What it was like to give up my Apple Watch after three years of constant use
After three years of daily use, I've decided to give up my Apple Watch for a week to prove to myself how useful and important it really is -- or maybe, it isn't.
I've been using Apple's wearable since it debuted and for the most part, I've been a vocal fan.
Soon, Apple is expected to debut their latest 'Series 4' Apple Watch. Before I jump in head-first and upgrade yet again, I wanted to test myself and see if I truly did need my Apple Watch. Is this something I can't live without, or have I just fallen for my own hype?
Before I ditched the watch for a week, there were a few things I wanted to sort out. What did I use my watch for most, and what -- if anything -- would be the replacement.
I have a bad history of not paying attention to my phone, and my Apple Watch notifications help make sure I don't miss anything. So, that's high on the list.
The Apple Watch has truly helped me stay active. Whether it is making sure I'm not lounging too long on the couch or making sure I head to the gym on a regular interval. Each day I make an honest effort to fill my rings.
Possibly most importantly, I'm a Type 1 diabetic and use my Dexcom CGM to view my glucose levels on my Apple Watch. It is useful to see on my watch, but luckily I can still view it directly on my phone.
There are plenty of other ancillary tasks I rely on my Apple Watch for such as Siri, hands-free phone calls, heart rate monitoring, HomeKit control, Wallet/Apple Pay, quick access to weather, and more. Though these are all to a lesser extent than the three above.
I considered a lot of options for my possible Apple Watch replacement, and I came to the conclusion that I couldn't ditch a wearable completely. I still needed something -- however minimal -- to help with at least a couple of my frequent tasks.
That's why when I shed my Apple Watch, I went with a super cheap fitness tracker that I had reviewed in the past -- the Mi Band 2. It has a surprisingly large number of features and I was able to pick it up for less than $30 bucks.
My iPhone and HomePod served as suitable replacements for many frequent tasks. Granted, it was ever so slightly less convenient, but I was starting to gain confidence in my ability to forgo Apple's wearable.
Comparing the heart rate tracking to my Polar heart monitor also was confidence boosting, with the numbers falling very close to one another and appearing very accurate for such a small and cheap band.
Eventually, though, things started to turn.
Without my Apple Watch I found myself using my iPhone more than in the past. The new Screen Time digital health features in iOS 12 even confirmed that. Since I had to pull my iPhone out for so many tasks, I ended up diving into other apps and wasting more time there than I normally would have.
I also missed my Siri Watch face. Sports are just kicking into gear and I missed being able to glance down at the watchOS 5 Siri face and see the score of the Buckeyes, Browns, or Indians game without having to actually launch any apps. I miss having my frequent HomeKit scenes presented before I need to think about them.
Leaving to take the dogs for a run/walk was also a bummer. I love heading out, locking the door with my Apple Watch, turning on my Apple Music playlist with my AirPods, and starting a workout. Cellular connectivity means I also am able to get security alerts from HomeKit or my security cameras while I'm away. Mi Band wasn't up for any of this.
I went without music once and another time I tried to bring my iPhone but it was super uncomfortable to keep in my workout shorts while running. When I was without my phone, I had a bit of a sense of worry knowing I couldn't be reached and that I couldn't watch after my home.
Paying for things was more difficult having to always pull my phone out. When going through the drive-through at Starbucks, I had to unplug my iPhone from CarPlay to scan my Starbucks card rather than being able to have it scanned off my Apple Watch. Minor annoyances, but they add up and ultimately what gives Apple Watch the better user experience.
Workouts also provided much less information and Mi Band lacked any of the social aspects found in the Apple Watch. I've several friends using Apple Watch where we compete and challenge one another in our workouts and the Mi Band made me feel a bit left out, and less motivated.
Another thing I noticed right away was that the Apple Watch is a great way to unlock your Mac. It is almost instant whereas even using Touch ID feels like it lags. I forgot about this feature until I no longer had it to rely on.
The Mi Band 2 was a great device. It was a fantastic fitness tracker that is significantly more cost effective than Apple Watch or even a Fitbit. I actually preferred the Mi Band 2 over any of the Fitbit models I've used in the past.
Sleep tracking was also something that I've been very interested in and have yet to find an excellent option with the Apple Watch. I've used Pillow, Auto Track, SleepScore (and SleepScore Max) and others but it was nice that the Mi Band 2 had this automatically built in.
Apple's Health app syncs with Mi Band so I was able to somewhat keep track of my activity versus others, but it wasn't quite the same.
There is one area that I really loved when not having my Apple Watch. I had the opportunity once more to wear other watches. I've quite a few watches I've gotten over the years myself or as gifts and it was a struggle for me to keep my Apple Watch activity streak and to get the chance to sport one of my other timepieces.
I always knew I was going back to my Apple Watch. I haven't worn it nearly every day for the past three years for fun.
I'm still glad I tried this experiment, though. It reinforced my love of my Apple Watch and helped me put everything into perspective. What I love is that I don't have to force the Apple Watch into my life. It fits and offers me many things from peace of mind, to more workout notification, and lots of convenience.
Apple Watch isn't just a simple fitness tracker, but it unlocks your computer, controls your home, finds your phone, acts as a flashlight, and so much more.
Right now, the Series 4 Apple Watch looks great. I'm very excited to try out the new complication-dense watch face that got leaked ahead of time because glanceable information is some of the most useful.
I can't say with certainty I will be upgrading to the Series 4, but I can say without a doubt I love my Apple Watch.
I've been using Apple's wearable since it debuted and for the most part, I've been a vocal fan.
Soon, Apple is expected to debut their latest 'Series 4' Apple Watch. Before I jump in head-first and upgrade yet again, I wanted to test myself and see if I truly did need my Apple Watch. Is this something I can't live without, or have I just fallen for my own hype?
Before I ditched the watch for a week, there were a few things I wanted to sort out. What did I use my watch for most, and what -- if anything -- would be the replacement.
Considering my replacement
After closely studying my habits, there are a few things I identified as relying on most frequently.I have a bad history of not paying attention to my phone, and my Apple Watch notifications help make sure I don't miss anything. So, that's high on the list.
The Apple Watch has truly helped me stay active. Whether it is making sure I'm not lounging too long on the couch or making sure I head to the gym on a regular interval. Each day I make an honest effort to fill my rings.
Possibly most importantly, I'm a Type 1 diabetic and use my Dexcom CGM to view my glucose levels on my Apple Watch. It is useful to see on my watch, but luckily I can still view it directly on my phone.
There are plenty of other ancillary tasks I rely on my Apple Watch for such as Siri, hands-free phone calls, heart rate monitoring, HomeKit control, Wallet/Apple Pay, quick access to weather, and more. Though these are all to a lesser extent than the three above.
I considered a lot of options for my possible Apple Watch replacement, and I came to the conclusion that I couldn't ditch a wearable completely. I still needed something -- however minimal -- to help with at least a couple of my frequent tasks.
That's why when I shed my Apple Watch, I went with a super cheap fitness tracker that I had reviewed in the past -- the Mi Band 2. It has a surprisingly large number of features and I was able to pick it up for less than $30 bucks.
Starting the week
Heading into the week, I was getting along just fine with the Mi Band 2. I got notifications for social media, texts, and phone calls. Idle alerts made sure I never sat around too long. It was also easily capable of tracking steps, calories, distance, and workouts throughout the day. It also didn't need charged the entire week, though I plugged it in once just to top it off.My iPhone and HomePod served as suitable replacements for many frequent tasks. Granted, it was ever so slightly less convenient, but I was starting to gain confidence in my ability to forgo Apple's wearable.
Comparing the heart rate tracking to my Polar heart monitor also was confidence boosting, with the numbers falling very close to one another and appearing very accurate for such a small and cheap band.
Eventually, though, things started to turn.
Missing my old friend
Around day three I started to really yearn for my Apple Watch.Without my Apple Watch I found myself using my iPhone more than in the past. The new Screen Time digital health features in iOS 12 even confirmed that. Since I had to pull my iPhone out for so many tasks, I ended up diving into other apps and wasting more time there than I normally would have.
I also missed my Siri Watch face. Sports are just kicking into gear and I missed being able to glance down at the watchOS 5 Siri face and see the score of the Buckeyes, Browns, or Indians game without having to actually launch any apps. I miss having my frequent HomeKit scenes presented before I need to think about them.
Leaving to take the dogs for a run/walk was also a bummer. I love heading out, locking the door with my Apple Watch, turning on my Apple Music playlist with my AirPods, and starting a workout. Cellular connectivity means I also am able to get security alerts from HomeKit or my security cameras while I'm away. Mi Band wasn't up for any of this.
I went without music once and another time I tried to bring my iPhone but it was super uncomfortable to keep in my workout shorts while running. When I was without my phone, I had a bit of a sense of worry knowing I couldn't be reached and that I couldn't watch after my home.
Paying for things was more difficult having to always pull my phone out. When going through the drive-through at Starbucks, I had to unplug my iPhone from CarPlay to scan my Starbucks card rather than being able to have it scanned off my Apple Watch. Minor annoyances, but they add up and ultimately what gives Apple Watch the better user experience.
Workouts also provided much less information and Mi Band lacked any of the social aspects found in the Apple Watch. I've several friends using Apple Watch where we compete and challenge one another in our workouts and the Mi Band made me feel a bit left out, and less motivated.
Another thing I noticed right away was that the Apple Watch is a great way to unlock your Mac. It is almost instant whereas even using Touch ID feels like it lags. I forgot about this feature until I no longer had it to rely on.
Choosing one or the other
Apple Watch is a personal device. Everyone uses it differently. On the surface, it seemed I could easily replace the Apple Watch with a cheaper, more minimalistic device and get the same outcome. But Apple's blend of features and excellent design make that a lot harder to pull off than I imagined.The Mi Band 2 was a great device. It was a fantastic fitness tracker that is significantly more cost effective than Apple Watch or even a Fitbit. I actually preferred the Mi Band 2 over any of the Fitbit models I've used in the past.
Sleep tracking was also something that I've been very interested in and have yet to find an excellent option with the Apple Watch. I've used Pillow, Auto Track, SleepScore (and SleepScore Max) and others but it was nice that the Mi Band 2 had this automatically built in.
Apple's Health app syncs with Mi Band so I was able to somewhat keep track of my activity versus others, but it wasn't quite the same.
There is one area that I really loved when not having my Apple Watch. I had the opportunity once more to wear other watches. I've quite a few watches I've gotten over the years myself or as gifts and it was a struggle for me to keep my Apple Watch activity streak and to get the chance to sport one of my other timepieces.
Looking to the future
I always knew I was going back to my Apple Watch. I haven't worn it nearly every day for the past three years for fun.
I'm still glad I tried this experiment, though. It reinforced my love of my Apple Watch and helped me put everything into perspective. What I love is that I don't have to force the Apple Watch into my life. It fits and offers me many things from peace of mind, to more workout notification, and lots of convenience.
Apple Watch isn't just a simple fitness tracker, but it unlocks your computer, controls your home, finds your phone, acts as a flashlight, and so much more.
Right now, the Series 4 Apple Watch looks great. I'm very excited to try out the new complication-dense watch face that got leaked ahead of time because glanceable information is some of the most useful.
I can't say with certainty I will be upgrading to the Series 4, but I can say without a doubt I love my Apple Watch.
Comments
“I have a bad history of not paying attention to my phone, and my Apple Watch notifications help make sure I don't miss anything. So, that's high on the list.
The Apple Watch has truly helped me stay active. Whether it is making sure I'm not lounging too long on the couch or making sure I head to the gym on a regular interval. Each day I make an honest effort to fill my rings.”
I remember living without an Apple Watch;
- Like you when I’m home I don’t pay attention to my phone. I used to miss calls every day.
- I had no idea how many steps I took per day.
- I have a heart condition and getting a heart rate used to be inconvenient.
* With an Apple Watch all of those problems are solved.
Very importantly, now I never miss a call, voice mail or text.
- Added to that, on the AW I check the weather, use the breathing app as well as timers/alarms and Find My iPhone, look at my heart rate and my calendar without dragging my phone with me while I’m moving around the house.
- If my SS Apple Watch Series 2 ever dies, I’ll get another AW.
Great product for me.
It's a funny product. It doesn't seem to have the momentum or mindshare of the iPhone and iPad in terms of revolutionizing the market, and yet it quickly dominated not just smartwatches, but put a hurt on fitness trackers and traditional watch sales. In the first year I think Cook said it was #2 behind Rolex and then last(?) year said that they were number one in revenue across any watch maker. Maybe the iPhone and iPad took the lead positions in their comparable market categories faster, but we're still talking about a massive product success no matter how you cut it.
Another funny aspect is the longevity of this relatively slow digital device. If not for cellular coming this past year (which in itself is an amazing feat for this for the size of this device) I would probably still be ricking my original (Series 0) Watch from April 2015 with plans to get the Series 4 this month for the new OS features. I was using watchOS 4 betas with my Series 0 a year ago without issues. I'd even say that it was more responsive than when I first bought it (something that I think came with watchOS 3(?), which is in itself funny because they either got a lot smarter or did something dumb with the earlier OS builds. I've never seen such a dramatic YoY performance improvement in CE).
Personally, I think Apple does itself a disservice by announcing and then releasing so much stuff around the same time because I'm very likely to get the Series 4 Watch and keep my iPhone 7 Plus for a third year. I'm also hoping that we see SiriusXM (and Spotify) apps launch when watchOS 5 officially launches since they've opened up streaming services that no longer require them to be tethered to the iPhone. If this happens then I'll be even less likely to get a new iPhone this year. However, if they staggered the different product categories to different parts of the year I'd probably buy each every year. But that's me; I'm sure Apple has analyzed this and because of how closely their OSes are now tied together they feel it's best for them financially to announce and launch them all at the same time.
Once I left the house, I was constantly reminded that I didn't have my Watch. My phone doesn't have a Taptic engine, so if I heard a notification, I looked at my bare wrist or analog, then impatiently dug out my phone.
Or, if I got the phone out to make a call or plug in a destination in Maps, or for any reason, I'd see texts and missed calls. With the Watch, I keep the phone ringer off, and don't use vibrate.
Full disclosure and in all honesty, etc., I would never plan to go any time without it. I'm a watch and Watch guy. I've chosen and/or needed to wear a watch since I was a kid, and love watches. So not wearing a watch just isn't a plan.
Apple Watches, except my SS, are significantly lighter than my analogs, so I occasionally forget that I'm not wearing one. I take them off to charge, shower, or do work that would bang them up. I've done the same for 99% of the watches I own/owned. Work watches didn't get that luxury.
I'll be getting an S4, to be sure. I keep telling myself I'll wear a watch and Watch on each wrist, just to take my analogs out for some air. They're too nice to keep in a drawer. When Apple makes a round addition with some elegant faces, my analogs may never get out.
I'm still using a Series 0...mainly for running.
I wear it everyday, all day long. I do like seeing the temp and time throughout the day.
I like all the Workout stats, but have basically boiled it down to one stat...'number of trail runs a month compared to last month.'
If I can run, on average, every other day, i.e., 15+ plus runs a month, everything else seems to take care of itself. My runs get more frequent, longer with lower times w/o really stressing about it.
My AppleWatch got me to focus on my heart rate when I run. To avoid injury, decrease recovery time, improve times, you have to 'run slower to run fast!' The AppleWatch allowed me to achieve this in realtime!
P.S. I do like the minimalist form factor of the Mi Band.
I am currently on Day #8 of my test and this morning, I decided to go back to my Apple Watch. I knew that I used it a lot for Apple Pay, playback control, timers, notifications and such, but I forgot about how useful it was for unlocking my Macs and checking stocks and weather. I also missed a meeting at work last week because I left my phone in my office and I was talking to colleagues. I have become reliant on the watch notifying me of upcoming events. I also realized that I was reaching for my phone so much more that I was before. This morning I finally switched back to my Series 2 and I'll be ordering the Series 4 when it comes out.
lok on on the bright side. After buying the watch now, by the time you can afford a new iPhone you might as well wait for the next version.
I had a Jawbone fitness band years ago and the sleep tracking software feature was actually quite well done. The Jawbone band itself was probably the worst piece of junk hardware ever built for sale. It literally disintegrated and I was horrified by the quality of the components and shoddy construction of the thing. Pound for pound the Apple Watch is an amazing value compared to some of the fitness bands of the same generation as the Apple Watch Series 0. Some of those companies truly deserved to go out of business. Paying 2X or 3X the cost of a fitness band while getting 10X better quality and 100X better customer support makes the Apple Watch an amazing value for an amazing little device.
I will be getting a new Apple Watch and a new iPhone this year. I also suspect that the next generation of AirPods will have some secret sauce (health related) that makes them perform some new magic tricks when paired with the next generation Apple Watch and iPhones. All of these separate and seemingly independent devices will someday, very soon I hope, operate together as a single integrated system to provide a broader range of personalized awareness, health, and well being services for their owners.
To Andrew: You realize that by not wearing your AW for a week means you’re going to miss out on some achievements, right? That would drive me nuts. I used to think badges/medals were kinda silly, but now it bothers me if I don’t hit a goal.
I was under the weather last month and facing the possibility of missing my goals for one day and breaking my one year streak. This motivated me to keep active during the day (instead of just lying in bed). Though it took longer than usual (11:00pm instead of my usual 5:00ish) I still managed to hit my goals.
Edited: My AW3 works great, but damn, that AW4 looks fantastic.
Its suprisingly weird the first couple of times to be device free which in my mind is indicative of a problem. So now I try to go out device free as much as possible. Its very liberating and I find my attention improving. Outside of work I can do without devices although I think i would always carry if visiting another country.