we all have different wants, needs and tolerances. You know an interesting companion poll would be to ask how often people actually carry their iPhone in a pant pocket. I will carry my iPhone 6 in a jacket pocket, but almost never in a pant pocket… unless it's for a short period of time. The last phone I owned that I didn't mind having in my pant pocket was a Motorola Razr flip-phone!

We all have varying tolerances for what we are willing to carry in our pockets. Among men I am probably in the minority as someone who doesn't like carry my wallet or keys in my pant pockets either. It's not that I wear tight pants (usually regular fit jeans or pants). I just don't like stuff in my pockets. I will carry those things in jacket pockets, but for much of the year I don't wear a coat or jacket. Depending on whether I walk or bike to work I usually carry a messenger bag or a backpack, so all the stuff goes in there. My iPhone is fairly easy to reach in my messenger bag (or bicycle handlebar bag) but not so much in the backpack. When I'm out with the family I usually have a small camera bag that also holds my iPhone, wallet, keys and sunglasses. So most of the time my iPhone is fairly easy to reach, but at home or at work it might be in a different room (or on the speaker dock/charger). It's just quicker and more convenient for me to use my watch for the glance-type interactions.

Regardless of one's carrying preferences, I don't think of the watch competing with the iPhone. For me the two devices compliment each other. Before the watch there were some things that flat-out annoyed me about carrying and using a smartphone. The Watch resolves most of those annoyances for me. It has improved my iPhone 6… or at least improved my relationship with it.

Sean

 

[Newtons Apple]

True... we all have different wants, needs and tolerances. You know an interesting companion poll would be to ask how often people actually carry their iPhone in a pant pocket. I will carry my iPhone 6 in a jacket pocket, but almost never in a pant pocket… unless it's for a short period of time. The last phone I owned that I didn't mind having in my pant pocket was a Motorola Razr flip-phone!

We all have varying tolerances for what we are willing to carry in our pockets. Among men I am probably in the minority as someone who doesn't like carry my wallet or keys in my pant pockets either. It's not that I wear tight pants (usually regular fit jeans or pants). I just don't like stuff in my pockets. I will carry those things in jacket pockets, but for much of the year I don't wear a coat or jacket. Depending on whether I walk or bike to work I usually carry a messenger bag or a backpack, so all the stuff goes in there. My iPhone is fairly easy to reach in my messenger bag (or bicycle handlebar bag) but not so much in the backpack. When I'm out with the family I usually have a small camera bag that also holds my iPhone, wallet, keys and sunglasses. So most of the time my iPhone is fairly easy to reach, but at home or at work it might be in a different room (or on the speaker dock/charger). It's just quicker and more convenient for me to use my watch for the glance-type interactions.

Regardless of one's carrying preferences, I don't think of the watch competing with the iPhone. For me the two devices compliment each other. Before the watch there were some things that flat-out annoyed me about carrying and using a smartphone. The Watch resolves most of those annoyances for me. It has improved my iPhone 6… or at least improved my relationship with it.

Sean

Sean,

I kinda misled you by saying pocket but I am at the age where, God forbid, I keep my iPhone in a HOLSTER! I have watched people in horror while I took my phone out of a holster and put it back. They actually have said they had no idea that you could get a holster for your iPhone! I work half in the office and half in the field and found that there was no easier way to get my phone in and out many times a day except for my holster.

It might also sound a bit crazy but I also missed my iPhone notification sounds. Old habits are hard to break and when I put my watch on the charger at night my iPhone started it great notification sounds. They were not loud enough to ever wake me but I would hear them if awake.

Have a great week, Sir.

 

[annay49]

So for me I typically use my watch to screen notifications. Any notification that comes through gets a wrist raise (unless I'm on my mac and see that it's a text message). It works for me because I keep my phone completely on silent so notifications are kept very private.

I only respond from my watch less than 5% of the time.

 

[ladytonya]

Have you ever tried to pu a 6s+ in the pocket of a pair of women's pants or jeans? Impossible! For me, the watch has been a lifesaver. My phone lives either in my purse or my coat, jacket or blazer pocket. I missed so many notifications I was getting frustrated with my phone when I couldn't have the sound on. Now I just get a tap on the wrist and can quickly glance at my watch to see if I need to dig out my phone.

Don't get me wrong, I still use my phone. A lot. The beautiful screen on the plus has not gotten any less use as far as viewing videos, photos, Instagram, Facebook, etc. than it got before, but now I have the added convenience of not having to dig my phone out for every single little thing. It's a win win for me!

 

[BlueMoon63]

I will always check the watch before bothering to get my phone out. Why bother getting your phone out to read your spouse saying "ok" or a unknown phone call. I hit ignore on the watch. The idea of the watch is to save you time - right? To silently check without missing because your phone is in the other room or in your jacket or purse.

 

[Rok73]

Sean,

I kinda misled you by saying pocket but I am at the age where, God forbid, I keep my iPhone in a HOLSTER! I have watched people in horror while I took my phone out of a holster and put it back. They actually have said they had no idea that you could get a holster for your iPhone! I work half in the office and half in the field and found that there was no easier way to get my phone in and out many times a day except for my holster.

It might also sound a bit crazy but I also missed my iPhone notification sounds. Old habits are hard to break and when I put my watch on the charger at night my iPhone started it great notification sounds. They were not loud enough to ever wake me but I would hear them if awake.

Have a great week, Sir.

Like this?? zomg

 

[Newtons Apple]

Like this?? zomg

View attachment 629230

I am afraid not.

 

[nebo1ss]

Depends on what the notification or action is. Also, the times I reach for my phone, it's often times because my watch was acting glitchy and/or slow. Once they get software/hardware to be slightly more reliable and consistent, I'd almost always be more likely to look at notifications and texts on my watch.

I should say that I'm still not really comfortable dictating messages on the watch around other people. In those cases, I definitely use my phone.

You don't need to ask this question the market has already answered it for you, and the market is always right. The watch population is minuscule compared to the phone.

 

[zhenya]

My favorite part of the watch is definitely how well it untethers me from having to constantly check my phone. I can leave my phone at my desk at home or work, but still be in touch for my most important notifications, and not constantly hunting down my phone to see if those notification dings I thought I heard were important. Same in the car - I can quickly see any messages that come in, and decide if they are important enough they need to be dealt with without pulling my phone out every time I get into the car.

The biggest surprise to me has been that 'in the wild' I'm seeing the AW adopted by regular folks far more than the technically adept. I think this is a market that is going to grow slowly but steadily. No, of course it won't ever be as big as the phone market because it's always going to be an accessory to the phone in some respect. It's a luxury for sure, but it's a darn nice one.

 

[Easttime]

The Watch has been much more than a luxurious convenience in my busy work life, where the iPhone usually is unavailable, intrusive or inconvenient. But as I think about prioritizing for retirement downsizing, I suspect that the Watch won't be within my budget when the one I have on that date finally dies. I'll miss it and hope the kids will be able to afford to gift one for dear old dad, but just won't need it as much.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I am afraid not.

I do have a similar holster for my Glock

 

[AlliFlowers]

Have you ever tried to pu a 6s+ in the pocket of a pair of women's pants or jeans?

And that's assuming you can find women's clothes with pockets! Most of my dress pants have no pockets, so my phone is almost always in my bag.

 

[BarracksSi]

You don't need to ask this question the market has already answered it for you, and the market is always right. The watch population is minuscule compared to the phone.

Two ways to look at your statement --

- Cell phones seriously hammered the wristwatch market. I, too, stopped wearing a watch for close to a decade after I got my first cell phone. Relevant news articles from the early 2000's are getting harder to find, but this was one saying how the wristwatch market (particularly the non-luxury market) had been flat for a few years going into 2005:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/19/Worldandnation/Will_cell_phones_repl.shtml

- I really don't expect more than ten percent of iPhone owners to own an AW. Most people would call a 10% adoption rate a "failure", but think of how many compatible iPhones are in the wild today. Ten percent of a few hundred million is still a hell of a lot of users. I'd be happy to sell a one-dollar app to just one percent of iOS users.