How to Switch from an iPhone to an Apple Watch

Special Guide: Learn how to make the switch to free up precious time and attention, and become more focused and less distracted in everyday life

Every person I meet who has made the transition from using their iPhone to exclusively using their Apple Watch as their daily, on-the-go device, is raving about how much better the experience is.

Benefits:

• On the wrist the Apple Watch is “out of sight, out of mind” which is decreasing both digital addiction, distractions, and stress, saving valuable time, and increasing focus and attention.

• It’s a minimalist solution with all the essentials, like phone, messaging, time, calendar, note taking, payments, health tracking, maps, and music.

• There are thankfully no social media apps available for the Apple Watch, even though you can get notifications which can also be turned completely off.

• It tracks important and advanced health data that the iPhone cannot track due to its lack of physical skin contact.

• It works in the sun, water, and rugged outdoors.

I often wonder why not more people are using their Apple Watch as their only on-the-go device as I see people walk, bike, drive, and run with an iPhone glued to their hands. The benefits just seem too obvious.

I think the primary reason is that it’s been marketed as a complementary device to the iPhone despite having been independent and stand-alone since the Apple Watch 3 release over seven years ago.

From talking to dictating

But it also might have something to do with how you interact with the device. People primarily write on the iPhone while you dictate on the Apple Watch so this is also something new to get used to.

There are lots of misconceptions about the Apple Watch so I thought I would put together a short guide to share how I transitioned from using an iPhone as my mobile device to an Apple Watch four years ago.

Misconceptions:

Claim #1: The Apple Watch needs to be close to the iPhone to work. False: Once you have paired your Apple Watch with your iPhone you can leave it at home.

Claim #2: The Apple Watch doesn’t have a phone. False: The Apple Watch has the same phone app as on the iPhone and can be used with or without earbuds.

Claim #3: The Apple Watch runs out of battery faster than the iPhone. False: The iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Apple Watch both last for up to 18 hours while the Apple Watch Ultra lasts up to 36 hours (before the new low power mode).

I made the switch during the beginning of the pandemic over four years ago when I bought an Apple Watch SE (2020) for a few different reasons:

• Simplify my life: less digital distractions, more real living

• Works in the sun, water, and rugged outdoors

• Tracks advanced health data and sports performance

The Apple Watch is a different, more passive experience. Mostly because you interact less and going from being a very active iPhone user to hardly any interaction is hard. Doing something less of what we’re used to, if it’s eating, drinking, or shopping, is always a challenge but not impossible.