Apple Watch that supports LTE communication was the "next generation iPhone": "WIRED" US version review

The Apple Watch Series 3 (Series 3), which launched on September 22, 2017, looks exactly like last year's Apple Watch. The Series 3 starts at $399 (36,800 yen excluding tax in Japan) and comes in two sizes. Aside from a small red button on the side, there are few new cosmetic features.

But it's actually a completely different device. It supports LTE communication, so you can connect to the Internet without an iPhone or WiFi connection environment. For the past two years, the Apple Watch has been like the iPod Touch, but now it's evolved into the iPhone itself.

When Apple launched the original Apple Watch in 2015, it was touted as a device to distance ourselves from the technology that "invades" our lives. Kevin Lynch, the head of Apple's Watch project, said at the time, "We're almost always connected to technology now. People carry their phones around and stare at screens all the time." rice field.

A turning point for the Apple Watch

However, in a true sense, the original concept was not realized. It didn't work without an iPhone nearby, and was nothing more than a megaphone to notify you of notifications. Apple then changed its strategy and marketed the Apple Watch to fitness enthusiasts and health conscious people. Still, Apple has always positioned the Apple Watch as something more than just a Fitbit plus notifications.

When I spoke to several Apple executives after the Series 3 announcement, it was clear that this was a major turning point for the Apple Watch. After spending a week with the Series 3 on my wrist, I came up with a hypothesis. The Apple Watch is the “next generation iPhone”.

Apple clearly believes that the iPhone after the "iPhone X" will evolve into something different. A more powerful computer designed for augmented reality and the next generation of ways to work and play. In that future, the Apple Watch could do most of what we do on our phones.

That is, calls, emails, smart home operations, music-related remote control functions, interaction with virtual assistants, and so on. The Apple Watch could do all of this without any major distractions. The iPhone is a useful tool, but it's easy to get distracted by the element of "play", so the separation is very effective.

It's not finished yet, but it's a great idea. Personally, I love the Apple Watch for the first time, and I plan to wear it forever.

Long battery life during LTE communication

Once paired with an iPhone, it only takes a few minutes to connect the Apple Watch to the Internet. Mobile phone companies have slightly different pricing plans, but you can subscribe to an Apple Watch data plan by adding a small amount of money. In the United States, many cell phone companies charge an upfront fee, but they waive it at first, and some even offer a few months of data free.