Reflecting on my Apple Watch

Apple Watch
Image by charlie0111 from Pixabay

Back in October 2024, I got my first Apple Watch.

Though I could see the benefits of an Apple Watch when if was announced back in 2015, I could never really see the value to me. Well I thought it might be useful, but I didn’t think I could justify the price of the watch.  

However when my son upgraded to a newer model he offered me the chance to try out his sixth edition Apple Watch. I did think, what have I got to lose.

I have been using it now for two years and it has proved useful. I am sure I could do more with it, but in the main I use it, As a watch, fitness stuff, timers. I find the notifications useful, though most of the time I defer to my phone to actually read them. The notifications are useful as I was finding I was missing them when my phone was in my pocket. 

Though I do have some trouble reading stuff on the watch, my eyesight isn’t what it was, it has been useful.

However, watchOS 27 which was announced on June 8, 2026, at WWDC 2026, will drop support for the Apple Watch Series 6.

The new watchOS 27 adds Siri AI and a dedicated Siri app, as well as a Dynamic app grid. A new tap gesture allows users to select a widget in the Smart Stack, while a unified Find My app replaces the previously separate Find Devices, Find People and Find Items apps.

So, as a result I am thinking about replacing the watch with a new version. I am leaning to the Ultra 3, mainly down to the bigger screen, it’s an eyesight thing. However, budget may mean looking at the Series 11 models.

Still got a few months to think about, though it might be something I wait until they release a new model, which is rumoured will be in September.

Watch out, that worked

Nyhavn

I recently bought an Ultra Compact Power Bank to replace my existing power bank and to use on long day trips. I wrote previously about how on my day trip to Venice I only planned to take my phone and the power bank. I also thought I should be able to charge my Apple Watch as well if that ran out of power.

Now the power bank worked a treat in charging the phone. Towards the end of that day I noted that my Apple Watch was down to 1%. So I retrieved the USB-C watch charging cable from my bag, plugged it into the USB-C port on the power bank and watched the watch literally not charge.

This time, when I went to Copenhagen, I took the USB-A charging cable that came with the watch and this (having tested it earlier) worked a treat in charging the watch.

Well, watch out, that didn’t go to plan

canal in Venice

I recently bought an Ultra Compact Power Bank to replace my existing power bank and to use on a day trip to Venice. 

My main use case is when travelling with just my phone or attending a conference with just my phone. 

If I have my laptop with me I can usually use that to charge the phone. My phone can usually hold a charge for most of the day, but I have found now and then something I am doing kills the battery.

On my day trip to Venice I only planned to take my phone and the power bank. I also thought I should be able to charge my Apple Watch as well if that ran out of power. 

Now the power bank worked a treat in charging the phone, I was down to 25% battery so plugged the phone into the attached cable on the power bank and it recharged the phone.

Towards the end of the day I noted that my Apple Watch was down to 1%. So I retrieved the USB-C watch charging cable from my bag, plugged it into the USB-C port on the power bank and watched the watch literally not charge. 

It wasn’t critical I had my watch charged (I had my phone) but it was annoying that the charging didn’t work. I hadn’t tested charging the watch before I left, but had for the phone.

When I got home I checked the process, this time using the USB-A charging cable that came with the watch, and this time with the power bank it did charge the watch. So, maybe next time I will take the USB-A cable.

I haz an Apple Watch

smart watch on a man's arm
Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay

Though I could see the benefits of an Apple Watch, I could never really see the value to me. Well I thought it might be useful, but I didn’t think I could justify the price of the watch. So when my son upgraded to a newer model he offered me the chance to try out his sixth edition Apple Watch. I did think, what have I got to lose.

I have been using it for a week now, and I can see those benefits of having a smart watch. I like the fitness stuff, and once I start running again, I can see it being useful for that. The notifications are useful as I was finding I was missing them when my phone was in my pocket. 

Though I do have some trouble reading stuff on the watch, my eyesight isn’t what it was, I think I will continue to wear it.