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

WhatsApp Now Available on Apple Watch

Enrico77 said:
I’d been waiting for this app for so long — it was supposed to be the freedom to finally go out without my phone. But it turned out to be completely useless and pointless, because it only works if your iPhone is connected. I tested it: left the phone at home, tried to connect via my Apple Watch (4G), and it just doesn’t work.

So what’s the point, really? I mean, if it’s just to quickly read a message notification, that already worked before. Starting a chat when you’re literally holding your phone in your pocket makes no sense — the phone is a thousand times more comfortable for that.

It would have been useful for chatting when you don’t have your phone with you. But it doesn’t work. And it’s not the only one — basically all the “companion” chat apps on the Watch are not truly independent.

The only one that works autonomously is Apple’s native Messages app. So if you go out without your iPhone and want to message someone who doesn’t own one… good luck.

Has anyone tested whether RCS messages are supported on the Apple Watch yet?
Click to expand...
RCS works on Apple Watch as far as I can tell.

Agree on the new WhatsApp app, why even have an Apple Watch if you carry a phone around? To do things in a small screen that could be done much better on the big screen, in your pocket?
 
sflagel said:
Terrible. What is the benefit of an app on an Apple Watch if you have to carry a phone anyway? Why even have an Apple Watch if you carry a phone?
Click to expand...

So you don’t have to pick up your phone or get it out your pocket. Not like most people leave their phone at home often and just use the watch
 
  • Wow
Reactions: sflagel
The Game 161 said:
So you don’t have to pick up your phone or get it out your pocket. Not like most people leave their phone at home often and just use the watch
Click to expand...

Using the watch outside home and without the phone is the only benefit of the cellular Apple Watch though.

So anyone who buys a cellular Apple Watch and gets the associated mobile service must be taking their watch outside home without the phone on a regular basis, otherwise there would be absolutely no point in getting the cellular version and paying for the service.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sflagel
Just tested with a cellular series 10.

With LTE connection and Bluetooth on, messages send as expected.
With LTE connection and Bluetooth off, nothing will send.

I was excited that it would work as a standalone app, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case.
 
  • Angry
  • Sad
Reactions: DaveS79 and sflagel
Glad to see this. Was not expecting to see this at least for another few weeks. I don't use the app much but still happy to see Whatsapp now being supported on iPad and watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mganu
johannnn said:
What are you arguing for exactly? Imagine if the watch couldn’t do iMessage or calls calendar or reminders without the phone being nearby. Would you still defend it?
Click to expand...
I agree. I honestly think that the benefit of “not having to take the phone out of your pocket” is dwarfed by the cumbersomeness of interacting with an app on the tiny screen. And £800 for notifications seems a bit over the top (plus the opportunity cost of not wearing a proper nice watch).

Having an Apple Watch without cellular and without the intention of leaving the phone at home at least sometimes, is an odd choice to say the least. This is the only use case for an Apple Watch.
 
johannnn said:
What are you arguing for exactly? Imagine if the watch couldn’t do iMessage or calls calendar or reminders without the phone being nearby. Would you still defend it?
Click to expand...
I'm not defending it i'm saying most people use their watch for notifications so you don't need to pull out your phone for everything. obviously whatsapp should be able to work without your phone on cellular. thats a bad miss but i doubt the amount of people leaving their phone at home is that high. most will always have their phones with them unless they go running alot or go for walks and don't want to use their phones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sflagel
bob24 said:
Using the watch outside home and without the phone is the only benefit of the cellular Apple Watch though.

So anyone who buys a cellular Apple Watch and gets the associated mobile service must be taking their watch outside home without the phone on a regular basis, otherwise there would be absolutely no point in getting the cellular version and paying for the service.
Click to expand...
oh i agree that it should work for this and if you use cellular this makes things pointless but my point was most people will always have their phone with them and if it's in their pocket will often just check their watch and at least this app allows people to do so now.
 
The Game 161 said:
oh i agree that it should work for this and if you use cellular this makes things pointless but my point was most people will always have their phone with them and if it's in their pocket will often just check their watch and at least this app allows people to do so now.
Click to expand...

I guess what I’m saying is that if you are arguing that “most people will always have their phone with them”, you’re kind of saying there is almost no market for the cellular Apple Watch (because it is the only point of the cellular version).

So while I agree a majority of people probably don’t mind, if Apple bothers with cellular versions of the watch my point is that the share of users who care about using the watch without a phone nearby probably isn’t as tiny as you think (if it was super niche, Apple wouldn’t bother with separate cellular SKUs).
 
  • Like
Reactions: johnhackworth
bob24 said:
I guess what I’m saying is that if you are arguing that “most people will always have their phone with them”, you’re kind of saying there is almost no market for the cellular Apple Watch (because it is the only point of the cellular version).

So while I agree a majority of people probably don’t mind, if Apple bothers with cellular versions of the watch my point is that the share of users who care about using the watch without a phone nearby probably isn’t as tiny as you think (if it was super niche, Apple wouldn’t bother with separate cellular SKUs).
Click to expand...
As I wrote before, I am surprised there is a market for a non-cellular Apple Watch; i.e., a £400 fitness band. Shows that I know nothing.
 
andyapple123 said:
It says compatible with watchOS 10.0 or later so It has to work.

No need to change the watch if the app is supported.

Whatsapp support is useless
Click to expand...
Doesn't mean though that the hardware is powerful enough to run it.
I know their support is ahh, but no one here knows why the app crashes, so I dont think youll receive a satisfying answer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back