I thought Apple Watch was compatible with Android, just not as smooth to use. This is eye opening.<p>At the same time, though I agree Apple Watch has the best sleep tracking (and I work in the sleep space), the difference in sleep tracking compared to others probably isn't big enough to justify jumping through all these hoops, unless, like the author, you enjoy doing this sort of thing.<p>The Whoop sleep tracking is quite good, but a rather expensive (I think) subscription just to get data about a health function you have very little direct influence over.<p>The Xaoimi Bands are inexpensive, and from what I understand, also have good sleep tracking.<p>I also just came across this <a href="https://cardiomood.com/" rel="nofollow">https://cardiomood.com/</a>, which seems to be like a non-subscription, but rather expensive Whoop.
FWIW, the Pixel Watch 3 45mm is basically equivalent to the Apple Watch in accuracy according to testing by the same YouTuber mentioned in the blog post [1]. And it works out of the box with Android. Personally I also like the form factor better, since it's round rather than square, and unlike the Apple Watch, it still has a working SpO2 sensor...<p>1: <a href="https://youtu.be/Jr4p66vSmLY" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/Jr4p66vSmLY</a>
I was one of the implementers of the Apple Watch (OS 1.0) CalDAV support. We always wanted people to be able to "bring your own server".<p>You're welcome.
This is beautiful!<p>I've been using an Apple Watch Ultra with my Pixel using some of the same hacks.<p>0. I use messaging apps like WhatsApp, and Messenger which are multi device. So I log into them on the home iPhone. (WA <i>finally</i> added 'login as companion device' on iOS only a year ago).
1. Pushover to get notifications from any other apps that don't support multi device. (Signal ugh). I used Buzzkill to do the pushing from the android devices. Very reliable once set up.
2. I use Google Voice for my calls and SMS so that was easy to get on iPhone. (No calls though. The watch doesn't support sip/voip calls except Apple's own FaceTime ugh)
3. I spent a year doing cellular on Watch. I joined various family members' premium plans of the big 3 US networks (as well asany MVNOs like Visible) to use cellular on the watch. I paid ~$10/mo via this route. All good.
But I stopped early this year because I found the cellular reliability to be just... piss poor garbage. (This is extensive use across US as well as international travel in Europe and Asia)
It really wasn't worth cellular I realized.<p>4. I use Apple laptops, so the "watch to unlock" feature is useful multiple times a day :)
Interesting background: Apple was, for a while, planning on officially supporting Android as a "host phone OS", but axed the project out of ecosystem concerns: <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/22/apple-watch-compatible-android/" rel="nofollow">https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/22/apple-watch-compatible-androi...</a><p>Personally, this is actually how they got me – I used to use Android phones for many years, but found the Apple Watch so much more appealing than anything available from Google at the time that I made the switch.
If you bought an Apple Watch and keep an iPhone connected to the internet, I'm not sure you've completely fulfilled your anti-Apple agenda. XD Still neat though.<p>You might also check in on Garmin watches. They have many of the same heart rate monitoring (though no automated emergency SOS) and work well with Android.<p>(Sorry to hear about your friend's passing.)
Project repo is here - <a href="https://github.com/abishekmuthian/apple-watch-with-android">https://github.com/abishekmuthian/apple-watch-with-android</a> .
Really cool project, and thank you for writing it up so well!<p>My first question is "why" and the post answers that well (my paraphrasing): because Apple Watch is more accurate than anything else on the market, and health can be a matter of life and death.<p>OP is definitely an open source guy though so even if you'll never buy another Apple product (like myself) it's still a fascinating look at the current state of things!
> I keep my iPhone at home, powered and connected to the Internet but don't use it as a daily driver.<p>I recently learned that the Google pixel 8 and 9 will soon get a feature that will allow these phones to remain plugged in and turned on without charging and discharging the battery (under certain circumstances).<p>I really wish this was widely available for all cell phones and tablets. I know new iPhones have a limit charging to 80% option (my iPhone se 2020 does not) but I think the next step is to add this? My main motivation is to do whatever we can to avoid spicy pillow problem in batteries.<p>Do you have any thoughts on this topic?
This is a cool exploration. The post mentioned the health aspects, yet mostly goes over basic app integrations.<p>I’m curious about how well the health features translate over to the android phone. Is it mostly just to track health metrics locally on the Apple Watch, or is there any sort of “export/sync to android phone” for health?<p>I’ve been really curious about other open source (or at least reversed engineered) devices like the Colmi, and while I’m still an Apple consumer, prefer to track and keep things locally and private to myself with my own apps and scripts.
You can actually get real compatibility with android directly - <a href="https://troopers.de/troopers24/talks/h7mlua/" rel="nofollow">https://troopers.de/troopers24/talks/h7mlua/</a>
>I couldn't dismiss the thought that may be if they had worn a smart watch they could have had better chances of reaching out for help and perhaps even got alerted of some discrepancies in their vitals.<p>Does this actually work? Apple watch only can detect sudden falls and call 911, but AFAIK it can't auto call 911 if you get a heartattack or whatever.<p>>I got the cellular working in the Apple Watch by using the same SIM from my Android phone in the iPhone, pairing with the Apple Watch and setting up the mobile data.<p>>Receiving and making calls via Apple Watch (when Wifi/BT is disabled) works well, but since the SIM is in the Android phone, the SMS functionality doesn't work; with it SOS messages to emergency contacts(even if they're on iMessage ʅ₍ッ₎ʃ ); but SOS calls work.<p>There's no way this can work unless "calls" actually mean facetime audio rather than PSTN (ie. "regular") phone calls. If the sim isn't in the watch, then there's no way it can receive calls.
I actually much prefer Garmin watches, due to battery life, the workout app which has no analogues on iOS, in terms of how it tracks reps and sets, the readable screen, etc. However, its the iOS with it was just unusable. It worked great on Android, but I am used to be able to reply to texts, and I couldn't to pretty much anything on the Garmin watch with iOS, except see some notifications. I hope things get more interoperable, but it's been like this for a decade, so it probably won't get better.
I used to wear AW until I got the Garmin Forerunner. One annoying thing about the new 965 is that the HR monitor is getting inaccurate for faster paces. When I have my recovery runs with HR below 150, the watch works perfectly fine. Once my HR goes over 165, it's a wild guess. I fee like I need to stop running and let the Forerunner"catches" up with its accuracy then it is working OK again. Happens in every intensive run.
I think using the Quantified Scientist's YouTube reviews as reference for the quality of sensors is misleading.<p>He primarily tests the devices on just his own body type, and often doesn't test long enough for the device to adapt to him (some devices take a few weeks to "learn" your body).<p>He does make disclaimers about the above, but people seem to take the stats he presents as gospel.
The Apple Watch was a big contributor to my decision to switch back to an iPhone after a decade. I can’t speak to the current smartwatch market, but for many many years, the Apple Watch has been unparalleled in its category.<p>I wish Apple was more flexible in their products. The watch is plenty capable on its own, and I feel confident the attachment to the iPhone is arbitrary.
Is there a way, without jailbreaking, to use that spare iPhone at home, powered on and connected to the internet, to run/host some server software?
WTF is "aspiration porn"? What is it with people being so salty about Apple and going out of their way to paint them in as malicious a light as possible?
This is a great write up on how to accomplish this, I hope someday Apple just allows the Apple Watch to work standalone.<p>Having said that, the Apple Watch is the primary reason I switched to the iPhone (and Apple ecosystem with it). I have been using the watch with cellular since April 2019 and I only take my phone with me on the rarest of occasions (usually for events that I want to snap pics or video or if I’m taking a day trip or on holiday). I’ve even taken just the watch on small holidays/trips by keeping my iPhone fully charged but on Wi-Fi to get all notifications.<p>Once I got used to the workflow I never looked back. I noticed I was more focused at work, at social events, dinners either the wife and family or friends while being more social and attentive, and noticed a huge overall improvement in mood and well being. Part of this is due to more focus on health and fitness and the Apple Watch certainly helped me stay motivated.<p>Since 2019 I’ve lost 25lbs, gained some muscle mass, I now compete in friendly running races and I’ve lowered my blood pressure. The Apple Watch truly is the most important gadget I’ve ever purchased and owned.
I use an Android phone for 'watch' (time-telling) task, thanks. Before that: several other phones, don't need an analog / digital cufflink on my wrist.