I’ve had the Apple Watch Series 10 GPS for a while now and, honestly, I feel like I’m charging it more than I’m wearing it. I think it’s time for me to take a break from the Apple Watch, so in this post I’ll cover why I’m feeling this way, what I’ll miss about it, and what’s potentially next for tracking my metrics.
Apple has no doubt designed one of the best smartwatches on the market in terms of both design and operating system. But for me, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not enough to keep me wearing the device.
What’s changed
The key reason I’m no longer using my Apple Watch is battery life. A quick search tells me Apple says the watch should last around 18 hours on a normal charge, and I’m not sure I notice it lasting even that long. All I know is that I need to charge it daily, and I often forget.
That’s the real problem for me. I like my metrics to be tracked all the time, so when I forget to charge it before heading out, it’s incredibly frustrating. A whole day of steps, activity and heart rate data simply goes missing, and it makes the watch feel more like a chore than a helpful companion. I remember it being a Sunday morning and I decided I wanted to go a walk in the park, but as I hadn’t charged my watch, it ran out when I was about 10 minutes into my walk.
Even when I do remember, charging it has become one more thing on the nightly to-do list, alongside my phone and everything else that needs plugging in. I’ve been doing it for too long now, and I’d rather have a device that fits around my life than one that demands a routine of its own.
What I’ll miss
There’s plenty I’ll miss. Apple has developed some genuinely recognisable features, the daily activity rings being the obvious one. Seeing your progress each day and trying to close all three rings is a simple but effective bit of motivation, and it’s beautifully integrated into iOS and the Fitness app in particular.
The Apple Watch is also tightly woven into iOS and the default Apple apps. I can check my reminders on my wrist or see my calendar events at a glance, without taking my phone out of my pocket. That kind of convenience is hard to replicate, and it’s what Apple does best.
That said, I’m hoping the advancements coming to Siri will help fill the gap. In theory, I should just be able to chat to my iPhone to stay updated and plan my days, no wrist required. I’ll let you know how that goes.
What’s next
At the time of writing, I’ve got an Oura Ring 5 sizer in the post. I’m still doing my research, but so far I’m impressed, and I’ve never tried a ring to monitor my health before.
Obviously, a ring is a different proposition. It comes without a screen, which is why it can last around a week on a single charge. I don’t mind the lack of a display, though. If I can access my metrics through the app and it’s reliable, I’m happy to give up a digital screen on my wrist. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how accurate and consistent the tracking is, as that will make or break it for me. I’m speaking although I’ve bought the ring already, but its a likely alternative for me.
I’m also looking forward to wearing a normal analogue watch again. I’ve had Apple Watches for years, even before the Series 10, so it’ll be a nice change to go back to something simple, and a good excuse to dig out a watch I’ve not worn in a while. I had a nice Casio watch which has an analogue display, its small and comfortable to wear, and I haven’t worn it in so long.
I do want to call out that I still think the Apple Watch is a fantastic device. I’m just a little bored of it and want to try something new.
Over to you
I’d love to know what your thoughts are on the Apple Watch. Even if I’d upgraded to the latest model, I think I’d still be feeling the same way. They’re still beautiful devices, but battery life is so important to me, and I don’t want something I constantly need to charge.
Do you use a different smartwatch? Are there any better options out there that offer as many features with great battery life? Or are you a smart ring wearer instead? Let me know in the comments.