Benefits of Apple Watch?

[Aj6658]

I'm someone who has never been sold on the apple watch as i don't see the benefits. I only really see it as a statement of wealth

Lately i have been seeing news that the series 6 might have blood oxygen monitor which interests me and the sleep tracking is another area which i would be interested in. im an active person (weights not cardio intensive activities like running or swimming) and all of these things i would be able to get from a Fitbit.

So my question is - How has the Apple watch made your life better?

 

[fridayxiii]

Here's a pretty good thread that covers the subject & answers that very question: Convince Me

 

[spooklog]

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is the EKG feature, which can accurately detect atrial fibrillation. I have used this several times and I suspect it has save my life.

 

[44267547]

I'm someone who has never been sold on the apple watch as i don't see the benefits. I only really see it as a statement of wealth

Lately i have been seeing news that the series 6 might have blood oxygen monitor which interests me and the sleep tracking is another area which i would be interested in. im an active person (weights not cardio intensive activities like running or swimming) and all of these things i would be able to get from a Fitbit.

So my question is - How has the Apple watch made your life better?

I said before, if you need ‘convincing’ to buy something, then a very strong ‘perhaps’ this product isn’t for you. You either see the value in something that you can benefit from from the health features and the tools the watch offers, however, if you’re asking advice from digital strangers to convince you to buy something, then you either can’t afford it (Especially when you mentioned you see it as a ‘statement of wealth’), or you just don’t see the value in this product knowing all the details/technical specs’ it offers.

 

[Aj6658]

I said before, if you need ‘convincing’ to buy something, then a very strong ‘perhaps’ this product isn’t for you. You either see the value in something that you can benefit from from the health features and the tools the watch offers, however, if you’re asking advice from digital strangers to convince you to buy something, then you either can’t afford it (Especially when you mentioned you see it as a ‘statement of wealth’), or you just don’t see the value in this product knowing all the details/technical specs’ it offers.

Thank you for not adding any value to this discussion other than your apparent need to stroke ones ego 😑...

I'm asking people of the benefits they have seen and obtained through use of their device which i cant do, as i do not own one. I am trying to understand the value of the device from real users. Do you make the same comments when someone asks about the benefits of Apple Silicon?

I don't see how asking other users of the device for their experiences, suggests in any way that someone cant afford it? (for the record i can hence why i am asking). By your logic, looking at reviews shows that you need "convincing" and the product isn't for you or that you cant afford it...

Knowing a products technical aspects doesn't translate to the value you obtain, again, the reason i made the post...

 

[staggerlee41]

Fall detection is an often overlooked feature. I recently wiped out on my mountain bike and sure enough it detected the fall. I was fine so I just had to let the watch know I was OK. Nobody really knows when they're going to fall and whether or not they'll be incapacitated.

Although I don't have LTE enabled, I have it and could enable at any time but not having to within an arm's reach of my phone is nice. Runners in particular really seem to enjoy this but say your phone is in the bedroom upstairs and you're downstairs. Phone rings, you can answer that call. Or not. I have my mother's watch enabled because she sometimes goes out without her phone and she can take calls. It's an added peace of mind for me and my sister.

I use it for sleep tracking using apps and then have data points to go through. Same with the activity and health features. Capturing data. I work from home (even before Covid-19) and can end up sitting at my desk for long periods of time. The Stand feature is helpful as it reminds me to get my butt out of my chair and move around. Not saying I need this constantly but it has helped me be more mindful of all of these things.

The notifications of mail, text messages are nice, and when I first purchased it, those were two of the main reasons along with Stand notification that interested me. I find the mail, text, calendar notifications to be secondary now to how it helps me be more mindful of health in general--and having data to back it up.

I can get travel notifications on my wrist instead of having to dig out my phone when traveling. Using Apple Pay, is more convenient, I can control Wemo switches through home kit, I can start/stop/lock my vehicle, control my Bose System, get quick weather alerts, etc all on my wrist. Sure you can do those things from your phone as well.

One more thing, if you wear the watch to bed, set the alarm on your phone, it will vibrate when you're due to wake up.

Could I live without it? Sure. We can live without many things in this world but I sure do enjoy having it. I haven't worn any of my traditional watches since the day I took the plunge to purchase an Apple Watch.

 

[breezyf808]

Telling time/date, first and foremost.
Alarm/timer is an essential.
Controlling my music, whether at work or at the gym. Convenient way in controlling volume.
An alternative in getting notifications and answering calls/text.
I have the series 4 (since early 2019) and haven’t yet set up EKG/fall detection.
The workout app is great and competing with partner/friends is an awesome motivator.
If you don’t mind charging almost/at least once a day to last the whole day than you’ll be alright with this smart watch. I had a pebble and Fitbit before and liked the convenience of not having to charge everyday, but I love my Apple Watch a whole lot better.
I have to agree with everything staggerlee41 stated in last paragraph.

 

[Spudlicious]

It is the notion of frequent charging, above all, that has kept me out of the smartwatch market. Atrial Fibrillation detection? My oximeter does that, my blood pressure monitor does that, besides which I was diagnosed with AF back in 2012 so don't need constant reminders! If anyone out there is alarmed by AF I want to tell them it can be coped with, it doesn't mean you're in the departure lounge, it isn't the end of anything.
My daughter and her husband use Apple watches and say they're great, despite my merciless mockery, they are much busier people than me and appreciate the notification and call handling. But looking at my traditionally equipped wrist I like what I see, I really do. Obviously I'm looking through old man eyes.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It is the notion of frequent charging, above all, that has kept me out of the smartwatch market. Atrial Fibrillation detection? My oximeter does that, my blood pressure monitor does that, besides which I was diagnosed with AF back in 2012 so don't need constant reminders! If anyone out there is alarmed by AF I want to tell them it can be coped with, it doesn't mean you're in the departure lounge, it isn't the end of anything.
My daughter and her husband use Apple watches and say they're great, despite my merciless mockery, they are much busier people than me and appreciate the notification and call handling. But looking at my traditionally equipped wrist I like what I see, I really do. Obviously I'm looking through old man eyes.

View attachment 941892

I don’t consider once a day charging excessive. If I had to charge it more than my iphone, I might consider that excessive, depending on what kind of activity had run my watch down earlier than usual. And for many people, they are able to get 1.5 days on the new series 5, before needing to charge.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

For me, the single biggest benefit has been encouragement to have daily workouts and physical activity in general. I went from thinking, "Better fitness would be a good thing" to being far more active and physically fit. It's not just a matter of recording activity when it takes place - it's the reminders, the goal-setting and virtual awards... My current "Move" streak is more than 1.5 years - not a single day of slacking in all that time. Before that streak began, the previous Move streak was close to a year. In 2.5 years there has been just one day when I did not get off my butt and beat my active calories burned goal. I've maybe missed 3-5 daily workout goals in that same time. Now, not everyone will find Watch's methods to be effective for them, or they may not need any sort of encouragement, but it's worked incredibly well for me. (And of course, those who are already invested in a different fitness device may not need to change to this one.)

After that, it's a bunch of relatively little things that cumulatively make a pleasant impact on my day.

I love using my watch for contactless payments - easier than pulling my iPhone or wallet/credit card from my pocket to pay, and in today's world, no-touch payment is a comfort.

I use my Watch a lot for timers - of course, almost any watch could be used for that, but this is the one that I have, and it works well.

Reminders, notifications, phone call screening, text messages, email, etc. - a little buzz gets my attention, I glance at my wrist. Maybe that glance is all I need, maybe I choose to pull out my iPhone. Overall, my iPhone stays in my pocket far more than it would. Overall, less disruptive to the flow of my day.

If I'm driving with turn-by-turn directions, the Watch taps me on the wrist prior to a turn - easier to notice in a noisy vehicle than a voice notification alone.

As with any personal computing device, there are far more features and possibilities than any one person needs. My list of favorites will likely be different than the next person's.

 

[wackymacky]

I'm someone who has never been sold on the apple watch as i don't see the benefits. I only really see it as a statement of wealth

Lately i have been seeing news that the series 6 might have blood oxygen monitor which interests me and the sleep tracking is another area which i would be interested in. im an active person (weights not cardio intensive activities like running or swimming) and all of these things i would be able to get from a Fitbit.

So my question is - How has the Apple watch made your life better?

I’m not sure why the majority of people would buy a watch with a pulse oximeter as a fitness device. In the absence of an underlying lung disorder that effects gas transfer or structural heart disease (or at high altitudes) blood oxygen (or the percentage of heamaglobin in the blood saturated with oxygen to be more precise) doesn’t change substantially with exercise unless training enough to build up lactic acid (which drops oxygen saturation). Some athletes are beginning to use recovery time of pulse oximetry to work out intensity programmes.

I would also suspect that the Apple Watch uses ‘reflectance pulse oximetery’ which is less accurate than the way the finger/ear ones work.

 

[staggerlee41]

I’m not sure why the majority of people would buy a watch with a pulse oximeter as a fitness device. In the absence of an underlying lung disorder that effects gas transfer or structural heart disease (or at high altitudes) blood oxygen (or the percentage of heamaglobin in the blood saturated with oxygen to be more precise) doesn’t change substantially with exercise unless training enough to build up lactic acid (which drops oxygen saturation). Some athletes are beginning to use recovery time of pulse oximetry to work out intensity programmes.

I would also suspect that the Apple Watch uses ‘reflectance pulse oximetery’ which is less accurate than the way the finger/ear ones work.

Not all users who purchase or receive the Apple Watch as a gift are using it as a fitness device, though that is a predominate use for it. Adding features to it such as pulse oximeter may help extend the appeal beyond the current base. Of course medical grade devices are better for more serious situations, none the less some form of monitoring and data points are better than nothing.

 

[throAU]

I'm someone who has never been sold on the apple watch as i don't see the benefits. I only really see it as a statement of wealth

Lately i have been seeing news that the series 6 might have blood oxygen monitor which interests me and the sleep tracking is another area which i would be interested in. im an active person (weights not cardio intensive activities like running or swimming) and all of these things i would be able to get from a Fitbit.

So my question is - How has the Apple watch made your life better?

I use mine for

• notifications / messages
• homekit control
• workout tracking
• heart rate monitoring/general fitness monitoring
• in car/on motorcycle navigation via haptic feedback
• as an actual watch - previously I'd been using my phone to tell the time. I hadn't worn a watch in 20+ years.

Fitness is only one aspect, and for me a minor one.

It's one of those gadgets that you won't see the benefits of really until you actually try it and see how it fits your lifestyle. I was on the fence when the S2 came out, bought a base model to see what it did for me. I upgraded to an S4 and will keep buying them based on my experience with it.

Is it an essential device? No. But it does make a lot of things much more convenient. If I have a message in a meeting for example I can do a quick glance to determine if it is important when it arrives. If it isn't, I ignore it.

Vs. pull phone out, unlock phone, etc. Which is far more distracting. Ditto for if I am working on something, have my hands full, etc.. It's far less disrupting, and it does NOT involve me playing with the phone while I have it out.

As a statement of wealth? Please. It's not a Rolex. You can buy one for half the cost of a base model iPhone or less.



edit:
How could I forget - Apple Pay. Contactless payments. Here in Australia we have had NFC payments everywhere for 15-20 years now. I use the watch pretty much exclusively for this. The only reason I carry my wallet is for some emergency cash (in case payment processing is out) and my driver's license.

It has saved my GF's bacon when she locked herself out of the house on a run while I was at work (50km away). She had her watch (no phone), and could buy food/drink/taxi and when she got home, could make phone calls and messages via the home wifi to her phone, which was inside. ApplePay does not need your iPhone to be nearby. It's great.

 

[Fusionskies]

I personally feel good knowing that my watch is looking out for heart irregularities, and I can check my pulse with a medical grade ECG whenever I like. I also like the fall feature, although I have never needed it so far.

I feel like my Apple Watch has my back, although I don't just use it for health aspects.
To be honest, most days it mainly just serves as a watch/notification device, but I miss it when it isn't on my wrist.

Leela's also a fan.

 

[rambo47]

Mine is giving me little nudges to keep up with the little things. Breathing exercises, standing, moving.

 

[throAU]

It is the notion of frequent charging, above all, that has kept me out of the smartwatch market.

It's honestly not that bad. It will generally go two days before needing to go into low power mode for me, and I'm putting my phone on charge every day as it is.

I either put it on charge when I go to sleep, or when I wake up and have a shower to get ready for work. You can get enough of a charge for 1-2 days in about 30-40 minutes.

In 4+ years of watch ownership (S2 then S4), I've only ever gone to low power mode once or twice, and that was early on when I was messing with the S2 a lot due to the novelty factor AND didn't charge it overnight. I've never had to go to low power mode with my S4.

I will say that the S4 however is the first watch version that feels (to me) like it is properly fast enough. I still have my S2 and wear it when I'm worried I'm going to be damaging things (e.g., working on car, motorcycle, whatever), or sometimes to sleep while I have my s4 on charge (for sleep tracking).

The S2 was usable but still felt a little laggy sometimes. I haven't used an S3, I believe they're better and the GF seems happy with hers. But S4 and up definitely feels like a properly finished, polished product IMHO. The S2 and earlier definitely felt very much prototype/early adopter spec. The performance difference between S4 and previous is pretty big.

 

[mj_]

I kept going back and forth for a long time but honestly I still fail to see what I would ever really need an Apple Watch for. I've actually borrowed one from a friend for about two weeks after he got his brand-new series 5 with the option to keep it but ended up returning it as it turned out to be utterly useless to me. Replying to texts with that handwriting feature was but a fancy gimmick, and I almost always ended up grabbing my iPhone instead because every message longer than two words was completed faster on my phone even if I had to sift through my entire house looking for it first. Having to charge it daily or least every other day was a major hassle, and I kept forgetting all the time. I'm also not a health buff, and consequently the constant health/fitness reminders and stupid challenges were bugging the living hell out of me. That braindead breathe mindfully crap that popped up all of a sudden after about a week or so was the icing on the cake that made me take it off for good and return it again. Never before have I been more annoyed by a piece of technology.

So yeah, I totally get why one would need "convincing". I wouldn't even use one if somebody paid me.

 

[throAU]

Replying to texts with that handwriting feature was but a fancy gimmick, and I almost always ended up grabbing my iPhone instead because every message longer than two words was completed faster on my phone even if I had to sift through my entire house looking for it first.

See, this is where the benefits for each individual person can be highly variable and it really depends on how you try to use it.

Trying to use it like "a smaller screen iPhone" = totally not the best way to make use of it. If that's how you try to use it then yes, it's crap and you'll be disappointed.

Using the handwriting feature is really not the ideal way to do that. I've used it that way maybe once or twice because my phone was elsewhere and it was less inconvenient than going to grab my phone and I didn't want to use Siri.

I frequently use the watch to send messages if I am busy with something and my phone is in my pocket or I otherwise can't use it by saying something like "Hey Siri, message to <GF name> I'm running late, I'll see you in an hour" or whatever. I can even do that with my hands not leaving the steering wheel of my car by just turning my wrist.

Sure, Siri works on the iPhone, but if it is in my pocket or at the other end of the house it doesn't . At least not without stopping what I am doing, unlocking the phone, holding it while I send the message, etc.

I also use my watch with 1password for remembering things like PIN codes, passwords, etc. without needing my phone on me.

It's not something you use if you have your phone at hand or if the phone is easy to pull out. It's for those situations where the phone ISN'T convenient or is rude, or your hands are full, etc.

Or for example listening to music on a run, ride, etc.

 

[gigatoaster]

I agree, it’s all about your need vs benefits.

I looked with disdain when it came out first and I waited this generation’s Watch to get one.

I bought it without thinking I need this to fit that need. I just loved the white color so I took it to go with my white new phone.

I did have a Fitbit and I wanted to replace it as I felt not very comfortable when Google bought them.

Fast forward 9 months, I can say I’m 95% satisfied. I don’t like charging it every night but I found my routine and I charge it every night from 8pm until 10:30pm.

In terms of benefit, it helped me lose some weight, I mentioned it in a previous post. I feel very addicted to closing these rings and I like that because it gives me a sense of commitment. I’m very lazy but for once I can do better than before with my Fitbit.

Other benefit is sleep tracking with AutoSleep. It’s 2 ways as I like to know if I slept enough but at the same time if I have only one star out of 5, I’m like “oh boy I’ll have a ****** day”. It’s a bit scary because today it says I had only 15 min of deep sleep, weird. I might need to speak to them.

so overall it’s a great product and I can also antagonize the “convince me”: they are selling very well so no need to be convinced.

 

[subjonas]

The watch solves one big problem for me, which is that I’m always missing alerts from my phone. I always keep my phone on silent or vibrate when I’m around other people so I was missing alerts very frequently. The watch makes sure I always get my alerts and I alone get them.

Other uses are not critical for me, but definitely come in handy. For me, those include time, date, weather, siri, Wallet/Apple Pay, music when running (but I often take my phone anyway since it’s a small SE), remote camera operation, viewing grocery list while shopping, walking directions, and ride share updates.

 

[iSayuSay]

I couldn't give a F*** about Apple Watch being a status symbol, statement of wealth or whatever.

Yes it is a rather nice looking watch. But I don't buy Apple Watch to show off my latest Apple gadget collection.

For me, Apple Watch has been a pinnacle of personal life transformation. I've been working out for the last 2 years or so due to my Apple Watch. I lost almost 50lbs (220 - 175lbs) in a year because I tried to fill up my Activity Rings every single day. Now I stop at 150lbs, trying to build some muscle and stay fit. Yes I also use my watch as iPhone extension, receiving notifications, reply short messages and whatnot, and of course a time keeper (who would've thought?). But Workout App is still the center of my usage.

I run outdoor, indoor, doing HIIT, strength training in my home and of course bicycling. All quantifiable and recorded due to my Watch. It's the best $429 I spent my entire life and I don't even go to the gym, but my physical change is REAL. I never spend anything more than the basic Nike edition of Apple Watch because I know it's a disposable gadget that's going to be outdated in 2-3 years no matter how sleek the Titanium or Ceramic Series 5 really is.

So it's not a status symbol for me. It's a priceless fitness gadget of my life.

 

[Ruggy]

It encapsulates what is the very essence of Apple devices.
You see it and you think 'Huh?' What would I want one of those for?
Later you may well be interested but not be at all convinced that it does anything you need.
'Anyway, it's ridiculously expensive and I won't use a tenth of those features'.
Then you almost grudgingly get one- or someone buys it for you. 'I'm never going to use it'
3 months later you wonder how you managed without it and love it.
Simply put, everyone I know that gets one loves it.
You do things with it you never even thought of before.
Apple devices create a demand you never know you had. They have done that since day 1.
For example, I bought one for my wife because I thought it would mean she wouldn't be bent down on her phone so much which was hurting her neck. It has helped that.
I never imagined the effect it would have on her exercise routine (not really being sporty).
It also means 'I have to close my rings' has entered our vocabulary.
I confess though, the most used function for me is finding my phone!
But, yes, I wasn't at all convinced, would never have bought one for myself but I use it all the time.
Oh, and for me battery life isn't a problem. I get easily 30 hours (Series 5) but I think it makes a big difference what face you use. Same as for any screen, the brighter it is the more it eats the battery and a bright orange screen will eat a lot more than a sombre black one I think.
Best.

 

[mj_]

See, this is where the benefits for each individual person can be highly variable and it really depends on how you try to use it.

Exactly. That's why I kept saying that for me personally it turned out to be utterly useless.

Trying to use it like "a smaller screen iPhone" = totally not the best way to make use of it. If that's how you try to use it then yes, it's crap and you'll be disappointed.

Using the handwriting feature is really not the ideal way to do that. I've used it that way maybe once or twice because my phone was elsewhere and it was less inconvenient than going to grab my phone and I didn't want to use Siri.

I frequently use the watch to send messages if I am busy with something and my phone is in my pocket or I otherwise can't use it by saying something like "Hey Siri, message to <GF name> I'm running late, I'll see you in an hour" or whatever. I can even do that with my hands not leaving the steering wheel of my car by just turning my wrist.

The problem with Siri is that she's monolingual whereas I am not. I text in three different languages yet Siri - like all voice assistants - by default only understands and responds to a single language. I used Siri to send text messages and emails in English but those only accounted for around maybe half of my daily communications. Again, I am fully aware that his is a very personal first world problem that most people on this planet will probably never have to deal with.

And as for the health and fitness tracking and/or step counter features: my $20 Xiaomi Band 3 does all that at a fraction of the cost, it only needs to be charged every other week (!), and doesn't bother me with constant reminders to "close those rings" or to "breathe mindfully" (like... seriously Apple, WTF?). Every now and then when I look at it and realize I only got 5,000 steps in during the day I take that extra-long walk with the dog in the evening, but that's as far as my fitness tracker-induced motivation goes. I absolutely respect that some people benefit from those reminders and benefit in particular from these constant pseudo-challenges that serve as motivational engine. Oddly enough for some reason that I never quite understood challenging your friends to see who gets more steps in, more workout time, burns more calories, etc. seems to be getting increasingly popular. I'm not a psychologist but from what I understand humans have an innate tendency to define self-worth in relation to others, and it seems to be a fairly common trait among humans to subconsciously try to one-up the people around them to make themselves feel better. I personally couldn't care less but again, I fully understand the principle behind it and I respect the fact that some people benefit immensely from it.

The Apple Watch is one of those polarizing products that you either have immense use for or that is utterly useless. There really is no in-between.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I'm someone who has never been sold on the apple watch as i don't see the benefits. I only really see it as a statement of wealth

A ‘statement of wealth’? They are £399, hardly luxury watch territory. Sure you can pay £1599 for one that is effectively the same watch but with a ceramic case, which I think is nuts, but generally they are still a reasonably priced watch when you stick to the standard end of the range.

I like the Apple Watch as it’s an extension of my phone for texts and I use the fitness tracking on it most days. If you are comparing it to a standard watch, it tells the time too but it’s much more than that.

 

[Shanghaichica]

A ‘statement of wealth’? They are £399, hardly luxury watch territory. Sure you can pay £1599 for one that is effectively the same watch but with a ceramic case, which I think is nuts, but generally they are still a reasonably priced watch when you stick to the standard end of the range.

I like the Apple Watch as it’s an extension of my phone for texts and I use the fitness tracking on it most days. If you are comparing it to a standard watch, it tells the time too but it’s much more than that.

You can even get the series 3 for £199 now.