Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

laffnvegas

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 26, 2014
444
672
Desert South West
This may be a bit of a stupid question but I cannot find an answer anywhere. How far away from you phone can you be for the watch to still work. I would like to wear it for going out for walks and not have to drag my 6+ with me.
I am so close to wanting to buy one, I stated I would not play the Apple game of ordering like I did for the phone and would patiently wait for them to be in the store. My store has the one I want in stock.
 
Thanks, yes this was some of the information I needed so it will work when I go on walks for the fitness app. I did however find another site that answers just a bit more that could be helpful to others with this question. http://bradymower.com/apple-watch-connection-distance-iphone/
This article that you linked is somewhat incorrect. The watch actually does have wifi. It gathers known networks with your iphone in range and then when your phone is out of range, the watch can then still use the known wifi network. You can use the watch on known networks without the phone at home when you are out of bluetooth range or even away from home when the phone is left at home. For example, let's say you use the wifi at your work location with your phone and watch so your watch registers your work as a known network. The next day you leave your phone at home and come to work with just your watch. Your watch will still use the wifi network at work to allow you to send and receive text messages, etc from your watch. It is pretty awesome when you think about it.
 
I find the range very disappointing, anything over 10 feet and it drops the connection, in my condo i constantly loose connection, I leave my phone in my bedroom charging and by the time i get in my living room its out of range (i live in a 1000 sq foot condo so nothing crazy)
 
  • Like
Reactions: alexandru.popa
I am actually find in the range to be quite good. I work in a large office complex and I can be several rooms away and it still works. Not sure what the distance is but definitely more than 100 feet, was in the company lunch room and took a phone call on my watch. Phone was back at my desk.
 
OP, pretty sure your watch is using the wifi where you are. BT isn't great for range. If you're in a field with no buildings or windows in the way, sure, it's awesome! The spec in the watch is BT 4.0 LE (that's low energy). I just got through sending back a pair of JayBird BlueBud headphones as the BlueTooth on the watch is a mess (and they have no ETA from Apple on when they might address the problems).

Hmm...memories of how evil Microsoft was back in the 90's. (let's crush everyone else, but make sure our stuff works ok).

Anywho - appears your watch is working great on your work wifi - hope it stays that way. :)
 
I find the range very disappointing, anything over 10 feet and it drops the connection, in my condo i constantly loose connection, I leave my phone in my bedroom charging and by the time i get in my living room its out of range (i live in a 1000 sq foot condo so nothing crazy)

I think you may need to do a restart or something for your watch or phone maybe? Because I can leave my phone in my gym locker. And go anywhere in the gym and my watch still is able to receive and respond to notification.

Also at home I am able to do yard work and leave my phone in the house and my watch will still be conected to my phone.

Most Bluetooth devices is good for 30feet or more.
 
I am actually find in the range to be quite good. I work in a large office complex and I can be several rooms away and it still works. Not sure what the distance is but definitely more than 100 feet, was in the company lunch room and took a phone call on my watch. Phone was back at my desk.
Thanks for the sharing!
 
i've been in the yard and lost connection if the phone is on the opposite end of the house.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.