The Most Exciting Things You'll Be Able To Do With The Apple Watch

Even though the Apple Watch is due to launch in a few months, we still don't have a complete picture of what it can do. (Apple will likely hold another event soon to show us more.)

Advertisement

In the meantime, here's a look at the most important Apple Watch features Apple has shared with us so far.

Tim Cook introduces Apple Watch
Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Apple Watch unveiling. AP
Advertisement

The most important thing: The Apple Watch is a watch first and foremost. You can choose from a bunch of different watch faces.

apple watch
Business Insider

Fitness is a big part of the Apple Watch. It can read your heart rate from those four sensors on the back of the device.

Apple Watch heart rate sensor
Apple
Advertisement

The fitness app will encourage you to meet certain goals in different categories like exercising and standing.

Apple Watch fitness ring
Apple

For example, the watch will remind you to stand and move around if you've been sitting too long.

Apple Watch fitness reminder
Apple
Advertisement

You can also keep track of how many calories you've burned.

Apple Watch fitness ring
Apple

The watch shows you a ring that closes up as you get closer to your daily goals. Close all the rings and you've won the day.

Apple Watch stand ring
Apple
Advertisement

The fitness tracker also syncs with an app on your iPhone so you can get a deeper look at your stats.

Apple Watch fitness companion app on iphone
Apple

This is the home screen. It stores all your apps. You can pan around by swiping the screen to see more apps.

Apple Watch app home screen
Apple
Advertisement

See that dial? That's the digital crown. You rotate it to navigate through the Apple Watch software. Pressing it brings you back to the home screen.

Apple Watch digital crown
Apple

You can view incoming text messages on your wrist.

Apple Watch incoming message
Apple
Advertisement

And you can reply to texts with canned responses.

Apple Watch text message responses
Apple

Apple also created a new set of animated emoji that you can send instead of text.

Apple Watch emoji
Apple
Advertisement

Maps work on Apple Watch too.

Apple Watch maps
Apple

You can get walking directions on your wrist. The watch will lightly vibrate when you have to make a turn.

Apple Watch walking directions
Apple
Advertisement

If you press the button below the digital crown, you can view your contacts. Tap a contact to communicate.

Apple Watch contacts
Apple

One way you can chat with your friends is by drawing doodles that appear on their watch too. It's cute!

Apple Watch drawing and chatting
Apple
Advertisement

You can also share your heartbeat. Your friend's watch will vibrate in sync with your heartbeat.

Apple Watch share heart beat
Apple

You can also accept calls and talk to people through the watch.

Apple Watch accept a call
Apple
Advertisement

Siri works too. Just ask a question into your watch like you would on your iPhone.

Apple Watch siri
Apple

You can view photos stored in your iPhone.

Apple Watch photos
Apple
Advertisement

Third-party apps can display notifications on your watch. It's up to you to choose which ones show up.

Apple Watch facebook notification
Apple

Developers can also write apps for the watch. For example, BMW is making an app that gives you stats on your car.

Apple Watch bmw app
Apple
Advertisement

Third-party apps will be able to show glances of relevant information on your wrist. For example, you can get a notification when your flight is about to board.

short look long look apple watch notifications
Apple

A lot of functions on the watch will be controlled from a companion app on your iPhone.

AppleWatchApp3
9to5Mac

Find out more details on the companion app on 9to5Mac >>

Advertisement

You'll be able to make payments with Apple Pay. Just tap your watch against one of those NFC payment pads.

apple watch pay
Apple

The Apple Watch will come in two sizes, in case you have a tiny wrist.

Apple Watch two sizes
Apple
Advertisement

The watch charges with this magnetic charger. Apple says you'll have to charge it every night.

Apple Watch charger
Apple

You can swap out the bands. Apple is making a bunch of different styles. Third parties will likely make bands after the Apple Watch launches.

Apple Watch removable band
Apple
Advertisement

Now check out some other cool gadgets...

Samsung galaxy note Edge
Business Insider

Click here to see the best smartphones in the world >>

Apple Apple Watch
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.