5 Apple Watch Features That Made Me Say “Enough!”
Hint: These were the same reasons why I got one
The Apple Watch is probably the most anticipated wearable back in the day it was launched. As a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, of course I had to get one for myself. After all, the ecosystem won’t be complete without that watch!
After a year of using my first (and last) Apple watch, I finally decided to let it go and switch back to a regular, non-smart one. Why? Here are the 5 Apple Watch features that made me say, “Enough!”
1. All-day Battery Life
Since its first launch, Apple has done improvements on Apple Watch’s battery life to claim that a single charge is enough for a whole day of use. But this is exactly one reason why I finally decided to switch back to a regular watch — the battery only lasts a day.
There would be times that I forget to charge my Apple Watch so I would end up wearing a useless piece of glass and metal on my wrist. After all, a drained smartwatch won’t be able to deliver a function expected even from a regular watch which is to at least tell the time.
2. Modern Design
I’ve always been a fan of modern, minimalist design and I think Jony Ive and his team did a good job in designing the Apple Watch. The metal body and the limitless strap combinations fit a casual, everyday look. But it stops there.
While there are a lot of straps and watch face options that can supposedly transform the look of your Apple Watch into a more formal one, the modern design of the case is still dominant. I realized that when it comes to my main accessory, a regular classic watch beats even Ive’s masterpiece.
3. Frequent Hardware Updates
Innovation is in Apple’s DNA, and so is a frequent stream of new products. Apple Watch gets refreshed every two years to launch new features that benefit customers (and Apple, of course). While this means the latest technology is constantly available, imagine watching the latest Apple keynote only to be reminded that your watch is already outdated.
For a techie person like me, having a regular watch can be an advantage financially — no frequent hardware updates means less pressure to upgrade.
4. Apple’s Ecosystem
We all know Apple’s new strategy to focus on services within its ecosystem of hardware and software. And this is very much evident on how they try to push these services to their users — sometimes leaving us with no choice.
One example is how I was forced to subscribe to Apple Music because I wanted a music app that works with my watch. But now that I don’t use my Apple Watch anymore, I realized that I don’t even need Apple Music.
5. Notifications
This is the main reason why I got an Apple Watch. Imagine being on top of all your notifications and being alerted anytime. Cool, right? Not.
Being bombarded with notifications on your wrist wasn’t a pleasant experience. Imagine talking to someone close and important, then being tapped on the wrist by your watch because you got a random iMessage. What’s your knee jerk reaction? You’ll look at your watch, of course! What will the person you are talking to feel? Probably something synonymous with “bad.”
The main reason why I got an Apple Watch was also a big factor why I stopped using one. I’ve initially seen this piece of technology as an aid to help me connect — ensuring I don’t miss a single message, a single call. But being too attached to these notifications has detached me from the real world.
While technology plays an important role in our lives, we still need to be wary and realize that it is a mere tool to connect. And when technology becomes a hindrance to create and maintain these connections, then maybe it’s time to let go.
Like what you read? I also wrote a piece about the smart home shift. You might want to read it!
