Apple Watch with Android

[one_chunk]

With the announcement of Apple Watch and Family sharing, is it now possible to own an Android and have an Apple Watch with iMessage and all watch related functions too?

There’s not a great deal of info out there right now but I think it’s quite exciting if you can use an Android phone and AW together now.

 

[Cryates]

No, Apple is never going to allow a user to own an Apple Watch that works with an Android device, ever.

 

[The Game 161]

They would lose too many customers I think if they did this...

 

[tbayrgs]

No, Apple is never going to allow a user to own an Apple Watch that works with an Android device, ever.

It’s far more likely that the Apple Watch will eventually work completely as a stand alone device, rather than be connected to an Android phone, which would work in much the same fashion considering just about everything we do is handled through the internet/cloud.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Aside phone calls and SMS support, I could still use my Series 5 as a wifi-only device and have radio, music, podcasts, iMessage, Apple Pay, and so on.

 

[Cryates]

It’s far more likely that the Apple Watch will eventually work completely as a stand alone device, rather than be connected to an Android phone, which would work in much the same fashion considering just about everything we do is handled through the internet/cloud.

Very good point. I don't really think it's that far off from potentially being that either. I think the software update process with the watch would need to drastically improve to get there. Not trying to make an anti-Apple statement here, but I think they'll find a reason or two as to why things like setup absolutely must be done on an iPhone.

 

[hovscorpion12]

I have a feeling that sometime in the future, we will see the Watch app on Android. if we have Apple Music on android, anything could be possible. Apple may work on an iPad app first, then work on an Android Version.

 

[Cryates]

I have a feeling that sometime in the future, we will see the Watch app on Android. if we have Apple Music on android, anything could be possible. Apple may work on an iPad app first, then work on an Android Version.

People aren't switching to Android to get Apple Music though. The two are completely different scenarios. Allowing Apple Music on Android was a way for them expand to their services revenue, and services is the majority of their business now. Allowing Apple Watch on Android would absolutely cause some level of dip in iPhone sales, and probably have a ripple effect of a dip in services revenue too with people leaving iPhone, thus looking to other competing services.

Fitness+ being launched by Apple this year, exclusive to their ecosystem, is probably the best indicator that we are never getting Apple Watch compatibility with Android.

 

[one_chunk]

It’s far more likely that the Apple Watch will eventually work completely as a stand alone device, rather than be connected to an Android phone, which would work in much the same fashion considering just about everything we do is handled through the internet/cloud.

Exactly, it seems as if Apple are moving more towards the stand alone path with each iteration. It being a stand alone device means it doesn't matter if you have an Android phone or no phone at all.

Whereas before if you had an Android phone and wanted an Apple Watch you could forget it!

The only drawback right now seems to be that the Watch would have it's own phone number and you can't access any of the health features from your Android phone if you were to use both the watch and an Android at the same. Also you'd need a trusted family member to have an iPhone of course.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I've had a standalone watch before (The Samsung Gear S) and it had its own phone number, apps, health suite, the works.

It was not an optimal experience not by a long shot. Assuming you wanted to use it to text and not worry about phone compatibility, it's no fun to struggle typing out a text on one. At that time I was using a flip phone (smartphone detox attempt) so the watch was how I kept texting my girl. It took forever to type anything beyond a 'Hi, how r u?'. Much less if she expected a response within a few minutes. It also had heavy battery drain to keep the cellular radio alive. It would die in a few hours if I kept it on, so I'd have to turn it off over and over when I knew there'd be no messages/phone calls for a bit. You could pair a bluetooth headset on it so you're not looking like Michael Knight calling for KITT during a phone call.

 

[tbayrgs]

Exactly, it seems as if Apple are moving more towards the stand alone path with each iteration. It being a stand alone device means it doesn't matter if you have an Android phone or no phone at all.

Whereas before if you had an Android phone and wanted an Apple Watch you could forget it!

The only drawback right now seems to be that the Watch would have it's own phone number and you can't access any of the health features from your Android phone if you were to use both the watch and an Android at the same. Also you'd need a trusted family member to have an iPhone of course.

The carrier can manage the phone number, have it linked to a specific phone line on the account. Technically, my Apple Watch has a unique number on my TMobile plan but it’s obviously automatically linked to my iPhone’s number.

And while you presently need to be linked to a family member to set it up stand alone, I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point, if you’re not using it in conjunction with an iPhone, that Apple creates a web portal that you could log into to set up the Watch as a stand alone device. Still think we’re a couple more revisions away from this possibility though.

 

[Dominican]

never

 

[Rafaelmissoes]

I've bought an old iphone 6s, to sync with my Apple watch SE (GPS/LTE) for use with some apps (inxluding my Gmail. I let the iphone in home, sometimes on sometimes off, and I am really enjoying the watch!!!!

 

[mrteethcentury21]

Apple and Android are incompatible... Never...

 

[bandrews]

I'm partly using a Pixel 5 and Series 6 LTE but you will need an iPhone to set the watch up. Because the watch is linked to my number, and my SIM is in my Pixel, if I'm out wearing my watch and someone calls, both my Pixel and Apple Watch ring. If you use iMessage (I have it turned off at present) then I believe you will receive messages to your watch but not your phone. There are certain apps that purely push notifications from the iPhone to the watch so they wont work but anything with a standalone app should work fine on the watch without being connected to the phone.

It's a bit clumsy but works.