Edit: to be clear, of course you need a real phone. The AW doesn’t work without an iPhone. I mean day-to-day not needing to carry a phone every time you leave the house.
Going out for exercise and errands without being (figuratively) weighed down by my phone has been incredibly liberating. My AW with headphones nearly eliminates the need for my phone, especially with wifi. I’m debating going cellular and leaving the phone at home full time.
it’s kind of the perfect balance between a ‘dumbphone’ that doesn’t have social media apps, while still having smartphone capabilities (music, podcasts, maps, Apple wallet etc).
I don’t even mind not carrying a camera. Was even thinking it would be cool to carry a dedicated point & shoot for photos that actually matter.
For me one feature I would find hard to live without would be Apple CarPlay. I drive a lot and carplay is a dream. I suppose I could leave my iPhone in the glovebox?
What about you? What features could convince you to leave the iPhone at home most of the time?
Could I live without carrying an iPhone daily? Yes. I have the AWU so even relying on cellular, I’m confident I could make it through a 16-18 hour day surrounding my 12 hour shifts without worrying about battery and run my errands as well. And when I had active cellular, occasionally I did if was running a couple errands or taking my daughter to the park on my day off.
But would I? No. Not yet. I use the iPhone for too many things that Apple Watch can’t (yet) do. CarPlay, for navigation I general and traffic alerts on my commute specifically, being a big one. Also, that would leave me with no camera and I like taking pictures.
So I suppose I could technically get away with leaving the parent iPhone in the car, but if I need to take it to the car, might as well have it on me, insofar as everyday carry. However my iPhone does spend more time in my pocket these days.
Regarding the camera, if they ever manage to make a “Pro Mini” with acceptable battery life, I’d probably give it a try.
Add Note app that is synced on all my iOS devices and that I can add/edit/delete on the watch.
The ability to full edit the calendar.
A full functioning web browser.
Those things prevent me from using my Apple Watch to its full potential.
A larger screen and battery, a set of cameras, a majority of the apps I use, Bluetooth connectivity, just about literally everything which differentiates the two.
The Apple Watch doesn’t and will never fully replace my phone—it’s a complementary device.
If it would pair to my car, via CarPlay or Bluetooth, so I could stream audio I would be super excited.
Sadly, no.
Apple needs to fix the battery issues with the apple watch that started happening with the latest update. Then I can go BACK to using my AW as my out and about device.
For me: it’s never going to happen. My appleWatch is awesome, but it’s not my iphone.
If apps were better on the apple watch. I hate having to take my phone on runs becuase spotify on my apple watch decided its not gonna play the music I downloaded .
Y’know Meta killing the Messenger app on the Watch really pissed me off. The Watch was a much closer replacement to a phone than it will likely ever be already while that app existed.
I use Messenger to chat to my wife, my other lovers, most of my friends, it’s an essential tool; and I used it almost daily to compose messages only to find it missing randomly one day, and a very sad Google revealed they took it away.
That’s one thing I imagine we will never get back that is a full-stop for me. I’d actually considered a cellular watch before they killed Messenger.
(I’m aware I can hit ‘reply’ to messages still, but what if I want a new one or to see the short history that was there - eg they texted me an address?)
Not even remotely close. What a stupid thing to ask.
I don’t carry my phone around. I wear an Ultra and just leave my phone at home as a hub for the watch.
I don’t think it’s a stupid question at all.
Not at all stupid. I have a co-worker who would love to leave his phone at home full time.
For me, the watch could replace my phone if it had a large screen that I could read ebooks, email and websites from.
It is not a stupid thing to ask. I do short trips daily and love leaving my phone behind. I’m sorry if you can’t afford or understand it’s actually sad that you posted this response. Poor feeble minded Paulo
Your AW absolutely CAN replace your iPhone. You just don’t want it to. We used to wear windup watches that always stopped at the most inconvenient times, and didn’t carry a phone at all. The fact that we can become so dependent on something we didn’t even have when we were kids is pretty amazing. The AW can make and receive phone calls. It can send and receive texts. As far as every day needs, that should be enough. You can order from Amazon at home. You can send and receive emails when you get home or when you pull your iPad air out of your backpack. You can store your passwords at home. You don’t ever really need a phone on you.
If I ditched my phone I’d start carrying a digital camera with me more. I do have a nice one and it is with me a lot, so I don’t even depend on the iPhone that much.
I love my Ultra. Prefer to my iPhone. So much easier. I have to use my phone for obvious stuff , but use my Ultra more than my phone. Just so much more liberating and not so addictive. Love my Complications. Way to go
Far away. Try using the key board on the AW for once and you know why.
I am just waiting for the day I won’t need a phone to pair my watch.
Not even on my radar.
No Uber (or equivalent) then no phone replacement.
If I could call an Uber on my watch I’d often leave phone at home for short outs and dates, I’m pretty sure.