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Do you think the Apple Watch is worth it, if you're not into fitness?
- Thread starter The Cockney Rebel
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Fitness applications were a complete afterthought to me when I purchased my first Apple Watch. Although I use them now, the AW would be entirely worth it to me even without fitness. It gives me at least two things I didn't have before:
First, I need quick snippets of information all the time. When I step outside, I glance at the weather complication. When I enter an airport, I want to look at my watch and know exactly what gate to head toward. When I'm in a meeting, I want a notification that tells me when my next meeting is about to start. When I get a text, I want to know what it says without having to pull out my phone. When I reach a specified location, I want the notification or shortcut I have set up for that location. When I'm at the transit station, I want to know when the next train is going to reach that station. I could go on and on.
Second, I want very quick interactivity. For example, if you spend just a bit of time customizing the auto-responses to text messages, you might find that you have a one-press response to many situations you commonly find yourself in. I also have certain devices or functions that I activate through a click on my watch -- turning a light on, controlling the Apple TV, activating the weight on my Tonal (okay, that's a fitness one, but it illustrates this functionality), etc.
Finally, I really like the look of the Apple Watch. My daily AW is the graphite stainless steel, which I tend to wear with leather loops. This aesthetic really works for me.
Only you will know whether any of this fits your needs, but I'm very which the AW even if I put fitness tracking completely aside. But I now use that too!
First, I need quick snippets of information all the time. When I step outside, I glance at the weather complication. When I enter an airport, I want to look at my watch and know exactly what gate to head toward. When I'm in a meeting, I want a notification that tells me when my next meeting is about to start. When I get a text, I want to know what it says without having to pull out my phone. When I reach a specified location, I want the notification or shortcut I have set up for that location. When I'm at the transit station, I want to know when the next train is going to reach that station. I could go on and on.
Second, I want very quick interactivity. For example, if you spend just a bit of time customizing the auto-responses to text messages, you might find that you have a one-press response to many situations you commonly find yourself in. I also have certain devices or functions that I activate through a click on my watch -- turning a light on, controlling the Apple TV, activating the weight on my Tonal (okay, that's a fitness one, but it illustrates this functionality), etc.
Finally, I really like the look of the Apple Watch. My daily AW is the graphite stainless steel, which I tend to wear with leather loops. This aesthetic really works for me.
Only you will know whether any of this fits your needs, but I'm very which the AW even if I put fitness tracking completely aside. But I now use that too!
Some really interesting posts on here!
I find it fascinating what some people use their AWs for - I’ve never owned one and have never wanted one until now despite considering myself an ‘Apple guy.’ That said I only really use my iPhone a lot - my iPad never these days and my MacBook only for watching Netflix in bed.
Anyway, having watched many review videos on YouTube two uses often mentioned have really surprised me:-
The torch/flashlight is often referred to as ‘super useful’ - I think I use a torch once a year when I go in the loft to get the suitcases down!
To control Apple TV (oh yeah - I got that too) - do people really use their watch instead of reaching for the Apple TV remote?!
Bit random I know but these two uses stuck in my mind - be good to hear of other ‘unusual’ apps/uses that people enjoy apart from the more obvious ones.
For info - I’ve suddenly decided to get an AWU primarily as I want something to motivate and track exercise. As well as just fancying a shiny new toy of course.
I find it fascinating what some people use their AWs for - I’ve never owned one and have never wanted one until now despite considering myself an ‘Apple guy.’ That said I only really use my iPhone a lot - my iPad never these days and my MacBook only for watching Netflix in bed.
Anyway, having watched many review videos on YouTube two uses often mentioned have really surprised me:-
The torch/flashlight is often referred to as ‘super useful’ - I think I use a torch once a year when I go in the loft to get the suitcases down!
To control Apple TV (oh yeah - I got that too) - do people really use their watch instead of reaching for the Apple TV remote?!
Bit random I know but these two uses stuck in my mind - be good to hear of other ‘unusual’ apps/uses that people enjoy apart from the more obvious ones.
For info - I’ve suddenly decided to get an AWU primarily as I want something to motivate and track exercise. As well as just fancying a shiny new toy of course.
if you have to ask, maybe it isn't worth it for you IMHO
I find the flashlight useful when I want to go the bathroom or the kitchen at night while my partner is sleeping and I don't want to disturb him by turning on the room lights.
The remote, I prefer to use the TV remote or the remote function on the iPhone rather than fiddling with the small screen of the watch, but I can understand how people might appreciate not having to look for the remote, as the watch is always on your wrist.
For me, the surprise useful function of the watch is the timer. It's extremely useful to be able to set the timer from your wrist without having to look for the iPhone or other device.
The AppleTV thing is surprisingly useful. Sometimes the phone is charging and the remote is not handy. Sure, I could plan better, but when the watch is on my wrist…. Ditto Spotify controls, also useful. It’s not a primary interface for me, but I do use it now and then.
People might well disagree but I'd argue for 90% of Apple Watch users you can break down use into 2 categories (beyond telling the time of day)...
1) Fitness tracking
2) Notifications
Since you said #1 is out (although perhaps you could try to use it as a motivating factor to start to be less sedentary?) it all depends on if you feel having #2 immediate notifications on your wrist of things that your iPhone would normally notify you. For me I find it a very nice thing to have, for others it might be more than unnecessary.
I disagree with you on that one. I use the Apple Watch for triathlons (both training and racing) and it's more than adequate. For swimming it's quite accurate with the strokes, lap times, and rest periods. For running I just need the GPS, timer, and heart rate which works well. For cycling it's both safer and more convenient to use a cycling computer than a watch, regardless of the manufacturer. I also use a Polar H10 heart rate strap to give accurate measurements.
I used to use a Garmin because of its battery life. I disliked almost everything else about it including the design, the comfort, the display, the UI, the lack of "smartwatch" features, the lack of a seamless iPhone integration, etc. When Apple announced a watch with a battery that can survive an Ironman and a separate lapping button, it felt like a no-brainer. So far its battery life and fitness features have been more than adequate for my usage.
“Ditto” for the flashlight. I have the Action Button on my Ultra set for that.
It’s not the world’s brightest flashlight. But it’s all the flashlight I need for, within rounding, all the times I need a flashlight (though I’m just as likely to use the iPhone if I happen to have it in my hand). Mostly, that’s stuff like wandering around the house at night without having to turn on the lights, or for looking under or behind furniture. Maybe taking the garbage to the curb.
It’s super-duper-extra handy when traveling … an unfamiliar room, middle of the night, going to the bathroom without tripping over anything … it’s actually the #1 reason I wear the Watch to bed, with sleep tracking a distant second.
I suppose this might fall into the “surprising” category for many … but I actually do use the Watch as a speakerphone at least as much as I use the iPhone. Especially if I don’t have the iPhone at hand and if it’s the sort of conversation I want on speaker to begin with.
In a similar vein … it’s very, very rare that I ever want to record a phone conversation. And it’s notorious that the iPhone really doesn’t want to let you do that. But … put the call on speaker, either on the Watch or the iPhone, and use the voice memo feature on the other to record the call. Problem solved.
b&
It’s not the world’s brightest flashlight. But it’s all the flashlight I need for, within rounding, all the times I need a flashlight (though I’m just as likely to use the iPhone if I happen to have it in my hand). Mostly, that’s stuff like wandering around the house at night without having to turn on the lights, or for looking under or behind furniture. Maybe taking the garbage to the curb.
It’s super-duper-extra handy when traveling … an unfamiliar room, middle of the night, going to the bathroom without tripping over anything … it’s actually the #1 reason I wear the Watch to bed, with sleep tracking a distant second.
I suppose this might fall into the “surprising” category for many … but I actually do use the Watch as a speakerphone at least as much as I use the iPhone. Especially if I don’t have the iPhone at hand and if it’s the sort of conversation I want on speaker to begin with.
In a similar vein … it’s very, very rare that I ever want to record a phone conversation. And it’s notorious that the iPhone really doesn’t want to let you do that. But … put the call on speaker, either on the Watch or the iPhone, and use the voice memo feature on the other to record the call. Problem solved.
b&