this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2023
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A lot of my friends have Apple watches and I’m wondering what you feel are the benefits compared to just having your phone in your pocket or in your pocketbook?

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[–] Subject_Tie995@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

It’s a very solid companion device for the iPhone. You don’t need your phone in your hand to check notifications, send messages, or make calls. It has a slew of fitness features and health tracking if you’re into that stuff.

It’s the kind of device that’s hard to understand its true value until you have one and use it. If your friends have one you can have fitness competitions, or use the walkie talkie feature. They’re the most widely supported smart watch, with so many band options to suit your style and needs.

[–] Jaded_Raspberry9026@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

If you have the Ultra you get mob boss respect.

[–] Kaessa@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I got mine specifically for sleep and health tracking. I don't have the cellular version, since I always have my phone with me. It makes it nice to not have to pull my phone out of my handbag just to check the time or the weather, or set a timer.

[–] Troxz_179@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

It saves lives. Me personally it told me when my heart went over 200bpm. Now I need to check for heart conditions. But that made me stop being unhealthy and it made me hit the treadmill and my heart was good again. This was in 2021 I still think about that a lot. Thankfully I was okay. Still here

[–] jdmlife1@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I think AW is amazing thing to have. Notifications, calls (just buy cellular, it's worth it, trust me), fitness things like tracking calories, steps. Features that cares about your health, like sleep data, breating data and heart things. Overall, if you have money for it, go for it. One more thing about Cellular - I was wondering if it's worth to pay extra money for it, but honestly, even when I'm at home its useful

[–] butterflypup@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

My main reason for having the watch is so I don’t have to have my phone with me or I can just leave it in my bag where it’s much safer than in a pocket or pulling it out all the time for whatever reason.

Bonus is the health tracking apps.

[–] graphixgurl747@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

If you need people to list it out you don't need it. Or you can take 2 seconds to Google it and read a few reviews and some info about it. And then decide if it will work for you. You don't need Reddit to regurgitate the feature list as it's available and you can watch some reviews and/or pop in a store and check it out.

[–] jmb-mtg@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

It’s got the time on it

[–] M27TN@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I have one and quite like it but honestly it’s overrated and overpriced.

[–] tooold4urcrap@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I wouldn't get the cellular one.

I don't wear watches or jewelry.. My wedding ring is somewhere. lol

I have the biggest size latest version, but not the Ultra.

I had the smallest size, previous generation and I only had it to tell time..

I dunno why the bigger sized changed things, but I use it for everything now. My phone's always close by so I don't see the need for cellular on it. I have a macbook too so it makes unlocking it magic.

I'm really into the eco system though.

[–] ThatGuyUpNorth2020@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Makes it really easy to tell the time, among other things.

[–] Alternative-Corner29@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I love the possibility of getting away of the phone and screen addiction. I usually go outside just with my LTE Apple Watch. Lifechanger for me.

[–] spot_removal@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Text message notifications on your watch are nice because you don’t have to look at your phone. It’s great while working. Quick glance at the watch without opening the whole phone and getting distracted.

It’s a good watch too. I have three times zones on it and today’s date. That’s a real utility for me.

Exercise tracking is decent.

The breath app is great for relaxation.

Mine is 4 years old and still going strong.

[–] legby@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

A lot of these features are enhanced if you have na iPhone, so I’ll assume that you do.

  • Fitness tracking (but can be achieved with other fitness watches)

  • Quick messaging including answering calls (useful for me while driving). Possible with other smart watches also.

  • Activate Siri without needing phone for simple tasks like timers, reminders (useful while cooking)

  • Shortcuts: I have some home automations in place which is quicker to trigger from the watch.

  • I use Focus Modes a lot so the watch enables quick toggles.

  • Sleep tracking: I like to assess my quality of sleep vs my mood for the day and see if I can identify any correlations.

  • Automatic login into my Mac Mini.

The real value of an Apple Watch is being able to combine all of these and more into one device. If you only care for specific features, then almost any smart watch would suffice. I have the wifi only SE2 and I love it. I only take it off to charge when I’m showering.

[–] Foreign_Curve_5089@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I really like what one review on YouTube said. It was essentially this: an Apple Watch isn’t going to change your life, but it makes everything about 5% better.

Examples include paying for stuff with the Watch—not necessary at all, but it adds a little moment of coolness and fun to your day. Also, listening to lossless albums on the go without my phone—such a simple thing, but it feels just a little magical.

[–] custardbun01@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Aside from the basic Watch features it’s the best fitness tracker on the market imo, and for me doubles as a great motivator (the rings, the badges, and little encouragements actually work for me). Also playing music straight off it when you’re running is great.

[–] External-Presence204@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

One of the main benefits is not having to have my phone with me.

I also like the fitness measurements. Even with my phone, it’s easier to glance at my wrist for notifications than reach for my phone.

[–] throwaway17612d@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Fitness tracking and not needing to take phone with me going for a walk or exercising outside.

[–] marcelocampiglia@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

The Apple Watch is not an iPhone replacement, it is a different device.

I primarily use the Apple Watch for clock features (time, alarms, and timers), checking the weather, tracking my Health and Fitness (workouts, activities, nutrition, sleep, and recovery), listening to music and podcasts, and getting a few notifications.

[–] MattSparling@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I use it mostly for notifications. I leave the sound off on my phone and get vibration notifications on my watch. Discrete but I don’t miss anything.

[–] Unlucky-Ad-2863@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I always wanted to have one but I was like its a waste of money. Until now. Recently I purchased the newest SE during a black friday session. And now I cannot imagine my phone without the watch. Probably the best iphone accessory ever. It reduces phone screentine, I just check the notification and do not grab up the phone and scroll it immediately. Or I can reply from it. I can also pay with my watch. My phone screen on time is now seriously the half of my average since i have the AW. Also the sport modes for various activites are insanely great and its a great motivation too.

[–] nstndg@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

You can ring your phone when you can’t find it 😅

[–] Sea-Beautiful-611@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I exercise every day. The data gathering is truly invaluable to me

[–] Dexter12955@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

So I do not have to take my phone out when I go running. Listen to the music from the watch. Also if I go out for the evening I do not need to carry the phone. Lots of benefits having one.

[–] RunProudRunUnited@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] Eriol_Mits@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

It’s not a replacement for the phone, however I wanted a fitness watch. I’ve got some cheaper ones in the past and while they have done okay they have broken after a while.

Got the SE2 recently and have no idea why I never got one sooner. Give me all the fitness and sleep tracking information I want, plus the ability to get notifications, respond to text messages and pay for items from my wrist. Had it for a month now and it’s well worth the price.

[–] Chrispy_king@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I feel like something is missing when I’m not wearing it. I go to check the time, my notifications, the weather forecast, use it as a handy torch, controls my music when at the gym, an alarm that vibrates so won’t wake up my wife when I go to the gym early etc etc, the list goes on and I’m far from a power user.

[–] Spartan04@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Part of it is not having to pull the phone out for simple things like checking notifications, Apple Pay, controlling music playback, etc.

When I’m at home even when the watch is connected to the phone a lot of times my phone isn’t in my pocket and may be in another room, so if I get a call I can quickly glance, see if I want to answer it, and dismiss it if I don’t without having to go get my phone.

I have a cellular watch so I also like not having to take my phone with me sometimes, especially if I go for a run or a bike ride. That way I still can call someone if my bike breaks and I can’t fix it or something like that but I don’t have to carry a bulky phone.

[–] iwashere33@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Big things for me:

Leave house without phone or wallet. Can still make calls and pay for shopping.

Sleep tracking

Heart rate and ECG i check at least once a day

And when driving, the watch reminds me that a turn is coming up. Useful when driving for hours .

[–] Li3ut3nant_Dan@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Do you want an Apple Watch? If you do, it’s a benefit to have one. Everyone has their own reasons.

[–] kduong89@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

to complete the Apple ecosystem and telling people that I am an iFan 😂

[–] Odd-Walrus-8933@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I use mine like many others for the fitness tracking, but also A LOT for my smart home stuff. “Turn the vacuum on”, “kitchen lights on” and so on. So nice not having to fiddle with my phone and also I always have it on me.

[–] OldVenomSnake@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

When there is a notification, I can use my apple watch to separate out notifications that I need to immediately respond (e.g. important message/call from work or family) vs ones I can take care of later without taking out my phone. Before having the apple watch, I have to take out my phone every time when there is a notification.

I also use Apple pay with the watch all the time without taking out my phone.

Both of these use cases works with non-cellular version as well. Of course you'll need your phone nearby or have wifi so you can receive messages, but it doesn't require you to have a cellular watch or have the cellular plan on the watch.

[–] IRedditIKnowThings@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

That you can join this subreddit

[–] Graham2405@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I bought it as a watch, and as a watch it’s perfect.

The value added is to me, easy to change straps, ditto display. It becomes multiple watches to suit.

Its reminder facilities, for emails, texts, calendar, etc.

What’s not to like.

[–] Neuromancer2112@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

After initially getting an iPhone years ago, I was happy to have the time on screen, so I didn't need to wear a watch, but the benefits of the Apple Watch were really good for me:

  1. I specifically got it for Fitness+ initially, as I have that free through work.
  2. Decided to track my sleep, and now I'm getting better sleep these days.
  3. Works great for me at the gym; can control music without taking the phone out of my pocket.
  4. I have the Modular Ultra face, so I can immediately see my activity at a glance, and have immediate access to multiple other apps via complications.
  5. I use it to approve 2FA requests at work - that's been super helpful.

Overall, has been well worth it for me.