The Apple Watch is the best smart watch because of all the things you can do, from tracking your exercises to buying things to reply to messages. But there is so much you can do that finding some of the smart but less obvious features can be tricky. With that in mind, here are 15 of the best things Apple Watch can do. And we can’t wait to try some of the new features that are coming watchOS 7.
Check yourself for Afib
If you have a Apple Watch Series 5 or Series 4Your digital crown can do more than scroll: it can detect if you have symptoms of atrial fibrillation (Afib), a type of irregular heartbeat, using an electrical heart sensor that Apple placed on the digital crown. To use it, start the ECG application and touch the digital crown with your finger for 30 seconds. It will alert you if you should seek medical attention.
Get help when you fall
Using the accelerometer and gyroscope on a Series 4 or 5, the Apple Watch can detect if it has fallen and ask for help. To enable the feature, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Emergency SOS and turn on fall detection. Be sure to also set up an emergency contact in the Health app on your iPhone.
If the watch thinks you have fallen, it rings on your wrist and an alarm sounds. You can touch “I’m fine” on the screen or have the watch call emergency services. If you don’t move for 1 minute, it will automatically make the call and send a message to your emergency contacts.
Find your way
The Series 5 includes a magnetometer to power your Compass app, which is fun in itself, but comes in handy when starting Maps. Maps touch the compass to show you exactly where you are facing. No more walking the wrong way for a few blocks when you get off the subway! Other apps like Yelp and Wikiloc (for hiking and biking trails) also use the magnetometer to help you get your bearings. Warning: If you wear a watch strap with a magnet, such as Milanese or Leather Loop, it may interfere with the magnetometer and lead you astray.
Calculate a tip (and more)
WatchOS 6 brought a native calculator to Apple Watch. The Calculator app can do basic calculations (add, subtract, divide, and multiply) and includes a handy feature for those of us who have a hard time with math: the Tip button. Enter the invoice total and tap Tip, then select the percentage you want to leave. No more accidental scorn from a great server! It can also help you split a bill – just indicate how many people share the cost after you’ve included the tip percentage.
If you find the calculator buttons too small, you can ask Siri what the tip should be without starting the Calculator app.
Name that song
How many times have you wondered what song was playing and ended before you could get out your phone and launch Shazaam? Speed up using your Apple Watch and Siri – ask the Apple voice assistant what song is playing and it will use the watch’s microphone to listen, then display the result on the watch screen. Then you can also add the song to your Apple Music library.
Measure decibels
How loud is the bass sound coming from your neighbor? Now you can know exactly with the Noise app. It measures the decibels and tells you if the noise level is safe. You can set Apple Watch to automatically measure sounds and alert you when noise levels reach dangerous levels; You will be amazed at how often you are compromising your hearing while doing everyday things like mowing the lawn.
Go swimming
I got a Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4 or Series 5? Eliminate your natural inclination not to get your electronic devices wet. While the first version of the watch was waterproof, Apple added the ability to submerge the watch up to 50 meters with the 2016 update to its line of smart watches. And that feature is still part of the Series 3, 4, and 5 models, making them perfect for local group workouts.
Just remember to use the water lock feature to flush extra water out of the speaker opening after your workout. Water Lock is automatically activated when a swimming workout begins, and you can unlock the screen (and clean the water) when you’re done turning the digital crown. (Note that if you take a dip in the ocean, you probably also want to rinse the salt water with fresh water afterward.)
Control your Apple TV
Did your remote control slip between the sofa cushions again? Don’t worry: your Apple Watch can control multiple home theater devices, and it never leaves your wrist. For example, if you have an Apple TV, you can use the Apple Watch Remote app to navigate decoder menus, start and pause playback, and more. If you have a Logitech Harmony (the best universal remote control), you can start and stop activities that you have configured.
Stream music without your iPhone
You will need an Apple Watch Series 3, 4, or 5 with LTE connectivity to accomplish this feat, but it will be a welcome feature if you enjoy some music that accompanies your career. Because the Series 3 model is capable of connecting to wireless networks on its own, it can stream songs without having your iPhone close at hand, ideal for exercising. And it’s not just limited to Apple Music and its $ 10 a month streaming service. Apple also includes an app called Radio with Apple Watch to stream songs, or you can use Spotify, Pandora, and some other music streaming services, but you can’t save songs to the watch for offline listening unless you’re using Apple Music.
Compete against your friends in physical form
You can measure yourself in front of your friends by activating Share Activity. In the Activity app on iOS, go to the Sharing tab and tap the More (+) icon in the upper right corner to invite someone to share their Activity information with you. Then you can check their status in the Activity application on your Apple Watch, you will receive notifications when they complete the training sessions or close their rings, and vice versa.
Go running without your iPhone
Speaking of exercising, if you have an Apple Watch Series 3 or later, you can finally live the dream and leave your iPhone behind when you go running. This is because newer Apple Watches have a built-in GPS that can track your workout without the need to charge that heavy phone. Also, bring a pair of Bluetooth headphones for the trip and you can even listen to music directly from your Apple Watch. In addition to Apple’s Workout app, you can take advantage of this in many third-party apps like Runkeeper and Nike + Run Club. If you have an LTE-enabled Apple Watch, you can also use it to stream music.
Control smart home devices
Enhance your home with smart lights, smart displays, a smart thermostat, smart switches, etc. It can be fun, but how can you control everything? From your Apple Watch, naturally. Built-in Home app lets you control HomeKit Compatible Devices how Philips Hue lights and Honeywell thermostats, but there are many other home control applications on the market. Philips, Honeywell, and other third parties have their own apps that let you control those specific features, and there are also third-party home automation apps that allow you to set up routines to control disparate smart home devices, even ones that are not supported by HomeKit, such as Yonomi, IFTTT and Matthias Hochgatterer’s Home app.
Unlock your Mac
Did you know that your Apple Watch can save you some writing? If you have a Mac made in recent years, your Apple Watch can be used to unlock the screen without having to enter your password. All you need to do is enable the capability on your Mac in System Preferences> Security and Privacy by checking the box next to Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. Now when you wake up that Mac from sleep mode and you are using your Apple Watch , you should take care of that annoying password business.
Order food
Have you ever been so hungry that even taking out your phone seems like a bridge too far? Fortunately, you can order food directly from your Apple Watch, using a variety of applications. GrubHub allows you to reorder recent favorites with just a few taps or you can specifically order a Domino’s pizza or Chipotle burritos. With your Apple Watch as a witness, you’ll never be hungry again.
Talk to your car
If you have a modern car, your Apple Watch can offer you ways to check the status of your car and even interact with it. Deals from Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, VW and more allow you to do things like lock and unlock your car doors, honking your horn, checking battery levels in electric cars, and even helping you find your parked car. If you have an older car, a Viper aftermarket option includes an app that lets you remotely lock, unlock, and start your car. It’s not Knight Rider KITT, but then again, what is it?
