What makes the Apple Watch more interesting than WearOS is more than just the advanced technology. Some of the best smartwatch apps are found in Apple's Watch App Store, along with associated apps for iPhone and, in some cases, iPad and Mac computers. What's more, there are several apps that should be considered must-haves, including these.
As with the iPhone and iPad App Store, the Watch App Store is larger and filled with more creative and appealing apps than competing smartwatches. Apple didn't have a head start as they did with the iPhone, waiting until 2014 to launch its first watch. However, it quickly captured the market and has retained a significant lead ever since. The huge popularity advantage of Apple's Watch commands attention from developers which in turn, results in plenty of watch apps to choose from.
Being a fitness-first wearable device, the Apple Watch includes good health and fitness tracking features. However, the limitations will become annoying within a few months, if not sooner. Strava is a free running, cycling and swimming app that is among the best. It brings a social element to exercise. Users can compare performance within geographical areas or share with friends and followers. It offers more features and customization than Apple's Health app, so it will adapt to the growing requirements of the owner. Everyone needs more organization in today's busy world and Things 3 is a beautiful and functional list-making app for the iPhone and Mac that can sync to an Apple Watch. Apple fans know and love this app, and it's a really great example of integration across devices.
More Must-Have Apps for Apple Watch
Sleep Cycle is a sleep tracking Watch app that provides gentle waking during the wearer's light sleep cycle. The Apple Watch doesn't need to be worn for this to work, which is much more convenient than watchOS 7’s sleep feature, since it allows the Watch to be charged at night. Instead of pulse or accelerometer data, the app uses sound analysis to detect movement in bed. Accuweather is another favorite for many. Since weather data comes from different sources, an app that works well for one area may be inaccurate for another. However, many find Accuweather to live up to its name, providing timely and correct forecasts and notifications of weather alerts, something necessary when exercising outside with just the Apple Watch.
Some may argue these last two don't belong on a must-have list, but downtime and fun is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle, and that's something most Apple Watch owners will recognize. A fun take on running is provided by Zombies Run, as this app tracks your movement and ties it in with an audio narrative. As the title suggests, this is a post-apocalyptic zombie scenario and what could possibly be a more appropriate reason to run than being chased by hordes of the undead? Finally, Keplar Attack is like strapping the arcade hit of bygone days, Galaxian, to the wrist. Control is accomplished via the Apple Watch's crown, rotating the player's ship in a circular pattern to avoid incoming attackers.