If you’re thinking of getting or gifting an Apple Watch this holiday season, here’s an excellent, useful article about a popular FAQ: what can I do on my Watch without carrying an iPhone?

At my health club, if a member is wearing a smartwatch, it’s likely an Apple Watch. The most popular. There, I rarely see anyone using their watch for anything besides time and some exercise data (typically viewed later on their iPhone). But this month I did see a member doing a phone call on their Watch. And one of the trainers, while a long time Watch user, always carries an iPhone on his hip; so, making phone calls or doing text messages on his Watch is not relevant.

The article does point out (in a linked article) that you do, in fact, need an iPhone to set up your Apple Watch. And in some cases a WiFi or cellular connection is required.

• Macworld > “All the things an Apple Watch can do without an iPhone” by Martyn Casserly, Contributor (Nov 30, 2022) – Is it possible to untether your Apple Watch from the iPhone entirely?

Table of contents

• Can you use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?
• What an Apple Watch can do without an iPhone (like health features)
• Can you use an Apple Watch with an Android phone?

I was particularly interested in standalone music.

(quote) If you want some pumping tunes while running or just fancy listening to a podcast or album while you potter about in the garden, then you can store plenty of tracks on the Apple Watch itself, all of which you can listen to without the need for an iPhone. Of course, as there is no headphone jack on an Apple Watch, you’ll need a pair of Bluetooth headphones – unless you want the tiny little speakers to ruin your exercise session and relationship with the neighbors.

You can also stream music from Apple Music – if you are connected to Wi-Fi or have a cellular connection.