It's hard to believe that it was 8 years ago that the first Apple Watch was released! I wasn't someone who dived straight in with Apple's new smart watch, but I did watch the reviews with interest and eventually, in 2016 I finally got a series 1 watch, which was actually the second version of the watch (just to make life confusing). I remember reading David Goodwin's one year anniversary blog post and a lot of his points really resonated with me. I liked the product, but there wasn't a "killer app" that made me love it. I eventually moved away from the Apple Watch when I briefly went over to the dark side (Android). I went back to iOS after a few months for reasons I won't get into here, but it took me a lot longer to go back to the watch. Quite simply, I wasn't missing it.
As with all products, the Apple Watch evolved. new generations came along with faster processing, louder speakers and they became much less dependent on the phone. Last year, curiosity got the better of me and before I knew it, I had an Apple Watch SE first gen strapped to my wrist. Despite the huge improvements in speed, speaker clarity and not needing to be tied to the iPhone, I still find myself wondering what exactly the watch offers me and disappointed to find that a lot of my hopes for this device have not really come true.
My Use Case
I'll get one thing out of the way straight away; I'm not a fitness guy. Having insights about my health is nice, and I do feel like the activity prompts from the watch get me moving around more instead of sitting at my desk for hours particularly when working from home, but I don't often do workouts or go to the gym on a daily basis (that'll be my new years resolution... Again!).
What I was hoping to use the watch for was to make life easier while out and about. As someone who is totally blind, one hand is always busy with either my guide dog's harness or, as things are nowadays, my cane. Being able to do certain actions, such as answer calls, check notifications and reply to messages without having to take my phone out of my pocket was the ultimate aim.
After listening to The Apple Watch 101 podcast on navigation, I was also hoping to use the watch for this purpose as well. The haptic feedback for turn-buy-turn directions on the wrist sounded fantastic, as did being able to check on my route without having to use my iPhone.
As the series 1 watch was now 7 years ago, I will mainly be talking about my experiences with the newer SE unless otherwise stated.
The Good Bits
Calls
First off, calls on the watch are great... Most of the time. I'm never entirely comfortable with having calls on loud speaker, but being able to quickly take a call while I'm working at home and keep my work headset on, meaning I can still hear emails, Slack messages etc coming in, while my phone is on charge in the other room is extremely convenient. It also works great while out and about. If I'm in an area that I'm confident navigating and therefore don't have my earphones on, taking calls on the watch comes in extremely handy. Yes, it means your conversation is being broadcast out loud to the world, but as long as the conversation is not too personal I can live with it. I'm always pleasantly surprised by the quality of the call both from my end and how well the other person can hear me, which brings me to my next point...
The Microphone Quality
The quality of the built-in microphone is absolutely fantastic! Don't get me wrong I wouldn't record a full podcast episode using it, but the casual audio listener would have a hard time telling the difference between someone using an Apple Watch vs their iPhone or a reasonably good external microphone. It makes a great tool for quickly recording high quality voice messages or voice notes. I very rarely take notes in audio form, but the watch is there if I need it.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is another new-found convenience of the watch. When this first arrived in the UK, similar to David's post linked to above, getting the watch to register with the payment terminal was unreliable at best. It was also not helped by the fact that VoiceOver's volume would drop to almost a whisper as soon as you double tapped the side button, making it difficult to select which card you wanted to pay from or seeing if there was some kind of error. I'm still not sure whether this volume drop was a bug or a privacy feature as it still happened with my SE at first, but it doesn't happen anymore with WatchOS 9 and it works beautifully, easily allowing me to pay for something using either my personal or corporate card without having to fiddle around with my wallet looking for the correct card.
Silent Alarms
There are sometimes occasions where I need to be up earlier than my wife, especially when I'm going into the office. Much to my wife's annoyance, I'm terrible for snoozing my alarms a few times before I eventually get up. Being able to set silent alarms on the watch has probably saved our marriage!
The Not So Good Bits
Inconsistent Behaviour
Let me go back to calls for a minute. I said they were good most of the time. When things work as expected, taking calls on the watch is simple and fantastic. When things don't work as expected, the result is often an absolute mess. I've lost count of the number of times I have put my AirPods in while on a call on the Apple Watch, expecting the call to instantly switch to them. What actually happens when I do this is that I lose all sound both from my watch and from my phone. It's almost as if they're both trying to fight for the connection to the AirPods, resulting in a lot of taking my AirPods out and putting back in again, triple pressing the side button on my phone and triple pressing the digital crown on the watch just to get VoiceOver back. A similar connectivity mess sometimes happens when trying to transfer a call from the watch to the phone or the other way around. The most recent issue is with the magic tap on the watch when call comes in. Normally this would answer a call, but lately it starts the last played media playing on my phone, meaning my phone is playing both the ringtone and media (usually music or a podcast episode) both at the same time. A second magic tap (to try get the media to stop) actually answers the call, resulting in the media playing over the call... As I said, it's a mess. This particular issue has happened a couple of times now and has even persisted after a reboot. As the magic tap is a VoiceOver gesture I'm putting it down to a VO bug rather than an issue with the watch itself, but still, it's a frustrating one.
Taptic time is another VoiceOver feature that is not reliable enough for me. This is great for being able to check the time quietly in meetings or when I wake up in the middle of the night, but again, when it works. Sometimes it will require a triple tap instead of the double tap to work. Sometimes a triple tap will only vibrate the minutes, sometimes it will just decide to wake up and speak regardless of how much double or triple tapping you do. A great feature, just not reliable enough to be truly useful from my experience.
Replying to Messages
Messages is also something that leaves me underwhelmed. The only way to respond to messages is by using dictation or by selecting one of the available responses. I have customised these, but there will always be times where they don't quite get across exactly what I want to say. As for dictation, this was one of the things I was pleasantly surprised by with my first watch - the dictation was unbelievably accurate, way better than on the iPhone! Now, though, it seems to be more aligned with the iPhone's level i.e. often inaccurate. VoiceOver's performance also struggles just after dictating a message, which has resulted in me being unable to review a message before I send it and in one particular case, accidentally sending the message. Thankfully dictation had done a reasonably good job on that one! I will always double check messages before I send them out regardless of how I've typed them, but especially with dictation. Not being able to consistently do this leaves me reluctant to use the watch to respond to messages, even if pulling out my phone and using Braille Screen input is slightly less convenient. By the way, I know there is an on-screen keyboard on the series 7 and later, but judging by some of the comments on here, it's not very popular.
Complications Could Be Better
Some of the complications are nice, but I want them to be smarter. For example, being able to tap my watch and see the weather forecast for the next couple of hours is nice, as is being able to check how long is left on a timer while I'm cooking... But what about when I don't have a timer set? I just have a complication that says "timer" taking up a space. I'd love to be able to walk up to my local bus stop, tap my watch and hear the next few arrivals, but I can't seem to find a way to do this with MoovIt (the main app I use for public transport). When I'm at home and sunset is approaching, I'd love to have my lights as complications so they can easily be toggled from my wrist. I'm using the Modular watch face as that seemed like the simplest one, but I'm not sure if there is a better one that might achieve what I'm looking for. I know the Siri one can do this somewhat, but it often shows me news stories and other things I'm not particularly interested in and it feels clunky and awkward to navigate. If anyone has any recommendations for the most accessible watch faces with plenty of space for complications, do let me know in the comments. I'm excited to see what the Smart Stack feature in WatchOS 10 brings.
Navigation
Navigation is an area of the watch that I had really high hopes for, but it doesn't seem to have changed much since the release of the first gen watch. I loved what Apple did with the haptic feedback in Maps, and I was really hoping that other apps would've implemented something similar. Imagine being able to start BlindSquare tracking somewhere via the watch and receiving haptic directions in some form, without having to touch the phone? That's what I was expecting, but it just... Doesn't seem to be there. I'm sure there's a good reason for this and I've love to know about it, especially if it's due to technical constraints.
Most Notifications Sound and Feel the Same
I've made a lot of customisations to my notification settings in terms of what notifications go to my phone and which ones give me a tap on the wrist, but I would still like to customise it more. At the moment, if my watch buzzes it's probably important, if my phone buzzes it can wait, but this isn't always the case. The fact that Mail and Messages use the same vibration and tone means that I can't tell the difference between a text/iMessage, an important email or a junk email (and I get a lot of junk). Being able to set different haptics for different mail accounts or contacts would be nice, as would being able to set different haptics for different apps. Currently, all third-party apps use the same generic haptic, meaning I have to tap the watch and listen to VoiceOver to find out the notification. I actually find I can tell more information about notifications from my phone, as apps can use their own different sounds. Let's say someone presses my Ring Doorbell, I can tell that from the phone, but not from the watch haptic as it feels the same as most other notifications.
I've Got the Notification... Now What?
Similarly, most notifications can't actually be responded to on the watch. Take WhatsApp for example. When a voice message comes in, you can see there is a voice message and you can reply to the message by dictating, but you can't record a message back and, most importantly in this scenario, you can't listen to the message. I know there are third-party apps that can do this, but why not the first-party? I can see that someone has pressed my doorbell on the watch, but why can't I answer the door? That is a perfect example of where having the watch easily available on your wrist would come in extremely useful rather than seeing that and then having to look for your iPhone. Of course this is not Apple's fault, but it feels like there is only a tiny portion of the functionality here even though the watch is more than capable of offering more.
Summary
I went on holiday a couple of months ago and, not wanting to take my Apple Watch on holiday with me, I went back to my Eone Bradley tactile watch. When I returned home, I just kept the Bradley on. I love my Apple Watch but, just like that time a few years ago when I stopped using my first one, I wasn't missing it, and it got me wondering why.
My intention of this post was not to bash the Apple Watch, it was to share my observations of using it and that, for me, not much has changed in the few years since this product was released.
I'm very conscious that the Apple Watch is primarily a fitness device and, as I said at the beginning, I'm not using it for that reason, and I wonder if that's what my problem is. If you're into your fitness in any way, the Apple Watch is without doubt the device for you. I know some blind people who get by with devices like the Fitbit and the app, but there is no accessibility on the devices themselves. If you want full functionality, go for an Apple Watch if you can. But what about for lazy people like me?
Ultimately, I wonder if a lot of the convenience of an Apple Watch is lost on blind people. It's all about being able to quickly glance at your wrist and check those notifications, tap a response to a message and send it within a couple of seconds, look at your next calendar appointment etc. For us VoiceOver users, we still have to listen to it which takes away from it being quick and discreet. Sure you could turn VoiceOver's volume right down if you wish, but then you have to hold your wrist up to your ear. You could connect AirPods or Bluetooth earphones to the watch, but if you're going to do that, you may as well connect them to your phone and get the full functionality.
I'm really interested to hear other people's thoughts on all of this. What do you use your Apple Watch for? Am I trying to use it for the wrong reasons? Expecting too much from it? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Comments
Excellent blog
I really enjoyed all your observations and feedback. Great work!
I also wear an Apple Watch and am not always sure why I do so. I do use it, but mostly for checking the time when I take my dog into the backyard , having left my phone inside, and find myself curious about the time. And, even though I have picked numerous complications that are mildly useful, I don't look at them all that often. The biggest use for my Apple Watch is that it is set to wake me up, quietly, in the morning. I'm the early riser in my marriage and I love the vibrating watch at the appointed time. But, outside of that really wonderful feature, I also keep looking for the best use case.
Your blog was well written, entertaining and thought provoking. Thank you!
Watch
I got Series 3 for Christmas a long time ago, since them, I went from 4, 6, and 7. No issues sending text. I find easy to type on the watch with the 41 MG. I always weared a watch as a sighted person and blind. Like having a watch and like that it keeps track of my sleep. Next time it will be Series 9. Not sure if I get 41 or 45 MG.
I agree with a lot of this blog
For me, I was hesitant because Apple watch, whatever. Then as it got newer and newer, now you don't need the phone as much, I broke down and bought one. i'm wearing the series eight and I do like it telling me how many calories I've used up. I don't like it tells me to move when i'm well in the bathroom, lol. Seriously the calls are good but I would love differing sounds and notifications for text and emails differing would be great. I'd love the ring to be a bit louder or customize the volume so it can be heard in a louder environment. I'd love the ability to have sounds for the contacts you set on your phone, play on the watch. Call from old man? Accept. Brother i can kinda like at some moments? Ignore. navigation is good on google maps but I agree, I'd like to respond to the ride share notification but they all took their apps away. so why notify me if I need to take it out of my purse, swipe, tap, put it back. well written.
Galaxy.
The only thing I like about it, their watches have ringtones for each call similar to iPhone and you can set tone for different notifications. Wish Apple did so. Be great.
Try the Transit app and complication
While I like Moovit for trip planning, the Transit App and its watch complication is the best for showing your nearby transit lines and when the next one is predicted to arrive.
Apple watch thoughts.
Good day. I loved your Apple watch story. Everyone has a different one. I was employed by Apple in there store as one of those guys who shook your hand, welcomed you in and helped you find that thing that you just couldn't do without. It was a fantastic year and I learned so much.
As an employee we got discounts and so I bought the series 1 now series 0 watch. I told them all it would be back in 10 days because I did not want to wear a watch. Well, my thing was text messaging. Voiceover was very slow, but I was able to send and receive texts from my wrist. I was hooked and kept it. I was saddened by the removal of Uber and Lyft because I did use them. I now have an Apple watch ultra and although in my opinion it is not a very attractive looking thing and a little bulkier, I bought it for the battery. When I used to sell the watch, I would be asked why should I buy it? I told the person I have no idea so take it home and try it for 14 days. u will find that thing you can't do without.
I would say if anyone were interested in an Apple watch try one. It's different for everyone and hopefully you will find the thing you just can't do without. Text Messaging is mine.
I wish Uber and Lyft were back also
I'll never understand why I'll get a notification of my ride, yet have to use the phone anyway. It would be nice if they would create something like the saved places you go, so I could go to work or a friend's without worrying about pulling out the phone. I understand about adding a new destination but it would be more helpful I can rate a trip from my wrist.
Good to know
Thanks for the blog. I have zero experience with the Apple watch, and I benefitted from this summary of plusses and minuses. The silent alarm sounds like it might be useful.
Agree completely
Got a series 6 I think it was, on sale at one point. I liked the good points that were highlighted, but not enough to actually put the thing on most of the time. When I did remember, I had usually forgotten to charge it so didn't bother. I sold it a few months ago for around what I paid for it though, so no harm done in the long run.
band size
Hi, how do you know what size band you will need?
Band size
It's all about the wrist size. For a woman usually a 41mm size would be ok. I got the sports band, wish I didn't but I'll get to it. You can get a band you can pin and tuck thereby getting a great fit. I want a differing band because washing my hands is annoying when water's underneath it. It's also a sweaty mess living in a subtropical climate like this. but I can't find a material I want lol. Go to a bestuby or apple store see if they'll help. Men's sizes are more important.
Thanks everyone!
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for the comments on this. I'm not actually part of the Applevis blog team and this was my first attempt at this kind of thing, so thanks for the feedback :)
Thanks to Julian for the suggestion of the Transit app, I've downloaded it and will definitely take a look at that when I have some time. I have a feeling that it might not work in my area of the UK though, which is a shame and quite surprising.
I completely agree with Siobhan overall though. It's nice that I can receive a notification that my Uber driver is arriving, but that's about it. It would be extremely handy to have the "call driver" or "message driver" buttons at the very least on the watch, but nope.
I'm going to hold onto my watch for at least the next couple of months until WatchOS 10 comes out as I'm very keen to try out the smart stack feature. If that works as I would like it to, I may be rethinking some of these points. We'll see...
My Experience with Apple Watch
I got an Apple Watch 8 for my birthday last year, and I agree with a lot of things here. I'm not really into fitness, but I have several chronic illnesses, and my family and I were hoping that some of the features of the watch would help me manage my health and track sleep and vitals. It's helped a little bit in those areas, but one thing that's really noticeable is that the watch is designed for a healthy person. On a lot of days, I like reminders to move or stand, but there are also days I just can't do those things and might be bed-bound. It would be nice to be able to temporarily turn reminders like that off. As for notifications and apps, i wish a lot more apps did more with the watch. One of the things I thought would be nice was the ability to control apps right from my wrist. I love stopping and starting music from the watch, but you can't do a lot with most notifications that come in from the iPhome, and apps for the watch are limited.
Activity Notifications
I must admit, I’d never really considered the stand and move reminders being an issue for someone with a condition that prevents them from being able to do that. Apart from being able to change the notifications and fitness tracking to be more appropriate for a wheelchair user, which I highly doubt would help in your situation, there isn’t anything to account for this as far as I know.
What I have noticed though is that the Apple Watch is obsessed with you pushing yourself. Let’s say you close all three of your rings three days in a row, the watch will give you a prompt the next day to do that again. And again. And again. Of course it’s good to push yourself, but it’s also healthy to rest. My wife has a Fitbit, and if she has had a particularly active day, the next day her Fitbit would specifically prompt her to take it easy that day and possibly suggest a light workout, which feels like a healthier approach to me.
Apple Watch
Well as a blind runner running with zero touch no physical assistance relying on verbal road direction issue by my buddy runner; Apple watch is a big blessing and great tool. Yes through Strava app; I am able to know my speed, pace and particularly average time I took to run a mile/ KM. I use it frequently to track my calories burned and track my goals and most of all calendar notification. It is truly amazing liberating tool which can also be able to use by blind runner.
ringtones and notification.
The only thing do not care about the watch is that you can not change ringtone or tone for specific notification. Samsung galaxy can do so. Probably the google watch also. Not sure about it. Samsung yes.
Not going to go off topic, but
For some reason, the Google pixel watch does not have support to change your ringtone and text tone, tried for both the watch its self and Google pixel watch app on my Galaxy phone
Back on topic, next year if I can get back to an iPhone for Telstra, I’ll see about getting an Apple Watch ultra with the iPhone
My Google pixel watch is really motivated me to do steps, mustard, and in general, just check my small Health Health data
Reminders and Siri while on iPhone call
It took me a couple of years, but I'm at the point where I rely on my Series 5 Watch for a lot more than tracking workouts.
1. Quickly adding a reminder using Siri before the thought leaves my head.
2. Having Siri access while iPhone is connected to a phone or Zoom call (especially useful for adding a reminder or an appointment to the calendar).
3. Also while on a call, quickly starting a Voice Memo recording (via a complication on my Watch face). I'm generally not a user of Voice Memos, but if I'm caught off guard with "your case number is..." while on a phone call it's a way to quickly get it down.
4. Referring to and checking things off my Reminders lists while at the grocery store.
5. Pausing media using a magic tap (since that feature finally works!) Also useful for rewinding or fast forwarding podcasts (though I do find this pretty clunky to do because of where the VO cursor lands on the Now Playing screen).
6. Taptic time, especially when I'm in a loud place.
7. Unlocking my Mac or unlocking my iPhone while my face is partially obstructed.
8. Having immediate access to know who an incoming call is from makes it easy to decide whether it's worth running across the room or digging through my bag to pick up a call. It's also really easy to silence an incoming call by covering the watch face.
9. It's incredibly easy to make credit card purchases with the side button.
10. Despite having most notifications turned off, I'm great at ignoring the ones I get. Having them go directly to my wrist makes me more likely to check them and not miss texts or event reminders..
11. I have different watch faces set up for different environments, e.g. one watch face is full of complications related to the weather, another is for when I'm outside (including the Transit app), another related to workouts. This system works for me and might help with the issue of wanting more complications that someone here mentioned.
Still there are things I don't like about the Watch:
1. It's big and uncomfortable on my skinny wrist.
2. It's clumsy to navigate around with VO swipes, though Digital Crown navigation and even touch gestures can help with this. (Digital Crown navigation can be quickly toggled on/off using a 2 finger triple tap, which is pretty great.)
3. The VO cursor cannot access the time while on the Now Playing media screen. It's a watch after all -- shouldn't I always have access to the time?
4. Due to a VO bug, it's difficult to stop or pause a workout.
5. Responding to texts is clumsy, even with Siri. Siri just says "okay I'll send this" instead of asking for confirmation first and letting you change or add to the message.
But after all, it's a watch. It would be silly to expect it to have the same functionality as an iPhone!
Looking forward to what comes next
I didn't think i'd like my series eight but I do. Granted I haven't explored faces or complications as of yet. Also Dominic, please, triple check before posting, Mustard? I thought you only ate that? Seriously though, I look forward to what watch os10 will have. I'm brave enough to put betas on my Mac and phone but watch, no chicken. Lol.
No chicken
Would you like some mustard and cheese with that?
I had to
I’m thinking about getting an Apple Watch SE and an Apple Watch ultra next time I get an iPhone, I’m leaning more towards the Apple Watch SE, smaller size, and I’m not all of that on fitness anyway, It’s kind of like getting a Galaxy ultra phone, I don’t need all the ultra features all I need is something that will work for me on a date today basis” and fit and require usage for my needs on a daily basis
I don't understand my use case with Apple Watch
Thank you for this post, friend Callum! I returned to it recently because I decided to buy a pet like this, the Apple Watch Series 3, to find out if it would really be as useful to me as an iPhone. Initially, the excitement of having a device you always wanted to have, despite not being the device in the most recent category released, took over me. But after this hallucinogenic effect passed, I found myself reflecting on why I really should keep this device.
Initially, as the author of this post reflected, I'm not yet an active and healthy guy, so that was never my ultimate goal when buying an Apple Watch.
Some things made me really like the experience, the payment with Apple Pay is wonderful eliminates the need to take out the monster I carry in my pocket, affectionately called the iPhone 11 Pro Max, especially in public places where security is a big concern for me, I also loved the fact that I can record voice notes with relative quality through my wrist, although I do not use this function so often. It seems to me that the Apple Maps application for the watch is much more complete than my main navigation application, Google Maps, because unlike the second, it is possible to trace a route to a completely new destination, recent or favorite destination, just using the watch, and the point-to-point navigation seems to be incredible, although I have never tested it. I also think it's cool to be able to listen to music and books directly from the watch, although, in the case of books, I don't see so much need to use a Bluetooth headset.
As for the notifications, I also did not see much use for them besides checking the updates of my applications, because the little or no interaction, having to use the iPhone anyway to solve these issues. I am trying to use the sleep monitoring of the Apple Watch three, considering that it does not have the improvements of watchOS 9, and it seems to me somewhat guessing, not being so assertive in the metrics it captures, in addition to not giving much information beyond the time I spent in bed or sleeping. I think it's nice to check my heartbeat in real time, especially if you're doing something that requires a little more effort or taking energy drinks to see what happens, but there's not much I can do with that either. Add this to the fact that many of the applications that I imagined would have at my disposal to actually make my life easier, such as the Uber app, are no longer available, even if it was for me to request a trip to a recent destination, or even the Moovit app, which I particularly use a lot on the iPhone.
Ah! And I can't forget that I bought the third generation of this device, which translates into a bit of slowness, almost as if I were using my old iPhone 4s. This is noticeable especially when we are performing seemingly simple tasks, but in conjunction with other tasks, such as trying to listen to music while simply trying to check the time.
Honestly, I think this device could be a great extension of the iPhone on my arm, this has always been my main goal, but I believe that a lot should improve, especially because it seems that it is a device made almost exclusively for healthy people or who want to be. I'm already thinking about selling this Apple Watch and I don't really want to buy a device like this from new generations, because I know that a lot remains the same, despite the noticeable improvements in speed and features.
Series 9
Well I according to Apple I can get $150 for my series 7. Hope that still right when the new comes out. If red color comes out, I will get it.
Series 9 if hopefully going to be a worthwhile upgrade.
Apple Watch has had the same processor for 3 years now but thats apparently changing this year. A faster processor will hopefully help with the delay in my series 8 waking up. It’s almost useless at the moment for every day tasks like checking notifications and the time. If I have to jab at the face for up to 10 seconds. I’m just not going to bother and check my phone instead which is what ends up happening so I stop wearing my watch.
Andy Lane
No issues with 7. So far I am very lucky. Hope it continues with OS 10, and iOS 17. Still recovering from unlucky 13 and how people jump all over me when I call it unlucky 13.
I love my Apple Watch 8.
It's has Hebrew TTS support and it's really useful.
I was used an Android device but there is no Hebrew TTS support and It's not allowed to install third partty TTS voices like the phone did.
I used an Apple Watch in the past and I dicited to back to it.
I ride on a bicycle and I love the sport features thatit's has in it.
My own experience with my se2
Hey!
I know it's a quite old topic but I think it's better posting here rather than creating my own.
My usecase is pretty much the same than the original poster, having the fitness info is nice but not at all a priority for me or something I could heavily rely on.
For starters, I think most blind people who want a watch should take the cellular version, as most of the Convenience sighted people have is somehow lost in the middle of way for us because of voiceover design.
Taking phone call is great when it works.
Mine is not cellular, that's why I am saying people should buy this, as I noticed that the watch is great when the iphone is in fact not in the pocket. Okay maybe its convenience is lost with the airpods pro2 being able to do the same thing, but volume control for media playback with the crown always gets me excited for just the stupid reason of reminding me of the ipod nano and how apple like nice things that rotate and do pretty haptic or sound (yeah).
Unlocking the mac when near is so useful! I know that there is a github project to implement this with sudo but I've been lazy lately to actually set it up, but if it works it will be just awesome, as long as it's not the same thing than with 1password and the side button confirmation which is just less convenient than touch id on the mac.
I think people have been massively scammed with the double pinch being an exclusivity of the s9 as the sensors are there since s4 and voiceover is very accurate on the se2 but stupidly limitted by software restrictions, this would have been a true game changer for every person owning an apple watch whatsoever. Like, for voiceover gestures we have to assign something to all 4 which just increase false positive by 200%, oh and the screen should be on. So when theater mode is off I have 2 fingers pinch once and twice for magic tap, and the fist once and twice for haptic time. Useful when washing dishes but the implementation could have been so so much better.
Oh and you can't increase siri rate on the watch for the moment as far as I know.
Whether checking is great with the complications, but again I can easily replicate this on my phone. Hence my stress on the cellular version being just a better added value for blind people on the long run.
With my watch for notification, on my mac I can have the same phone link experience on windows just different, neither better or worst.
My biggest disappointment is that airpods (2 and pro2) connection with voiceover on the watch is nothing but unreliable, as disrupting as safari does not respond. If audio is not playing through the watch the best you can hope is voiceover routing on airpods for 5-10 seconds then disconnected again (voiceover being on the speaker while airpods still show as connected under bluetooth). If you want an apple watch with the hope of having a silent and discrete smart device to see info quickly, forget apple watch for the moment as you will want it to throw away. This was the same issue on the s4 of my cousin I tried before but I thought this was a hardware problem. Unfortunately I discovered after 10 minutes on my brand new shining se2 that airpods pro 2 and 2 on watch are a false dream with voiceover.
In short, buy the watch if you have at least 3 apple devices and only one of them being accessory (airpods like). For me, I have 2 iphones, 1 mac, 1 ipod touch, 1 airpods pro 2 lightning and 1 ipod touch 7. And I bought my watch 8 months after my mac because the marketing was convincing.
Oh and I saw the ultra 2 in an apple store and it's just too bulky for me although the speed compared to the se2 with voiceover was apparent but not a big deal either. I didn't have enough time to see if voiceover is as clear on that ultra 2 as it is on the iphone or there are micro cuts with voiceover.
So yeah...
Unless the watch x is really really a game changer I won't buy another anytime soon.