Why you should watch out for the Watch
The Apple Watch has a market share of over 50 percent in the smartwatch market. What makes the device so popular, and why is it so important for Apple?
When the Apple Watch 1st generation was introduced, it was not much more than a gadget that allowed you to answer calls and texts from your wrist. However, later iterations of Apple’s computerized Watch completely innovated the smartwatch market, and now the California company sells more watches than the whole Swiss watch industry.
However, what is it, that makes the Apple Watch so popular that more than half of the smartwatches that are sold come from Apple?
It’s smart
The Apple Watch is the “smartest” smartwatch available right now. The operating system is going into version seven, Watch OS 7, this fall, and it is hands-down the most capable smartwatch operating system on the market. It seamlessly connects and communicates with the iPhone and has only minor issues.
Android competitors have to choose from three different Operating systems, which are all compatible with most android phones, but each of them has its perks, and hence the variety of Apps for the smartwatches isn’t as broad as in Watch OS.
Said variety of Apps is what makes the Apple Watch so smart. The newest generation (as of 31.08.2020), the Series 5, comes with a two-core processor and 32 GB of storage. Plenty enough for a device that sits on your wrist.
However, this power enables developers to create all kinds of apps, ranging from the game Pong to a well equipped Twitter client called Chirp. The first party apps are also perfectly optimized for the Apple Watch. Navigating around town with Apple Maps or checking your messages via the Watch is as convenient as it gets, and Siri functions perfectly.
The well-optimized first-party applications and the wide availability of high-quality apps for the Apple Watch make it the smartest smartwatch currently available and give it an edge over the competitors.
Health feature
Probably the most significant appeal of the Apple Watch are the built-in fitness tracking and health features.
Preinstalled come features like the workout app, a heart rate monitor, and an ECG (if you have a series 4 or newer) as well as fall detection and a warning for noise potentially damaging your ear.
The workout app lets you track workouts from various sports, everything from outdoor walks to climbing and snow sports. While there are certainly better trackers for each sport, no all in one tracker comes close to the Apple Watch’s variety in sports supported.
Alongside the well-rounded first-party workout app, the various features focused on health are even more impressive.
While the heart rate monitor has been featured in ever Apple Watch, the ECG came with the Series 4. ECG, short for electrocardiogram, creates a heart current curve. While ECGs can be used for many different conditions, the single-lead ECG on the Apple Watch checks for Arterial fibrillation. This condition can increase the risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.
Furthermore, the Apple Watch has built-in fall detection. When activated, the Apple Watch can detect falls and call emergency services when the user isn’t responding. Other health features include the warning for loud noises, in order to prevent hearing loss and cycle tracking.
These are only the first-party apps that are installed on the Apple Watch that are health-related. In the App Store for the Apple Watch, users will find many more.
The most significant advantage of the Apple Watch’s health and fitness tracking features is that Apple updates them frequently. Coming with Watch OS 7 is sleep tracking, a feature that provides the user with insights into their sleeping habits to better understand their sleep and how important it is for their well-being. It is also rumored that the next generation, the Series 6, will have the ability to monitor blood oxygen saturation.
The different health features are a massive part of the Apple Watch’s success because they appeal to so many different users. Young people take full advantage of the various sports supported by the Workout app, whereas older people can rest assured that even if they fell, the Apple Watch would be calling help. Also, people with existing heart conditions are appealed by the possibility of having an ECG on their wrist. (Please bear in mind that the Apple Watch’s ECG is nowhere near as accurate as the one in a doctor’s office or a hospital. However, it is a good option for at home.)
Integration into the ecosystem
While the Watch is smart, and the health features alone could be enough to get people to buy an Apple Watch, the integration into the existing Apple ecosystem is the cherry on top.
In combination with other Apple products, the Apple Watch really shines. Whenever I walk to my desk and open up my MacBook Pro, it is immediately unlocked. Health and fitness-tracking features are synced via the health app, and I don’t have to worry about syncing something manually.
I can answer calls, receive notifications, and easily controls the volume of my music. I can even pair the Watch with my AirPods Pro seamlessly without the need to scroll through menus or searching for Bluetooth connections on the Watch.
Also, because the Apple Watch is a wearable, it does not compete with Apple’s other products. It fits perfectly into the ecosystem. Hence, if people want a smartwatch for the Apple ecosystem, there is only one product line to choose from, and even the individual products are clearly distinguished from one another. Because of the perfect integration into the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch is something that appeals to every Apple user, regardless of how deep they are rooted in the Apple ecosystem.
Long support and Durability
Another reason for the Apple Watch’s unrivaled popularity is the longevity of the Watch. While the screen can get scratches and the body may scuff up after a lot of wear, the Watch does not easily break. It is water-resistant can even track swimming workouts.
The wristbands are easily exchangeable, and the sportier ones are either made of fluoroelastomer or nylon, which increases their lifespan and makes it comfortable to wear the Apple Watch. So if push comes to shove and a wristband should break, it does not ruin the Watch, you just swap it out for a new one.
Another huge factor in the longevity of the Watch is continuous software support. The support for the Series 2 will end this year with Watch OS 7 after nearly four years. For a small device and with that kind of improvement in chip technology, four years of software support are a lot.
The continuous support helps to give users access to new features that are introduced with new updates. Especially for a device focused on providing health insights, giving users new features, like sleep tracking, increases the life span of the product immensely.
The drawbacks of an Apple Watch
Even though the Apple Watch is a fantastic device, it isn’t without its drawbacks.
The biggest one is that non-iPhone users can’t benefit from the features. The Apple Watch is not compatible with any other Phones than the ones from Apple. While that is obvious, it is a shame because no android smartwatch provides such a broad feature set.
The dependency on the iPhone is a blessing and a curse at the same time. People who would like an Apple Watch but can’t afford an iPhone or don’t want an iPhone can not use the Watch on its own. Even if you get the LTE version of the Watch you still aren’t able to access the App Store or get software updates without having an iPhone. While that may deter some people, it may be a reason for others to buy an iPhone and get into the Apple ecosystem. Hence, it is a double-edged sword.
Another point of criticism for the Apple Watch is the battery life. I charge my Watch daily, and it isn’t a big deal once you get used to it, but I would wish that the Watch would be able to last my through two days and a night without needing to charge it.
Why will it become even more important?
The Apple Watch will become even more critical in Apple’s product lineup because, as I previously mentioned, it can serve as an entry device into the Apple ecosystem.
People who really want an Apple Watch may buy an iPhone to accompany it because there isn’t another device like the Apple Watch with all the features it provides.
Another important reason why the Apple Watch is vital for Apple is the health and fitness tracking features and the privacy concerns accompanied by them. While a lot of competitors have similar features, privacy is getting more and more critical.
So far, Apple has been quite strict about privacy concerning the phones and data of their consumers. There have been some smaller concerns. However, I certainly would pick Apple to have my data rather than any other of all the tech giants.
I think many people feel the same way, so when they are looking for a device that tracks their health, they want that data in the most hands of the company that looks the most trustworthy.
In my opinion, the Apple Watch is a unique little device with so many neat features. I can’t even express how convenient it is having one when you are in the Apple ecosystem, and it certainly is one of the best one-for-all smartwatches out there. While it is the most popular one for consumers right now, it certainly is one of Apple’s most important devices in the future.
Stay safe
Raffael
