The Lonely Guy

Just bought it. Let’s see how it will go

Despite Apple’s clear dominance in the smartwatch market, the Apple Watch has yet to become a “must-have.” User interest is waning, developers are losing enthusiasm, and the device, while highly visible and gifted, fails to match the commercial success of earlier Apple hits.

It’s Often the Go-To Gift You’ll see Apple Watches everywhere—on the wrists of geeks, athletes, professionals, and early adopters. Unlike the higher-priced iPhone or iPad, the Apple Watch is accessible (averaging around €350 for one or two generations old), making it a popular gift. With Apple’s trademark ease of use and seamless ecosystem integration, it should be a slam dunk success. And yet…

• Apple sold over 31 million units in 2019, surpassing the entire Swiss watch industry in sheer volume.
• However, Apple Watch sales do not rival those of the iPod, iPhone, or iPad, and recent years have been particularly tough—2024 saw a nearly 20% year-over-year drop in shipments, the second consecutive annual decline.
• Major brands like Amazon, TripAdvisor, Twitter, and eBay have dropped Apple Watch apps. Even Google left and returned only quietly.

Why the Lack of Interest? The product is beautiful, technologically advanced, and fully integrated into the Apple experience. So, what gives?

As a longtime user (since gen 3), here’s the analysis:

• Hardware, features, and the Apple user experience aren’t the problem.
• The real issue is positioning and interface design.

The User Experience Problem Apple’s core strengths—intuitive design, ease of use, battery life, deep ecosystem integration, privacy, and health features—are partly present in the Watch. But the watch interface imitates that of the iPhone or iPad: scrolling, tapping, confirming actions on a tiny 40-44mm screen can quickly become tedious. Actions that are pleasant and fluid on a larger device feel finicky and slow on a small one.

This frustration leads users to lose interest over time—they simply don’t see the added value of the watch and end up selling or forgetting it.

Complications & Widgets: The Key, Underused Feature The “complications” (small, glanceable widgets for data like weather, battery, appointments, etc.) should be the core feature of the watch. However, they remain underdeveloped. Both Apple and third-party developers tend to port miniaturized iOS apps to WatchOS rather than rethink their role.

• Audio apps are too cumbersome to use compared to grabbing your phone.
• It’s tricky to quickly access vital info, when the promise of a watch should be “lift your wrist, see data instantly, with zero taps or confirmations.”

A wishlist of what complications could do (but mostly don’t): real-time updates on transit, flight details, instant smart-home controls, direct podcast/music play, episode count, bank balances, social subscribers, and more.

Developers aren’t investing in the Watch because the potential audience and benefits are limited—only 19,000 watch apps exist compared to nearly 2 million iOS apps. This in turn drives away users, further reducing developer motivation. Only the Watch’s complications and widgets—always-on, rapidly accessible, at-a-glance data—fulfill its brief.

Systemic Interface & Developer Challenges

• Complications refresh only every 15 minutes to preserve battery, meaning the info isn’t always “live.” Widgets require more active interaction (refreshing only when opened) to save battery life[10].
• Apple Watch is not a miniature iPhone; expectations for app use should recognize the device’s unique constraints and best use cases.
• Developers find the Watch ecosystem less lucrative and more restrictive, making dedicated apps less appealing to build than for iPhone or iPad[9].

Conclusion Apple Watch is a technical marvel and top-seller for its category, but its usage is stagnating. The interface imitates phone paradigms rather than building on the device’s strengths as a “complications-driven,” always-available companion. Real innovation would mean a pivot toward at-a-glance widgets, with deep, live updates and minimal interaction required. Until then, both users and developers may continue to lose interest—and the Apple Watch will remain a powerful, beautiful gadget searching for its killer use case.

What is it?

• A screen protector for iPad that replicates the texture and feel of paper.
• UK version here

Key Benefits

• Helps safeguard your device’s display
• Enhances handwriting precision
• Minimises smudges and fingerprints
• Reduces screen glare for better visibility
• Relatively straightforward to apply

Areas for Improvement

• Pricing could be more competitive (€39 for a pack of two)
• The additional accessories (such as digital planners and a drawing glove) lack appeal. It is interesting to see how the company will develop its products in the future.

Overall Impression

• Rating: 7/10
• It generally lives up to expectations. While the handwriting enhancement is a plus, the real standouts are the reduction in glare and smudges.