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What do you use your apple watch for?

Pangalactic

Pangalactic

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 28, 2016
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I'm seirosuky wondering, what are the main use cases for people who use Apple Watch? I got mine as a gift... and I've used it maybe two or three times total before just leaving it in the drawer.

It has an activity and steps tracker, but so does your iPhone.
Answering calls again was a very marginal use case for me, as most of the time I have the iPhone on me.
Looking at the time/weather/etc were again things I could do on the iPhone. In fact, it felt that everything the watch did the iPhone did as well or even better. And, there is also the additional hassle of charging it.
 
Then don't use it and keep your phone.
I've got cellular on my watch and my phone stays at home. Road bike needs just a quick glance at the watch to see heartbeat, distance and all other details and I get a GPS map on my phone at the end. Phone calls on the watch. Shopping list on the watch. Reminders on the watch. Time on the watch. Weather on the watch. All exercise details on the watch and I'm a maniac at filling all the rings every day. It makes you do exercise even when all you want to do is be a couch potato - and all being seen with just a quick turn of the wrist instead of digging it out of your pocket in difficult situations by which time the caller has hung up!
I must admit I never thought I'd buy an Apple Watch as I had the same thoughts as you but, on seeing the series 4, I knew I had to try it and it does everything promised and more and I just wish I didn't need an iPhone as well.
 
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rmw49 said:
Then don't use it and keep your phone.
I've got cellular on my watch and my phone stays at home. Road bike needs just a quick glance at the watch to see heartbeat, distance and all other details and I get a GPS map on my phone at the end. Phone calls on the watch. Shopping list on the watch. Reminders on the watch. Time on the watch. Weather on the watch. All exercise details on the watch and I'm a maniac at filling all the rings every day. It makes you do exercise even when all you want to do is be a couch potato - and all being seen with just a quick turn of the wrist instead of digging it out of your pocket in difficult situations by which time the caller has hung up!
I must admit I never thought I'd buy an Apple Watch as I had the same thoughts as you but, on seeing the series 4, I knew I had to try it and it does everything promised and more and I just wish I didn't need an iPhone as well.
Click to expand...
Strongly agree with all the above.

Having had a heart attack 5½ months ago I find it invaluable keeping me on the straight and narrow with my daily exercise.

I’ve loved watches all my life and have a large collection but only ever wear the AW due entirely to its functionality. Sunrise/sunset, weather, timers etc at a glance. Yes, all available on your phone but why did we go away from pocket watches after the wrist watch was invented?
 
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I didn't know what I would use it for other than having more information on my wrist (and not having to wind the watch when it doesn't tell the correct time or date), but I pay a lot of attention to fitness tracking now. I'm not exactly a fitness person but I can already see benefits in this area and I think this thing will motivate me at least a bit more than I usually would be.
In addition to that, I love having all sorts of information that I can customize and have available at a glance on my wrist, it's really neat and cannot be topped by a traditional watch.

But I think first and foremost you should be a watch person, you should love wearing a watch on your wrist.
 
Pangalactic said:
I'm seirosuky wondering, what are the main use cases for people who use Apple Watch? I got mine as a gift... and I've used it maybe two or three times total before just leaving it in the drawer.

It has an activity and steps tracker, but so does your iPhone.
Answering calls again was a very marginal use case for me, as most of the time I have the iPhone on me.
Looking at the time/weather/etc were again things I could do on the iPhone. In fact, it felt that everything the watch did the iPhone did as well or even better. And, there is also the additional hassle of charging it.
Click to expand...

To me, the Apple Watch (or smart watches in general) are one of those things that you kind of know in advance if you will use it not. If you can’t see the point of one, then you will likely never use it. But if you do see it, then you will use it a lot.

Sure you can do almost everything on the phone that you can do with your watch. And if the benefits of not having to have your phone with you aren’t something that you value, then the watch will be overkill for you.

I use my watch for a lot of stuff but I bought it for running and cycling. It’s fantastic to be able to listen to my music, track my metrics, be available if someone needs to contact me, and be able to pay for something without having to carry my phone (or wallet).
 
Pangalactic you basically answered your own question. It is a miniature phone on your wrist. No it is not the end all for everything we do but it offers amazing convenience packed into a tiny great looking package.

I am a Apple convert (3 years Android free) but until last year never even wanted to look at the watch. I had gastric bypass surgery last summer and needed to make a lifestyle change. A big part of that was exercise. I now walk 5 miles a day and have dropped 105 pounds in weight. I started my transformation with a Series3 that was a gift from my wife’s boss. He gave us each one. It wasn’t cellular or GPS but did have the workout stuff on it. The more I used it the more I wanted to leave my phone at home. The beginning of this year I purchased 2 Series 5 (GPS/Cellular) watches, one for me and one for my wife. I’m set up on my watch to track Workout, monitor heart, music, messages, email, calls, monitor home security thru Vivint, MyQ garage door, various WEMO switches in my home, Apple wallet, Audiobooks,Bear Notes, Calendar, Medical Emergemcy Data, Banking..... Yes this is all on my phone BUT I don’t have to drag my phone around if I don’t want to. My AirPod Pros connect flawlessly to my watch so I can listen to music or calls anywhere, anytime.

Having said that, it is a personal choice to use or not use the watch. As you got it as a gift you’re not out financially so you don’t need to worry. The watch is not for everybody and it seems it’s not for you. Regift it to someone who may be looking for one.

RMW49 I agree on the couch potato thing. I was the size of a sack of potatos. The surgery and lifestyle change along with the watch for tracking everything, has been invaluable to my dramatically improved health.
 
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- AppleTV remote
- Exercise tracking - weightlifting and cardio
- Sleep tracking
- Timer
- Alarm clock - I keep my watch in silent mode so when my alarm goes off it just shakes my wrist so I don’t disturb my partner.
- Listening to music - I have the cellular version so it’s handy when I can leave my phone at home when I go for a walk/run.
- Answer calls - if I can’t get to my phone quickly.
- Unlock my Mac - when it works.
- Verify work SSO - we use single sign-on at work. When the app prompts me for verification I can accept on my watch. This is REALLY convenient.
 
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This is what I think I use it the most for:
-Exercise tracking
-Apple Pay
-Reading notifications
-Setting timers
-Listening to music and podcasts when exercising
-Checking weather
-Grocery/shopping lists

My biggest benefit is exercising without my phone. Can't believe I used to run with my XS Max in my hand.
 
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I love my watch and I use it for:
  • Shopping Lists
  • Timer
  • Alarm
  • Time keeping
  • Apple Pay
  • Weather Tracking
  • Timezone tracking (got friends that live in a different country)
  • 2F Authentication with Authy
  • Shortcuts
  • Audiobooks
 
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Running (usually 3 - 4 hours a day).
Sleep tracking
Fall detection
Calorie counting
Audible
Sirius XM
Apple Music and Radio
News (RSS Feeds)
Phone calls
Messaging
Emails
Notes (creating and viewing)
Weather tracking
Noise level tracking
Air Quality tracking
Fantastical Calendar
Phone Buddy (make sure I don’t leave my watch or phone behind, unless I want to)
Reminders
Heart tracking
OTP AUTH (One Time Password for 2FA)
Timers
Apple Pay
 
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You got one and are just keeping it in a drawer??!! Least you could do is use it as an actual watch.

But anyways, I absolutely adore my Apple Watch and this is a list of the stuff I've used it for most,
- Activity tracking
- Keeping track of my distance walked or biked
- Notification management
- Quick access to Siri
- Messaging
- Sleep tracking
- It's SUPER handy for quick Shazam's if I hear a song I'm curious about.
- Checking the weather at a glance
- Heart monitoring
- 2FA for certain sites (through the Authy app)
- A remote for Spotify

You have an amazing piece of technology on your hands. Give it a try for a week or two! It can't hurt to try.
 
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rmw49 said:
Then don't use it and keep your phone.
I've got cellular on my watch and my phone stays at home. Road bike needs just a quick glance at the watch to see heartbeat, distance and all other details and I get a GPS map on my phone at the end. Phone calls on the watch. Shopping list on the watch. Reminders on the watch. Time on the watch. Weather on the watch. All exercise details on the watch and I'm a maniac at filling all the rings every day. It makes you do exercise even when all you want to do is be a couch potato - and all being seen with just a quick turn of the wrist instead of digging it out of your pocket in difficult situations by which time the caller has hung up!
I must admit I never thought I'd buy an Apple Watch as I had the same thoughts as you but, on seeing the series 4, I knew I had to try it and it does everything promised and more and I just wish I didn't need an iPhone as well.
Click to expand...
Agree. I like the fact that it is easier to see your notifications since your watch is always on your wrist in view without pulling a phone out all the time. If I need to make a call when others are around, I will use the phone, but will use the watch if no one else is around. And it is easier to watch your activity progress in real time on the watch.
 
mnsportsgeek said:
This is what I think I use it the most for:
-Exercise tracking
-Apple Pay
-Reading notifications
-Setting timers
-Listening to music and podcasts when exercising
-Checking weather
-Grocery/shopping lists

My biggest benefit is exercising without my phone. Can't believe I used to run with my XS Max in my hand.
Click to expand...
I just wish they would let you add store cards to the Watch, then AP would be a no brainer on the watch. If I need to go into my phone for the store card anyhow, I may as well pay with the phone.
 
compwiz1202 said:
I just wish they would let you add store cards to the Watch, then AP would be a no brainer on the watch. If I need to go into my phone for the store card anyhow, I may as well pay with the phone.
Click to expand...

Use the stocard app. There might be others but that a the one I use for my store cards. I switched to it from another app, specifically for the Apple Watch integration.
 
My biggest use for it is as an actual timepiece.
I got the cellular version so that I could head out for exercise without my phone but still be contactable if needed.
When shopping Apple Pay on the watch is easier than a phone now that face masks are needed in shops.
I also use timers when I’m cooking through Siri and reminders for the shopping list shared with my (almost) wife.
As others have said the watch doesn’t do anything that you can’t use your iPhone for, but it makes everyday life so much simpler.
Give it a proper chance and you may just find that your iPhone leaves your pocket a lot less.
 
Notifications (I have loads)
Fitness
Music
Pockets (love it on the pocketcast app
Sport scores

Couldn’t t have an iPhone without my Apple Watch
 
Used my AW sport silver series 2 since august 2017 when I bought it. I use it every day for push up notification (especially at work), timer, alarm clock, calendar and reminder. Less for activity but it's nice that it could remember me to walk after one hour sitting or to track my movement at work and during walk with dog. During lockdown I performed a little bit of workout at home and I appreciate it.
 
compwiz1202 said:
I just wish they would let you add store cards to the Watch, then AP would be a no brainer on the watch. If I need to go into my phone for the store card anyhow, I may as well pay with the phone.
Click to expand...
Install Stocard and you can put all your store cards on the watch. Never need my iPhone. Forgot to say that I use only the watch for ApplePay as well as my bank is integrated. Have to keep my bank card with me as purchases over €50 have to be done with the credit card.
 
The "my phone can already do those things" excuse was one of the reasons I didn't get one until a S3. It's significantly faster and more convenient for me to use my watch to check if an incoming text is important, pay with Apple Pay, check the time, etc. I use my phone a lot less since getting the watch.
 
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rmw49 said:
Install Stocard and you can put all your store cards on the watch. Never need my iPhone. Forgot to say that I use only the watch for ApplePay as well as my bank is integrated. Have to keep my bank card with me as purchases over €50 have to be done with the credit card.
Click to expand...
Yes, agree 100%. Ive been using Stocard since my first watch. I do get some odd looks when I hold my watch up to scanner. I’m 68 years young and people think we cant use technology!!!!! But, when the scanner beeps, people smile and compliment. I wish Walmart and Kroger stores would adapt Apple Pay. I still have to pull my payment card out of my wallet. Not the end of the world but.......Two of the largest retail chains in the country and they’re pushing self checkout heavily, so lets get with it for payment. I have the Stocard complication on my Inforgraph watchface and of course its always on your phone.
 
Fatyank said:
I wish Walmart and Kroger stores would adapt Apple Pay. I still have to pull my payment card out of my wallet. Not the end of the world but.......Two of the largest retail chains in the country and they’re pushing self checkout heavily, so lets get with it for payment.
Click to expand...

It took a freaking pandemic for Publix to join us in 2020 and support Apple Pay.
 
Glancing at the time. It's a watch. 🤪

Notifications!!!! Wouldn't wear a smartwatch without this feature.

Nowadays, my third most use of my AW is declining calls. 😂🤣🤣.

Controlling music volume while wearing Airpods. Also scrolling playlist.

Occasional short responses to text/messages.

Timer, when cooking or doing laundry.

Occasional use of Find People.

Occasional use of Maps.
 
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