Pros and Cons of Apple Watch

Should you buy the Apple Watch? Learning the pros and cons is the perfect way to make a purchase decision. This way, instead of relying on others reviews, you be the judge and make your decision.

Though the name suggests it’s a watch, it’s more than that. It’s a wrist computer. Apple is not the first company to bring out a smartwatch, but they are the first to do it better.

Pros of Apple Watch:

You can buy other smartwatches at a lower price than the Apple watch, but you won’t get all the functionality that the Apple Watch comes with. Moreover, Ease of use, longevity, long term software update, repairability, reliability, and 3rd party software support are crucial for a smartwatch. Apple Watch does it better in all of these categories.

The specs on an Apple Watch does not matter. It’s because of Apple’s software optimization for their devices. Nevertheless, here are the specs of Apple Watch Series 6.

Watch Series 6 FeatureSpecs
Cellular TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE
Supports WiFi?Yes.
Supports Bluetooth?Yes.
SIMeSIM only.
Water-Resistant?Yes.
GPSYes.
USBNo.
SensorsHeart Rate Monitor, ECG, Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor, Compass, Barometer, Altimeter, Accelerometer, Gyro.
CameraNo.
LoudspeakerYes.
Display1.78 inch.
Display Resolution448 x 368 pixels (326 PPI)
OSwatchOS 7.0
OS Software SupportUp to 5 Years.
Storage32 GB
RAM1 GB
ProcessorDual-core Apple S6
GPUPowerVR
BatteryNon-removable Li-ion 303 mAh.
Wireless ChargingYes.

Here are a few pros of the Apple Watch.

Blood Oxygen Monitoring:

The Apple Watch has a built-in blood oxygen sensor. The blood oxygen app on the Apple Watch can measure your red blood cells’ percentage of oxygen. 

Heart rate monitor:

The Apple watch has one electrical and one optical heart sensor. With these, your watch can monitor and measure heart rate accurately. You can measure your heart rate anytime you want. Moreover, Apple Watch monitors your heart rate periodically and will notify you if you have an abnormally high or low heart rate or irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation – AFib ).

ECG:

The Apple Watch has an electrical heart rate sensor that allows you to take an electrocardiogram or ECG with the “ECG app.” 

Fall detection:

Apple Watch has a built-in fall detection feature. Apple Watch will send a notification to your loved ones if it detects a hard fall. Moreover, if you do not respond within 60 seconds, Apple Watch will call and share your location with the 911 dispatcher.

Always-On Display:

The Apple Watch has a helpful Always-On display functionality. So, you don’t need to turn on your Watch’s display to see time, date, battery status, and notifications. This feature also displays the watch face and time even when your wrist is down.

Accurate Elevation Measurement:

The Apple Watch has a built-in barometric altimeter to get more accurate elevation gain or descent information. The always-on altimeter in the Apple Watch is more accurate to show your current real-time elevation with no latency. It is a handy feature for hikers. 

Compass:

The Watch has a built-in compass that shows the direction and elevation of your current location.

Water-resistant:

The Apple Watch is IP68 rated; therefore, it is water and dust resistant. Though you can take it to the beach and wear it while taking a shower, Apple suggests that don’t wash your Watch with soapy water. It will deteriorate the water seal over time if you do so.

Control Home appliances:

You can control your HomeKit enabled devices through Apple Watch. You can remotely control your thermostat, blinds, garage door, lights, smart plugs, cameras, etc. by your Watch.

Apple Watch can detect Handwashing:

Apple Watch can detect when you start washing your hand and encourage you to keep going for 20 seconds, recommended by CDC. Your apple watch can also notify you if you haven’t washed your hands within a few minutes of returning home.

Track Sleep:

You can track your sleep with the built-in Apple Watch features.

Track Menstrual Cycle:

Apple Watch has a built-in app to track the menstrual cycle. In the app, you can record your symptoms, such as headaches or cramps. With this information, the app can predict and alert you about your next period and notify you about your next fertile window.

Exercise companion:

The apple watch is the best exercise companion and health monitoring device. It can track your steps, movement, calorie burn, cycling, swimming, running activities, etc.

Phone Calls:

You can initiate, receive, and end phone calls from your Watch. You don’t need to bring out your iPhone from your pocket. You can talk through your Watch. Moreover, if you have a cellular Apple Watch, you can leave your iPhone home while you go jogging. You can also call 911 from your Watch.

Wireless charging:

The Apple Watch has wireless charging functionality. 

Walkie-Talkie:

The Apple Watch has a Walkie-Talkie feature. It works the same way as a real walkie-talkie. 

Track People:

Apple Watch has a feature where you can share your location with your loved ones, and they can see where you are on the map. Moreover, if they share their GPS location with you, you can also see their location on your Apple Watch Maps app.

Apple Pay:

Another excellent Apple Watch functionality is Apple Pay. If you set up the Apple Pay on your Watch, you don’t need your iPhone to pay for your purchase. You can use your Apple Watch to pay at stores without not carrying your debit or credit card. However, please note that if you disable the passcode on your Apple Watch, you can’t use Apple Pay.

Remote for Apple TV:

The Watch works as a remote for Apple TV.

Read and Reply to emails:

You can read and reply to emails from your Watch. 

Maps:

The Apple Watch has GPS, cellular connectivity, and the Maps app. Therefore, even without your iPhone, you can find direction with your Apple Watch.

Noise App:

The Apple Watch can measure the ambient sound level in decibel using the Noise app. If it detects a high Noise level, the Watch will alert you of possible hearing damage.

Schooltime feature:

The Schooltime feature limits apple watch features during school hours, allowing your family member to focus.

Unlock your Mac:

You can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac devices. Furthermore, you can control music on the Mac from your Watch.

Control iPhone Camera:

The Apple Watch does not have a camera. However, the Apple Watch can work as a remote switch for the iPhone camera. 

Shows Battery Status of connected devices:

If you connect a battery-powered device such as Airpods with your Apple Watch through Bluetooth, your watch will show the connected device’s battery percentage. 

Locate iPhone:

You can locate your iPhone if it is nearby. From the control panel, click on the “Ping iPhone” button. Your phone will make a tone. In the dark, your phone will flash the lights too.

Feel the Time:

There are three ways you can see time on your Apple Watch. Visual, Sound, and Taptic. In the taptic mode, your watch will vibrate in a specific pattern without any sound and without waking the display. You can even set up your Watch to vibrate in Morse Code to tell time.

Siri Works on Apple Watch:

The Watch has Siri. You can do a lot of stuff by just voice command. Few of these Siri commands are –

  • “Hey Siri”
  • “What time is it?”
  • “Turn on airplane mode.”
  • “What’s my next event?”
  • “Take a picture.”
  • “Turn off the lights in the office.”
  • “What’s 75 times 11?”
  • “Set a repeating alarm for 8 a.m.”
  • “Play the audiobook – name of your audiobook.”
  • “Directions to the nearest gas stations.”
  • “Get directions home.”
  • “Start a 20-minute run.”
  • “What’s the weather?”

Use Apple Watch with Bluetooth Speaker:

You can connect the Apple Watch with a Bluetooth headphone or speaker. So, If you have music on your Watch, you don’t need your iPhone to listen to music.

5 Year Watch OS update:

Only Apple provides long term software updates. Other companies only release updates for 18 to 24 months. For example, Samsung provides software updates for their products for only 24 months. After that, they abandon their products. However, not Apple. They release a continuous software update for five years.

Flash Light:

Though the Apple Watch does not have a dedicated LED for a flashlight, it still has the flashlight feature. If you click on the flashlight icon from the notification panel, the display will become white with 100% brightness. 

Apple Watch Apps:

Apple Watch comes with many built-in useful apps. You can also download many watch apps from the Apple app store. Here is a full list of Watch apps that come pre-installed:

  • Activity
  • Alarms
  • App Store
  • AudioBooks
  • Blood Oxygen
  • Breathe
  • Calculator
  • Calendar
  • Camera Remote
  • Compass
  • Cycle Tracking
  • ECG
  • Find People
  • Heart Rate
  • Home
  • Mail
  • Maps
  • Memoji
  • Messages
  • Music
  • News
  • Noise
  • Now Playing
  • Phone
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Radio
  • Reminders
  • Remote
  • Settings
  • Shortcuts
  • Sleep
  • Stocks
  • Stopwatch
  • Timer
  • Voice Memos
  • Walkie-Talkie
  • Wallet
  • Weather
  • Workout
  • World Clock

Available complications:

You can add more information on watch faces. These are called complications. Here is a shortlist of complications available for Apple Watch Series 6:

  • Sunrise
  • Sunset
  • UV Index
  • Weather
  • Stocks 
  • Air Quality
  • Stop Watch
  • Elevation
  • Blood oxygen
  • Battery
  • Compass
  • Cycle Tracking
  • ECG
  • Heart Rate
  • Moon phase
  • Music
  • Noise
  • Radio
  • Weather
  • Wind
  • Workout
  • Date
  • Rain
  • Monogram
  • News
  • Walkie talkie

Cons of Apple Watch:

These are the drawbacks of the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch is Costly:

The primary cons of Apple Watches are its prices. Apple watches are expensive. For example, Watch Series 6 starts at $400, and the cost can go up to $1500.

Apple Watch only works with the iPhone:

Apple Watch does not work without an iPhone. Though there is a cellular version of this Watch, we need an iPhone to use all the Apple Watch’s essential features. This watch can’t replace the iPhone yet. 

No unlocked Apple Watch:

We can buy an unlocked iPhone and insert the desired SIM from any carrier. However, an Apple Watch does not have an unlocked version. It’s mainly because Apple Watch does not have a slot for a SIM card; it only has an embedded SIM (eSIM). Not all carriers support eSIM. Therefore, before you buy a cellular Apple Watch, please make sure from this Apple’s Page that your carrier supports the Apple Watch.

Single Design:

Every Apple Watch looks the same; it’s square boxy design. There’s no circular Apple Watch. Moreover, Apple has not overhauled its watch design for many years. On the other hand, Android watches come in many different shapes and designs.   

Mono speaker:

The Apple watch does not have a stereo speaker. It only has a mono speaker.

Apple Watch drains iPhones battery:

There are numerous reports that Apple Watch drains the iPhones battery while connected. 

Official Watch Bands are expensive:

The official watch bands that Apple sells on its website are expensive. However, a cheaper alternative is available on Amazon.

Tips and Tricks of Apple Watch:

  • The same band works with the 38mm and 40mm Apple watch cases.
  • The same band works with the 42mm and 44mm Apple watch cases.
  • If you enable the “cover to mute” feature from your Watch App on your iPhone, you can mute a notification sound by resting your palm on your watch display.

Important Frequently Asked Question:

These are some Apple Watch related frequently asked questions. 

Can Apple Watch and Fitbit work together?

Unfortunately, Apple Watch and Fitbit can’t work together. There’s no direct way to share health and exercise data between these two because Apple and Fitbit use two different types of proprietary technology. However, there’s a workaround. You can use an app named “Strava” to transfer data between Apple Watch and Fitbit. Here’s the link on Apple’s app store:

Can Apple Watch detect sleep apnea?

Apple Watch does not have any built-in feature to detect sleep apnea. 

Can Apple Watch detect seizures?

There are no built-in features in the Apple Watch to detect seizures. However, you can download 3rd party apps from the App store for your Watch to detect seizures. 

Does Apple Watch fit small wrists?

It is easy to change the wristband for an Apple Watch. Wrist bands are available in numerous sizes from Apple and 3rd party; here’s an example – https://amzn.to/36E0PIP. Therefore, the Apple Watch can fit a small wrist if you buy the 38mm watch with a small wrist band. If you want to buy an Apple Solo loop, you can use this guide to find the best fitting solo loop from the Apple store. You can also follow this sizing guide from Apple to find the perfectly sized Apple Watch for your wrist. 

Can Apple Watch be used with Samsung Phones?

No. You can’t use the Apple watch with a Samsung Phone. Only the iPhone works with the Apple Watch. Therefore, either you have to switch to the Apple ecosystem or buy the Samsung Watch that works with Samsung phones. However, Samsung watch lags way behind the Apple Watch in functionality and ease of use.

Can Apple Watch be paired with an iPad?

The Apple Watch does not work with an iPad. It’s because you need the “Watch” app on your apple device. Currently, the “Watch” app only works with an iPhone.

Can Apple Watch check blood pressure?

An Apple Watch alone can’t check the blood pressure. However, it can monitor the “Heart Rate.” To check the blood pressure, you need to buy a third party blood pressure device that has an Apple Watch app. According to the American Heart Association, if you have high blood pressure, there’s no alternative to blood pressure measurement. Therefore, the Apple Watch’s “Heart Rate” monitoring feature can’t replace blood pressure measurement. 

Can the Apple Watch charger charge an iPhone?

The Apple Watch charger can’t charge an iPhone. It’s because the iPhone and the Apple Watch use different wireless charging technology. Apple Watch employs Apple’s proprietary 2W technology, whereas the iPhone uses Qi wireless charging technology. Therefore the two chargers are not compatible. It is why you can’t use the Apple Watch charger to charge an iPhone or vice versa.

Is Apple Watch Qi Compatible?

The Apple Watch is not Qi-compatible. You need a dedicated wireless charger from Apple to charge your Apple Watch.

Can Apple Watch check temperature?

The Apple Watch can’t check body temperature because it does not have a built-in body temperature sensor.

Can Apple Watch count steps?

Apple Watch has built-in features that can count your steps and can keep a daily record. 

Does Apple Watch fall detection work without cellular?

You don’t need a cellular model Apple Watch for fall detection. It works without a cellular connection. However, without a cellular connection, the “fall detection” will not notify relatives about your fall (unless connected to WiFi), and in an emergency, the Apple Watch can’t call emergency numbers such as 911. 

Can Apple Watch hurt the wrist?

An Apple Watch can hurt your wrist. However, there are two reasons for this wrist pain. One, Wearing the apple watch too tightly. Two, your Apple Watch strap is magnetic, which affects your blood flow. This disruption of blood flow will cause wrist pain. 

Can Apple Watch open Tesla?

Tesla has not launched an app for the Apple Watch yet. However, several third-party apps can open and control your Tesla remotely from the Apple Watch. One of one them is the “Watch app for Tesla.” Yet, before you purchase the app, please read the negative reviews first.

Can Apple Watch Open the garage door?

You can use the Apple Watch home app to open and close your garage door. However, you need an Apple HomeKit enabled garage door controller.

Can Apple Watch record video?

The Apple Watch does not have a built-in camera. Therefore you can’t record a video with an Apple Watch. However, you can use your Apple Watch as a remote for your iPhone to capture pictures or record videos.

Can Apple Watch replace an iPhone?

The Apple Watch can’t replace an iPhone completely. It’s because the Apple Watch is dependent on the iPhone for many functionalities such as initial setup, installing watch apps without issues, etc. 

Can Apple Watch record audio?

Yes, the Apple Watch can record audio. You can use the built-in “Voice Memo” app on Apple Watch to record audio. The audio will sync to all of your Apple devices if you sign in with the same Apple ID.

Can Apple Watch vibrate to wake you up?

One of the most useful Apple Watch features is that it can vibrate and tap on your wrist to wake you up. It will not make a sound. To turn on this feature, set the alarm and turn on “Silent Mode.”

Does Apple Watch insurance cover lost or theft?

Apple’s limited warranty or AppleCare+ does not cover replacing the lost Apple Watch. Therefore, if someone steals your watch or you lost it somewhere, Apple insurance will not replace your Apple Watch.

Does Apple Watch increase cell phone bill?

If you purchase a cellular Apple Watch and activate the eSIM, it will increase your monthly cell phone bill. AT&T, T-mobile, Sprint, and Verizon all charge $10 extra per month on top of your current iPhone bill. Moreover, you have to take an Apple Watch cellular connection from the same iPhone’s service provider.

Does the Apple Watch track jump rope?

There are no built-in Apple apps that track and count jump rope. However, you can download 3rd party watch apps such as “YaoYao” that tracks jump rope. 

Does Apple Watch qualify for HSA?

The Apple Watch does not qualify for HSA. We have talked to numerous tax professionals about Apple Watch HSA IRS tax write off. According to them, the IRS tax code 502 does not allow the Apple Watch to be a tax-deductible expenditure. It’s because the Apple Watch is not a medical device. Though it has FDA approval for the ECG app, the Apple Watch is not entirely a medical device. 

According to IRS tax code 502, “You can’t include in medical expenses the cost of an item ordinarily used for personal, living, or family purposes unless it is used primarily to prevent or alleviate a physical or mental disability or illness. For example, the cost of a toothbrush and toothpaste is a nondeductible personal expense.”

Does Apple Watch qualify for FSA?

Apple Watch does not qualify for FSA because it’s not a medical device. Apple did not design the Watch to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases. 

Does Apple Watch qualify for tax free weekend?

Only in Tennessee, Apple Watch is qualified for the tax free weekend. No other state allows the purchase of Apple Watch tax free during the tax-free weekend.

Does Apple Watch require a subscription?

Apple Watch alone does not require any subscription. Apple Watch has two versions. One with Cellular+WiFi and one with only WiFi connectivity. If you buy the Cellular version, your carrier will charge you a monthly fee. However, if you buy the WiFi version Apple Watch and use it with your paired phone, you don’t have to pay anything extra to your cellular provider.

Does Apple Watch use a SIM card?

The cellular version of the Apple Watch does not have a slot to put a SIM card. These Apple watches come with built-in eSIM. To use the cellular connection on your Apple Watch, your iPhone and Watch must share the same cellular company.

Conclusion:

If you are on the market for a smartwatch and you already own an iPhone, there’s no best alternative than Apple Watch. Moreover, we also suggest you buy the Apple Watch instead of buying a Fitbit. Though the watch is expensive, the functionality, features, and ease of use pay itself off.

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