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

What do you use your Apple Watch for?

iHorseHead

iHorseHead

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 1, 2021
1,950
2,616
Hey!
I have an Apple Watch SE and it's pretty old by now, but well… I never understood what people use it for. For what does one even need storage for?
I bought mine to track my sleep. I have one app on it and never needed any others. I once paid at the store with my Apple Watch and the seller laughed and I've never used it again (True story, by the way) and I have my iPhone with me all the time.

I've only used it for tracking my sleep and steps. That's it. I've checked the App Store on my Watch but there's nothing there. I don't even feel like I need the new Apple Watch, but I'd certainly want a better battery life, because despite the minimal usage (I think it's minimal to what other people use it for(?)) the battery has never lasted me full 24 hours. It even runs out of the battery when I'm asleep and doing nothing, so I do need to charge it daily and the battery life is at 81%.
I've been thinking about getting the new Apple Watch SE for Christmas, instead of replacing the battery, since my Watch is no longer supported.
What do you use it for though? A $50 (Huawei Watch Fit etc) do all the same things.
 
- My main use is workout tracking. Over the past five months, for example, I have probably tracked 140-150 workouts. In addition to Apple's standout workout app, I use SmartGym. I program workouts on my iPhone or iPad, and when in the gym, I use the Apple Watch to track sets and reps. For example, yesterday, I programmed a workout and after each completed set, I marked the weight and reps on my watch. The app automatically lets you know when you have had enough rest between sets, tracks volume, calories burned, etc. The Apple Watch also connects via bluetooth to various cardio machines in my gym. When I go on a treadmill run, I just place my Apple Watch by the bluetooth icon on the treadmill, and it automatically starts to track. The data I get from all of this - running pace, heart rate zones, calories burned, distance, volume of weight lifted, etc is great for tracking progress and setting goals.

- I use notifications - mainly messages and Outlook. I can check whether I need to reply or to read an e-mail very quickly.

- I use it to track health stuff - the main ones I watch are resting heart rate and respiratory rate. I have a medical condition that makes me always want to track both - if both get high, it is a concern. Earlier this year, I noticed I was short of breath more often. This was confirmed by Apple Watch respiratory rate, which logged a trend of higher respiratory rate. As a result I have dramatically changed my health and medical routine, which has been very good for me.

- My main complications are messages, stocks (so I can track the market during the week), sunrise/sunset (I like to view both), tides (I live near a beach and like to know when tides are high and low)

- I sometimes listen to podcasts without my phone on my cellular Apple Watch

- Sleep tracking is something I do on and off, but it is not the most critical thing for me

- The new notes app on the Watch is also useful for lists and such

In short - the Apple Watch is probably my most important Apple device, after my phone. It lets me track workouts, health metrics, gives me instant access to notifications. It is a critical part of my life at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tom2517, arc of the universe and Saturn007
Main uses are to track fitness and seeing text, emails and other notifications without pulling my phone out. I would not be without an Apple Watch.
 
The time, fitness tracking, phone (with AirPods), Apple Pay, controlling my Apple TV sometimes, messages, Find My, and not having to carry my iPhone all the time.
 
I only use it for sleep and general health tracking (steps etc). I turned off all the mirrored notifications because the vibration that WhatsApp and other "no watch app" apps uses was just driving me mental. I have a card loaded for Apple Pay but only as a backup; pulling out my phone is still easier.

If it fell to bits tomorrow I wouldn't replace it.
 
Apple Watch is easily my favorite Apple device. It gives me freedom from my phone and did even before I got a cellular model. When I got my first watch (Series 4 GPS), for the first week I thought I was going to return it, because I wasn't "using" it.

What I realized during the second week was that "not using it" and especially not using my phone was its best feature! I was using it even when I thought I wasn't. It untethered me from my phone at home and at work. All my notifications were on my wrist at a glance without having to pick up my phone and look at it all the time. My phone can sit anywhere in the house or office, and I can forget about it. I don't have to pick it up at all, which is nice.

Apple Pay: I use it all the time from my watch. I've only used it once from my phone. Most cashiers are familiar with it now, but I do periodically get a "you can really do that?" look, or even a "whoa! cool!" reaction. Haven't had a negative experience like yours.

Something a lot of people don't know is that your phone doesn't need to be anywhere nearby for this to work, even with a GPS (non-celluar) watch. You could go for a run, pop into a convenience store miles away, buy a drink with Apple Pay no problem.

Fitness tracking: This is great for me. I love it. I finally did get a cellular watch so that I could continue to get calls, message and notifications while leaving my phone entirely behind while working out.

Notifications & Communication: Glance at emails, chats, messages, make quick replies, take/dismiss calls, check projects. All entirely from my wrist without touching my phone.

Timers & alarms: My watch is the best touchless kitchen timer I could ask for, and of course has alarm clock functionality as well.

Weather/UV/AQI/Conditions: I keep complications for weather on my watchface, which is helpful for gauging when it's a good time to get outside.

Unlocking Macs: Saves me from having to enter my passwords all the time

Driving directions: I like getting direction wrist-taps when using Apple Maps.

Music/audiobooks: I can control volume/playback without touching my phone

Find my phone: Ping my phone if lost under car seat, etc.

Fall detection: Peace of mind for emergencies if needed.

2FA codes

Apple TV remote

Sleep tracking

Calculator

Tells time.

Basically anything I need is right there unobtrusively on my wrist without touching or carrying my phone, significantly decreasing my phone screen time and making me feel far less weighed down by tech without actually being disconnected when I need it.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: iPAU, arc of the universe, Howard2k and 2 others
Like most, I use it for workouts. I love the cellular option and can now leave the iPhone behind when out exercising. I like to keep track of my resting heart rate and other vitals. As a heart attack survivor with stents put in etc I need to track some heart vitals and HRV to see if there's any trends I need to be concerned with. I'm really not sure how good the ECG is on devices, nothing will beat the 12 lead medical device but even a small device like KardiaMobile will be far better. Coming from a Fitbit, the vitals readout was excellent, giving me a readout each morning of resting heart rate. blood O2, respiratory rate, HRV and skin temp. Good to see this is now on Apple Watches.

The Hypertension monitor is not for folks like me, I have my Omron BP monitor for that and have to accurately monitor my BP.

Aside from that, I love the Apple Pay function on it, it really does work very well and easily. The little things as well, like my Watch unlocking my MacBook is great, making calls on it is very good, as is SMS. Using Siri to set timers for cooking etc is also so useful.

If you're in the Apple Ecosystem, the watch just works, let's put it like that.
 
OW22 said:
Like most, I use it for workouts. I love the cellular option and can now leave the iPhone behind when out exercising. I like to keep track of my resting heart rate and other vitals. As a heart attack survivor with stents put in etc I need to track some heart vitals and HRV to see if there's any trends I need to be concerned with. I'm really not sure how good the ECG is on devices, nothing will beat the 12 lead medical device but even a small device like KardiaMobile will be far better. Coming from a Fitbit, the vitals readout was excellent, giving me a readout each morning of resting heart rate. blood O2, respiratory rate, HRV and skin temp. Good to see this is now on Apple Watches.

The Hypertension monitor is not for folks like me, I have my Omron BP monitor for that and have to accurately monitor my BP.

Aside from that, I love the Apple Pay function on it, it really does work very well and easily. The little things as well, like my Watch unlocking my MacBook is great, making calls on it is very good, as is SMS. Using Siri to set timers for cooking etc is also so useful.

If you're in the Apple Ecosystem, the watch just works, let's put it like that.
Click to expand...
Aah, yeah, I forgot about unlocking my Mac, but other than that Android Watches do all the same things, no?
 
 
  • Like
Reactions: arc of the universe and Howard2k
 
iHorseHead said:
But all watches show notifications and calls and text messages. I've even used very cheap ones.
Click to expand...

As the thread shows, the main use for the product is detailed workout tracking, plus notifications and various specialty apps that people use. If you are just tracking steps, then the product may not be for you.
 
iHorseHead said:
I once paid at the store with my Apple Watch and the seller laughed and I've never used it again (True story, by the way) and I have my iPhone with me all the time.
Click to expand...
That must have been a REALLY long time ago. There was a time when paying with my watch might elicit a reaction from the cashier, but these days it's so commonplace it doesn't get a second glance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BillGates1969 and Howard2k
I have to say, the payment with the watch function is excellent. I last had a Series 4 watch and then stopped using Apple Watches years ago and came back to the S11 last week. I forgot how useful it is to use the watch to pay. And it seems to be quicker and better for some reason than my iPhone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bichon
Bichon said:
That must have been a REALLY long time ago. There was a time when paying with my watch might elicit a reaction from the cashier, but these days it's so commonplace it doesn't get a second glance.
Click to expand...

Yeah same. I remember 5-10 years ago I'd get the occasional comment when I was in the US where the adoption was pretty slow. But these days paying by watch or phone is very normal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jz0309
iHorseHead said:
But all watches show notifications and calls and text messages. I've even used very cheap ones.
Click to expand...
If that is all you want, by all means go for it.
But did you read some of the responses? aW can do so much more, but, again, if you don’t want/need that …
 
Bichon said:
That must have been a REALLY long time ago. There was a time when paying with my watch might elicit a reaction from the cashier, but these days it's so commonplace it doesn't get a second glance.
Click to expand...
Well, while I have been using my AW for almost 10 years for Apple Pay, about a month ago I was in a restaurant at a golf club in a 55+ community and they accepted Apple Pay. When I went to pay with my AW, server said, sorry, my POS machine is on the other side of the counter, and I have never seen anyone using their watch, so I ended up using my iPhone (handed it to her), and I do not remember ever using my iPhone for Apple Pay ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BillGates1969
Tdude96 said:
Apple Watch is easily my favorite Apple device. It gives me freedom from my phone and did even before I got a cellular model. When I got my first watch (Series 4 GPS), for the first week I thought I was going to return it, because I wasn't "using" it.

What I realized during the second week was that "not using it" and especially not using my phone was its best feature! I was using it even when I thought I wasn't. It untethered me from my phone at home and at work. All my notifications were on my wrist at a glance without having to pick up my phone and look at it all the time. My phone can sit anywhere in the house or office, and I can forget about it. I don't have to pick it up at all, which is nice.

Apple Pay: I use it all the time from my watch. I've only used it once from my phone. Most cashiers are familiar with it now, but I do periodically get a "you can really do that?" look, or even a "whoa! cool!" reaction. Haven't had a negative experience like yours.

Something a lot of people don't know is that your phone doesn't need to be anywhere nearby for this to work, even with a GPS (non-celluar) watch. You could go for a run, pop into a convenience store miles away, buy a drink with Apple Pay no problem.

Fitness tracking: This is great for me. I love it. I finally did get a cellular watch so that I could continue to get calls, message and notifications while leaving my phone entirely behind while working out.

Notifications & Communication: Glance at emails, chats, messages, make quick replies, take/dismiss calls, check projects. All entirely from my wrist without touching my phone.

Timers & alarms: My watch is the best touchless kitchen timer I could ask for, and of course has alarm clock functionality as well.

Weather/UV/AQI/Conditions: I keep complications for weather on my watchface, which is helpful for gauging when it's a good time to get outside.

Unlocking Macs: Saves me from having to enter my passwords all the time

Driving directions: I like getting direction wrist-taps when using Apple Maps.

Music/audiobooks: I can control volume/playback without touching my phone

Find my phone: Ping my phone if lost under car seat, etc.

Fall detection: Peace of mind for emergencies if needed.

2FA codes

Apple TV remote

Sleep tracking

Calculator

Tells time.

Basically anything I need is right there unobtrusively on my wrist without touching or carrying my phone, significantly decreasing my phone screen time and making me feel far less weighed down by tech without actually being disconnected when I need it.
Click to expand...
great list. saved me from writing a similar one.

but i don't think i recall ever getting a 2FA code on my Watch. which simply means that i don't do things on my Watch that cause 2FA codes to come to the Watch. im always doing those things initiated on my iPhone so the 2FA codes go to the iPhone that i have in my hand using it.
so i have a ways to catch up with you to totally use my Watch for even more things !
 
arc of the universe said:
great list. saved me from writing a similar one.

but i don't think i recall ever getting a 2FA code on my Watch. which simply means that i don't do things on my Watch that cause 2FA codes to come to the Watch. im always doing those things initiated on my iPhone so the 2FA codes go to the iPhone that i have in my hand using it.
so i have a ways to catch up with you to totally use my Watch for even more things !
Click to expand...
I was a little vague there, I meant authenticator apps. I've used a couple, one was super convenient. It was just a single tap on my watch to confirm "yes I recognize this login." But also some 2FA apps with codes work. My current one for work email and VPN is DuoMobile.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arc of the universe
It’s funny - I use Apple Pay a lot, but generally use my phone. I rarely use my watch - basically only when using the subway in NYC (where it is super smooth). I should use the watch more often for Apple Pay.
 
Tdude96 said:
I was a little vague there, I meant authenticator apps. I've used a couple, one was super convenient. It was just a single tap on my watch to confirm "yes I recognize this login." But also some 2FA apps with codes work. My current one for work email and VPN is DuoMobile.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have Authy for generating TOTP codes for lots of sites, but the real win is with Duo; they use this at work and its great to just tap "Approve" on the watch when I login and not have to deal with codes at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tdude96
Mine is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 bought in December 2023.
Besides the normal watch functions, I really use the workout functions. Biking strength, training, walking, hiking, etc..

I also use the timer or stopwatch for little things around the home, 10 minutes if I’m watering the grass and I gotta move the sprinkler , three minutes if I’m making tea and I wanted to seep at the correct time, etc.

Plus, I actually like the remote camera function, it’s nice. You can rest your iPhone against something. Have people look at the phone and then press your watch in three seconds later click you got a nice photo.

f9af1be77169b38b160affb1a89ead27.jpg



c110dca2a0f5ab796f13b1740325dd75.jpg

ef4a03b61fffd659132c58cb8cf01a74.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: arc of the universe
IMO it's really for an active lifestyle

Motivation in the gym and tracking workouts. I love getting to that 800+ calories.
Apple Pay. Used it tonight at Kroger.
Reading notifications(News, Sports, Twitter, iMessage, Weather)
Timer
Ping phone when I leave it somewhere in the house
Sleep tracking
Health
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPAU, Adelphos33 and Howard2k
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