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How many times have I read the words, “Apple should make an Apple Watch for Android”? As a die-hard tech fan and regular user of both platforms, I’ve heard those words myself. . I also often see comments on all social platforms saying that the company would never do such a thing and that it is against their walled garden policy. , and so on.
As it turned out, the company had considered making the Apple Watch compatible with Android, but found “technical limitations” that it couldn’t overcome even after three years of research. But was Apple right to abandon the project, and was the Apple Watch for Android any good? Let’s take a closer look.
Are the restrictions all of Apple’s own making?
For Apple, there are pros and cons to the exclusivity of watches.
The US antitrust case revealed the core of Apple’s business model in a way that anyone can understand. The Department of Justice argued as follows:
Apple’s smartwatch, Apple Watch, is only compatible with iPhone. Therefore, if Apple can induce a user to buy his Apple Watch, it will be more expensive for that user to buy another type of smartphone. By doing so, users would have to abandon their expensive Apple Watch and buy a new smartwatch that is compatible with Android.
Consider the two words in Apple’s official answer: “technical limitations.” There’s no mention of what those limits are, but there are many possibilities. Similarly, Apple has a vested interest in: do not have Apple Watch for Android is made possible primarily because it protects our most valuable product: the iPhone.
A Bloomberg report in November made a similar point, saying that despite efforts, “the watch was partially phased out because it would dilute the value of the watch relative to the iPhone.”.More simply, an Apple Watch means buying an iPhone, which locks you further into the Apple ecosystem.
Could Apple fix these limitations? Probably, though it’s almost impossible to know without digging into the limitations. Should we do that? That’s a completely different question. The answer depends on your priorities.
Apple Watch on Android will be great for most people
Even Apple!
For most people, the Apple Watch on Android will ultimately be a plus for several important reasons, each of which should be carefully considered.
Apple Watch on Android is perfect for public health
We’ve written about why the Apple Watch is the best wearable, and to summarize, the Apple Watch offers a much better health suite than any other smartwatch. This is primarily due to improved integration of Apple Health with third-party products and medical services.
There is a public service need for better service from Apple, at least as a life-saving tool. Artificially (or otherwise) limiting them to iOS and the iPhone is good for Apple’s bottom line, but it’s a missed opportunity to improve human health around the world.
Apple Watch features such as ECG and SpO2 blood oxygen monitoring have many benefits, and Apple is also working on measuring blood pressure and monitoring blood sugar levels. Samsung is also working on these features, but if each company doesn’t have to worry about competition, it’s unlikely they’ll get a standardized set of metrics and suites in new areas. Direct competition between Samsung and Apple on equal footing could lead to efforts that save more lives than if they were working separately.
Apple Watch and Android connectivity support could also create a new revenue stream for Apple from users who don’t currently pay Apple, or who might not pay Apple at all. Although there has been some variation in the number of people switching between iOS and Android, most people currently do not switch between iOS and Android (or vice versa). That leaves an untapped revenue pool for Apple within the Android space.
More competition means more innovation
The core of the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Apple is that it stifles competition, stifles innovation, and harms consumers in the long run. For the same reason, Apple should launch his Android version of the Apple Watch. That’s because it forces Samsung, Google, and other companies to continue innovating.
For obvious reasons, it’s doubtful that Apple will make the Apple Watch natively available on Android. Apple’s watchOS and iPhone are tightly integrated, and the overall experience is streamlined and (in many ways) nearly perfect. It’s very likely that Apple won’t be able to create a better Apple Watch for Android, especially since the platforms take fundamentally different approaches to core philosophical issues.
6 ways Apple’s antitrust lawsuit could impact the Android ecosystem
Enough about you, let’s talk about me.
At the platform level, background refresh behaves differently on Android and iOS. That means the Apple Watch may need better hardware to offer a similar battery life and feature set. The apps are built using completely different code bases. Software updates will work differently, and perhaps even setting up your phone won’t be as easy.
While not a complete list, these are likely some of the limitations Apple hinted at. But the company’s biggest shortcoming is probably of its own making. As Mark Garman pointed out in a Bloomberg report, that would “dilute the watch’s value against the iPhone.” But there is probably a solution that works for everyone.
How Apple can resolve issues with the Android version of Apple Watch
Imagine an Apple Watch running on Android. Well, to some extent.than that directly When running on Android, it’s a standalone Apple Watch that doesn’t require an iPhone for initial setup. The app can run natively, and notifications are provided by the standalone app rather than the paired phone. This could not only make Apple the best smartwatch for every mobile phone user in the world, but also give it a windfall in subscription revenue and greater appeal to non-iPhone users. .
I previously wrote that Apple should build a subscription like the iPhone Upgrade Program designed around all of its products. In this model, every product acts like a gateway to the Apple ecosystem, and it doesn’t matter which product someone buys as long as they bring them into the ecosystem. The ultimate goal for a standalone Apple Watch is for it to work the same way.
I would be shocked if the Apple Watch was a standalone device. did not do it Subscription required. This is an easy revenue stream for Apple and brings people together even more. It could also drive users to the iPhone (if they don’t have to pay a subscription fee when you pair it with an iPhone), and it could also drive more users to Apple services like Apple One and Apple Fitness+.
Such subscriptions are almost guaranteed to work, especially for cell phone service and access to Apple’s subscriptions and services. If you want the freedom to work on any device, pay $10 to $15 per month for a standalone Apple Watch subscription. Would you like to do that?
Fulfilling the late Steve Jobs’ famous wish is to make Apple Watch accessible to as many people as possible. He said: “I think there will be a day when people can look back and say that Apple’s greatest contribution to the world was healthcare.”
Nirave is the creator, evangelist, and founder of House of Tech, which focuses on covering the best health and technology products. Since suffering a heart attack at the age of 33, I have focused on how data can be used to improve our health and ultimately help us live longer, more rewarding lives.please follow him Instagram, threadand YouTube Check out the latest updates on his sleep and health journey.He can also be found at hot tech.
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