Do I need an Apple Watch?

[canadanative]

For those of you who already have one, what function do they provide, other than time and steps, that you now find invaluable?

I like the way messages etc come to it so I can glance to see if it’s something I need to deal with. I don’t look at steps that often, but I like seeing how many active minutes I’ve had and in how many hours. I like seeing trends over time.
You don’t NEED one, obvs, but they are very nice to have.

Getting messages and phone calls, dictating messages and replies, paying in shops without grovelling in my handbag, walkie-talkie when DH is at the end of the garden, loyalty cards, timers for cooking, mindfulness, weather, siri, finding devices.....

I can answer the phone on AirPods without having to fish it out of my bag.

I can control podcasts in my phone that I listen to in the night, without having to open my phone.

I use it as an alarm on vibrate. It’s much nicer than a blaring alarm.

I log my water intake on it (I’m crap at drinking, it reminds me).

I listen to music on it while I’m running. No need to take my phone.

I can use it to find my phone when I’ve put it down somewhere in the house.

I can wear it swimming to count lengths

and yes, steps and the time!

Yes, glance at messages to see if it’s important and needs Dealing with.

pay with Apple Pay without getting phone out.

I got one two weeks ago. I love it. I love the way it tells me when my battery needs charging by tapping me on the wrist. I love the wake up alarm. I love the fact that I can see and answer messages or phone calls. I can sync it to equipment at the gym. I am still playing with different watch faces, the Snoopy one is my current favourite. You might be wondering whether you need one but once you have one you will wonder how you lived so long without on

I've got one with cellular, so can leave the phone at home whilst on the school run, out for a walk etc - Bluetooth to connect to ear buds and able to play music or podcasts on spotify. Apple Pay/loyalty cards. The walkie talkie function is fun and saves endless shouting upstairs (but I also use Alexa drop ins too) They can also be used for falls detection. I wouldn't overly rely on phones and watches to give exact data and o2 monitoring or ECGs as some are reported, but they can be used to detect irregular heart rhythms at a basic level.
No one 'needs' one, but it's nice to have!

Yes, glance at messages to see if it’s important and needs Dealing with

This wears thin as people expect an instant answer!

I love mine - but fine the strap sweaty.

They can expect all they like @Scarletttulips, I answer work things when I’m good and ready 😬. But I do like to see if it’s from my kids or elderly mom so I can reply quickly.

Off the top of my head:
To tell the time
To monitor my activity and track various metrics when working out.
Counting laps when swimming (and breaking down split times, strokes etc)
Directions
Podcasts when walking
Calls when out and about
Quick glance at messages and WhtsApp
Diary reminders
Reminders to stand up
It nudges me to get off my backside and close my rings

I wouldn't be without mine now, had one for years.

You might like one, but nobody needs one. All the things listed in previous posts are things I can very happily live without (and do!).

Don’t like it: very glitchy recording swimming and running using non apple software.

Hi all, I am seriously underusing my watch. Can anyone send me to some kind of tutorial/youtube etc. so that I get more out of it? Thanks

My husband's picks up his irregular heartbeat and records ECGs that his cardiologist finds useful.

Other makes are avaible, we have Garmin watchs in our house. Depending on how much you spend depends on the features you get. Mine is more basic but still answers my phone, receives messages and records activities. DH and DD have the full sports versions which do more.

I like it but wouldn't class it as a necessity.

Thank you everyone. Quite a revelation! Agree I definitely don't need it but I can see some of those functions are useful to have.

No one needs one, they're so overpriced and the battery life is poor but I will be buried with mine 😂

Since the update, my Apple Pay is in a different place and I can't work it out but I used to feel like James Bond paying with it.

I like to see the exercise I've done and activity throughout the day.

I like that I get messages and calls on there if I forget my phone (LTE only)

Heart rate monitoring

Probably all the other stuff people have mentioned.

I do so much more exercise than I did with other activity watches, and I've had a few different ones, for some reason closing the rings and the little fireworks are really motivating. I like the focus on activity and exercise instead of just steps.

I use it all the time to find my phone.
I use it for timers e.g. when cooking
I use it to set reminders (set reminder 2pm take washing out of machine, set reminder 7pm DD needs wellies for school, minor stuff that just falls out of my head these days)
I use it for text messaging using the voice function which makes me feel like I'm on Star Trek
I have the weather on my Home Screen so I can see straight away what the temperature is, and how hot/cold it is going to be today and whether it will rain.

DH and I often joke it’s worth the £400 just to ding your phone!
(It’s a great sit down game with the kids for one to hide and the other to locate it with the dings!)

I find I use it to check my phone less often - I know that means I’m checking my watch but I’m not then immediately on MN or insta.

I like the sleep tracking, I’ve even noticed how sleep is better after a workout for example. And obviously great for winning “who’s the most tired” competitions with your other half.

Then the exercise function just because I think I work out better when I feel I’m being monitored. Even if it’s only by myself

Timers / alarms. aleays using those.

lots of stuff already mentioned.

also walk my dog in the woods alone so fall detection / 999 calling if I have an accident ( my friend fell whilst running and it triggered but you get a chance to cancel it if you are ok before calls 999 so that’s the sort of thing that would trigger it )

I am eyeing one up but it looks like they need charging every night? I currently have a Fitbit and like the sleep tracking ( even if it is a bit depressing). The battery lasts for several days.

You do need to charge every night but they don't take long to charge with the fast chargers they come with now. Mines old and has a slow charger so I charge while I sleep but apparently new ones you charge for an hour or two before you go to bed if you want to sleep track. Also if you do anything heavier than traditional workouts, it will die. My watch does last me a 10k cross train but that probably takes about 30%.

I'm such a baby but I love the fact I can change the face and strap whenever I want! Although, saying that, I've had the Snoopy animation face for a while now. (Fits in with my childish nature)

Following

Thanks @Peacheroo. I wonder why they haven't managed to improve battery life. My Fitbit is not much bigger but lasts for days.

I agree! I think it's because it's essentially a mini phone on your wrist so it's quite busy and tired after the day. I had a garmin really simple one before and that lasted about a week before it died but this is far superior.