It’s time to break the habit of doing everything on your iPhone while overlooking what’s often a better alternative. Consider the Apple Watch pros: It’s a very capable little computer, and it’s right there on your wrist. Odds are you aren‘t taking advantage of half of what it can do for you.
Here are the simple tasks I used to do on my iPhone that are now easier because I do them on my Apple Watch. And all without needing any third-party software. The only apps required come preinstalled on every Apple Watch.
Apple Watch pros: When a smartwatch beats an iPhone
You probably got an Apple Watch to get more active. Me too, and it worked out great. But then I looked for ways to use the smartwatch for more than just fitness. I paid quite a bit for the gadget — I wanted to get my money’s worth.
It’s important not to look at your wearable’s small screen as a con. Extreme portability is the biggest Apple Watch pro. And it likely goes with you everywhere. Find jobs that it’s good at, and you’ll make your life easier.
An iPhone is portable too, obviously, but it’s comparatively cumbersome. Dragging my iPhone out of my pocket just to read a reminder or a one-sentence text message, then shoving it back in my pocket, is a waste of effort when the same information is available on my wrist where I can simply glance at it.
I started looking for non-health-tracking ways to make my Apple Watch more useful by asking myself one simple question — you should try it. Here are the simple things I now use the smartwatch for. If you’re still doing these on your iPhone, think about switching. And none of these require adding third-party Apple Watch apps.
Payments, flashlight and music
Look at all those Apple Watch apps. You should use more of them.
Photo: cottonbro studio/Pexels
Apple Pay: I love using Apple Pay to wirelessly pay for purchases without needing to pull out a credit card. And I love it even more now that I realize I can pay from my Apple Watch instead of my iPhone. Using the smartwatch for payments is even more convenient than a handset.
Flashlight: Whenever I need a bit more light, I use the flashlight on my Apple Watch. It’s perfect for searching for something in the back of a cabinet or reading a menu in a dim restaurant. And it doesn’t require me to have a hand free to hold the light. If I’m going into the woods at night, I’ll bring out the much brighter iPhone flashlight, but that’s about the only time.
Music and podcasts: When I’m enjoying music or a podcast on my iPhone, the multimedia controls are also available on my Apple Watch. Adjusting the volume is as simple as spinning the Digital Crown — which I count as one of the major Apple Watch pros. And I can skip songs or ads embedded into podcasts right from my wrist. This is all very convenient, because I frequently listen to podcasts streaming to speakers over AirPlay while my iPhone is charging way off in another room. My smartwatch is always with me, though.
Texts (and sometimes email)
Texts: It took a while, but I broke myself of the habit of always pulling out my iPhone to read texts. A 7-inch screen isn’t needed to read a one-line message — a 2-inch display is fine. A quick glance is all it takes to read a text on an Apple Watch.
When I reply, I often pick one of the basic responses that can be sent just by touching a button, like “Thanks!” Alternatively, I use Dictation to turn my voice into written words. No iPhone needed.
I occasionally even read an email on my Apple Watch. You can assign VIP status to people in Apple Mail. I did that, and my Apple Watch alerts me when I receive an email from one of them. I generally at least glance at it on my watch, though I usually switch to the iPhone for long messages.
Timers, Siri and navigation
Timers: I time everything in the kitchen with my Apple Watch. It’s far easier to set them up, check on them, and cancel them on my wrist than on my phone. Super-convenient timers sit at the top of my list of Apple Watch pros.
As for alarms, I still set them up on my phone, but watchOS lets me cancel or snooze them on the Watch anyway because it’s just that clever.
Siri: Pulling out an iPhone simply to ask Siri a question makes little sense. Once it sank in that the voice assistant is available on my wrist by holding down the Digital Crown, that became my go-to method. Admittedly, Siri isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. But Apple’s AI assistant can prove useful within its narrow limits. I utilize Siri for a range of functions, from controlling my smart home to getting sports scores … all from my wrist.
To combine two suggestions: setting up a 5-minute timer with Siri just requires telling it “5 minutes.”
Walking directions: Don’t overlook the fact that Apple Maps prove just as useful on sidewalks as on streets. I use the app on my Apple Watch to get around unfamiliar areas. I find it easier than frequently pulling out my iPhone for walking directions.
It also works great when driving, bicycling or taking public transit. The Apple Watch’s haptics, which can discreetly alert you about upcoming turns, work wonders.
Apple Watch pros help you get more out of your wearable
You probably bought your Apple Watch to use it as a health and fitness tracker. But it’s easy to overlook that the smartwatch can do much more. Going above and beyond health-oriented features is among the biggest Apple Watch pros.
Now you know what else I use my smartwatch for. I hope you’ll be inspired by these suggestions to make better use of your own.