Why I ditched my Apple Watch
offline livingA few weeks ago, I decided to review how I use technology and if I needed to be glued to a screen all day. It was clear - I was using my phone and other devices to paper over a void I had been experiencing for several years. This realisation came after a chance encounter with some notes I had taken on the Slow Tech movement.
The Slow Tech movement is cultural and philosophical response to the rapid rise of technological development, which has overwhelmed us for many years now. The movement advocates for using technology deliberately, rather than compulsively. I was certainly a compulsive user. I lost count of the times I picked up my phone or logged into my MacBook only to forget why I had done so in the first place. The Slow Tech movement emphasises on quality and intentionality. More importantly, it promotes long-lasting, repairable and environmentally-friendly tech.
Which brings me onto the Apple Watch because it is anything but long-lasting, repairable and environmentally-friendly. I have been an Apple Watch diehard for many years now. I had a philosophy with my apps - if it didn’t have an app for the watch, I didn’t use the app. I neglected many apps due to the assertion to have my data everywhere.
However, there was a thought at the back of my mind which asked how long could I roll with the doubts I had for my Apple Watch. So, I thought I would write about the issues I have and what I am wearing now.
Battery
It is probably the biggest gripe on my list. Before I owned an Apple Watch, I never obsessed over the amount of charge on my Casio Illuminator watch. It just worked. With the Apple Watch, I would have to charge it every night in order to use it the next day. There were times when it wouldn’t even last the whole day. Some apps on it were taxing on the battery. The Streaks habit tracker was one of those apps. I managed to find an alternative called Awesome Habits, which is actually awesome and better on battery life. Either way, I got tired of having to charge it every day. It’s a small niggle but having to remember to do so, adds more complexity to the day. I had also noticed the battery did not last as long as it used to.
Always connected
I wouldn’t say I am anti-social but I know I don’t like to be disturbed when I am trying to focus. Strapping an computer to your wrist is a fine way to be bombarded with notifications throughout the day. Also, I don’t appreciate reminders to say I am less active and I need to close my rings. I know when to exercise and when to rest.
Privacy
Although the argument for privacy on Apple Watches isn’t clear. I am conscious that I am wearing something that tracks every movement I make and where I go. The data is secure, or so Apple says, but I became paranoid of future consequences when a rogue app or hacker manages to get through Apple’s system to my data.
Planned obsolescence
I have two watches older than my son. The Apple Watch is not one of the watches that will surpass those fourteen years. Apple has planned obsolescence built-in from the start. It’s the only way to get people to keep buying new watches every few years. I want my watch to last decades. The Apple Watch has limited updates, potentially weakening the security of the device. Getting a new battery is expensive and more complex than replacing one on a Casio watch.
Siri
Sorry. This one has to be said - Siri is awful! The output to my requests work haphazardly. It mishears what I say, works or starts an infinite loop (get it?) of confusion. I’ve lost count of how many times it has come up with the wrong information or it doesn’t give me the information I needed. Siri needs AI or something that makes the feature work more naturally than it does right now. Unless you buy into a cellular plan, forget about using Siri without your iPhone. It doesn’t work at all.
Materials
My Apple Watch has been in a case since the day I bought it. They are not the cheapest devices and I know how easy they are to scratch or break. I know a lot of people who have cracked the screen or caused significant damage to warrant a (pricey) repair. The watches may look sleek but their build quality is poor.
What I moved to…
I missed the fascination and appreciation I had with conventional watches. There’s so many choices out there. I knew I wanted to go back, to what some call, dumb watches. I missed the simplicity of analog watches. I have too much going on to remember I needed to charge my Apple Watch in the evening. Enough with that, already.
I still had my Casio watch but I wanted to go back further to the times when I would glance down at my wrist and admire the piece of art staring back at me. I searched and searched and finally chose a watch that disconnected me from the internet, didn’t pester me with notifications and freed me from the annoying cycle of charging my watch. It did what I wanted from the start - tell the time.
After many searches and reviews, I settled with the classic Citizen BM81830-03E eco-drive field watch. Once called the Chandler: it is now part of the Garrison collection. A solar-powered timepiece that promoted the longevity the Slow Tech movement spoke about. No more updates, no more battery anxiety, no more privacy concerns. Simplicity and elegance combined.
It can tell me the time, give me the date and day. There’s lume on the dials and hourly intervals for low visibility rooms, too. The wrist strap is known in the Citizen community to be below par. I agree. It watch strap starts off being stiff around the wrist. However, after two weeks, it loosened up and now wraps around my wrist nicely. I can see myself replacing the strap with brown or black leather to give it a professional look.
I have adapted to not knowing my step count or what my heart rate is. Tasks and reminders are reviewed each morning in my Bullet Journal and Twos app *. I do another review around midday and in the evening. Being more intentional with my day and planning it out has allowed me to critically question what I add to my day. The calendar feature on my Apple Watch is the only thing I miss. Again, my analog approach to note-taking, scheduling and thoughts has filled that void. I am loving the disconnect from my tech right now. Focusing on the world around me and being more present has brought a newfound appreciation to what I have in my life.
And my Apple Watch? I have given it to my wife because her Apple Watch, as expected, came to the end of its (short) life. She is happy with the upgrade.
As always, thank you for reading.
Mark
* Using the Twos link and referral code codemaclife will give you 200 coins towards a pro feature for free.