I like my Apple Watch, however I want it wasn’t so sensible. If I might design my ultimate smartwatch, it might look tremendous “dumb,” however elegant, and have all of the sensors that the Apple Watch has.
I used to like it, however now I hate being all the time accessible
Generally I don’t need to know I received a textual content or electronic mail
Credit score: DenPhotos/Shutterstock.com
I’ve grown up within the digital age, a time when everyone seems to be reachable always. I, too, have been reachable always. Nearly each job I’ve held, I had some type of work communication on my telephone and would keep in contact with bosses or coworkers about work-related issues all through the day, even after I wasn’t on the clock—it’s simply how the tradition is.
In early 2025, I ended sporting my Apple Watch at house, and it was among the best selections I had ever made. Later in 2025, I uninstalled “work” apps from my telephone, like Slack and Asana. Each of these selections fully modified my life. Why? As a result of I used to be lastly in management once more of who might contact me and when.
The issue is, I began understanding for the primary time in years towards the tip of 2025, and that meant I used to be sporting my Apple Watch much more once more. Positive, I nonetheless didn’t have these work apps on my telephone, however I grew to become “all the time accessible” in different methods once more, and I hate it.
I take advantage of my Apple Look ahead to monitoring health greater than anything
I began sporting my Apple Watch once more, however just for health monitoring
Credit score: Tim Brookes / How-To Geek
Whereas I began sporting my Apple Watch once more for health causes, sporting the Apple Watch nonetheless brings the identical baggage with it—notifications, dings, faucets, and feeling like you want to reply the second your wrist vibrates.
Whereas I do know in my head that I don’t need to, the compulsion remains to be there. I do know that I can flip off all notifications on the Apple Watch, and I’ve turned most off, however I maintain issues like textual content on as a result of then I can see if my spouse texts me.
If I wasn’t doing day by day walks and monitoring my steps, I wouldn’t be sporting my Apple Watch anymore, even after I depart the home. Sadly, years in the past after I went all-in on Apple Watch, I left my conventional watches within the mud. I nonetheless have them, someplace, however I don’t put on them—and I received’t return to sporting them, both.
The health monitoring capabilities of the Apple Watch are simply too good to not use, and that’s an issue. Nothing actually exists that integrates as deeply because the Apple Watch on the health facet of issues, however with the normal design that I need.
My ultimate smartwatch existed years in the past, however was by no means perfected
The Withings ScanWatch 2 ticks virtually all of my packing containers
Withings has lengthy made a normal-looking smartwatch that options quite a lot of well being monitoring capabilities, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a bit too techy for my liking if I’m going with a non-Apple Watch. The ScanWatch is a superb piece of tech with a bit of stylish retro styling because of the guide dial face.
The issue is, it nonetheless has an excessive amount of tech in it. There’s nonetheless a display, which implies that notifications will nonetheless be an issue. In relation to tech, I’m an all or nothing form of man. If the tech is there to make use of, I’m going to make use of it.
So, my ultimate smartwatch is one thing like a Withings ScanWatch 2, however with no digital display. Fossil made the Grant Q, which is principally what I’m on the lookout for, however the software program help was by no means all that nice.
I need Apple to deal with this, however I doubt they ever will. A smartwatch that has a chic conventional face, no display, however all of the sensor tech that the Apple Watch provides is precisely what I need, however I’m afraid I’ll by no means get it.
Extra firms ought to deal with the watch expertise
There was a time when firms centered extra on the expertise that you simply had with a product than they did on getting you hooked on the product itself. At one time, Fb and Twitter (now X) had chronological timelines by default, as an alternative of hiding these behind layers of menus. These timelines allowed you to do what the websites have been made for: sustain with mates.
Years in the past, I’d verify my Twitter feed very first thing within the morning by utilizing a third-party app I used to be on the workforce for. The app would bear in mind the place you final have been on the timeline, after which permit you to scroll to the current time. So, I’d scroll by the folks I adopted, work together with them, after which transfer on with my day.
Now, the algorithms are designed to maintain you hooked for hours on finish, and smartwatches are simply a part of that system. A smartwatch is extra about the way it can carry you again to your telephone than simply to be a option to inform time and observe health metrics, and I actually hope that modifications sometime.
Coronary heart Charge Monitor
Sure
Shade Display
Sure
The Apple Watch Collection 11 provides the flexibility to sense hypertension and a sleep rating just like many well being app rivals.
Model
Withings
Coronary heart Charge Monitor
Sure
The Withings ScanWatch is a hybrid smartwatch with an array of smartphone-connected options.
