A few weeks ago, Niko asked me if he could have my Apple Watch. I originally purchased it around Thanksgiving of 2024. I used it to wake me up in the morning and keep track of my walking. Yeah, I could check my text messages and take the occasional call if my iPhone was not within reach, but everything else it could do, I never took advantage of it. Niko has an Amazfit smartwatch (which is a lot less than the mighty powerful Apple Watch). It was about a year old, and he really enjoyed wearing it to school and he took excellent care of it (like, not losing it and keeping it charged). He claims one of the monitoring sensors wasn’t working.
Behind the scenes, and silently, I kept thinking that next time I need a new smartwatch, I don’t want anything fancy like an Apple Watch. Did I regret buying it in 2024? A little bit. My old Apple Watch worked fine, and I don’t remember what prompted me to buy a new one (possibly, it was because mine was old and the new one had a slightly larger screen). I was also eyeing a plain watch with an alarm and a lighted display so I could see the time if I happen to open my eyes during the night. I like to know how much more time I have to sleep!
So, to Niko’s question, I said yes!
It took a few days for us to load the Apple Watch on my old iPhone (which I gave to him when I got my iPhone 17). Reason being is either somebody (Niko) changed his Apple password or the parents forgot it!
As for me, I tried his Amazfit, and didn’t like it. Niko even offered me his simple Casio digital watch, and I said no.
I purchased an analog Casio watch, and the alarm wasn’t loud enough and it wasn’t bright enough for me to read the time in the middle of the night.
I looked at Fitbit fitness trackers (not the Fitbit ones with displays like the Apple Watch), as I have had a few in the past and I know they can wake me up and they have a bright display, but as of right now, nothing has been purchased. A little part of me likes the motivation reminders that they all come with. The other night, I was looking again, and saw some Garmin ones that looked nice and were not expensive, but they didn’t get great reviews.
I did buy a new wireless charger for my iPhone, and I set it up sideways so it can display a clock for me to see during the night. The alarm function on the iPhone is enough to wake me up. And, I can track my walking through the Fitness app. But, now, I am looking at a simple Timex watch with Indiglo lighting. Yeah, my phone displays the time, but I have to face it to see. If I get a simple watch, I can light it up quickly without having to locate the iPhone.
Now for a quick rant on watches.
When I was 16, I went on a summer trip with the camp I attended for many years to Israel. I had a swatch, thinking I would wear it throughout the trip, but, to be honest, I don’t remember ever wearing it!
In 2019, I purchased my old Apple Watch and I wore it, especially, when I was at work and Nina was home with a young child. It was a great way for us to communicate. I do remember with the current Apple Watch, sometimes Niko and Nina would use the walkie talkie feature to talk to me while I was at work.
So, will I even wear a simple watch. I have no clue. But, if it does happen, I will not spend a lot of money on it.
