WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.440 This red digital crown, who is it for? 00:00:08.440 --> 00:00:13.000 It denotes cellular capability on the Apple Watch, a way to decouple from your phone 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:20.440 if you're more action oriented. So like a jogger or rock climber or paddle boarder? 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:25.360 Remember that? But those are such athletic scenarios which few of us actually do. 00:00:25.360 --> 00:00:29.800 Personally, I think I can stick with the Wi-Fi only model, because obviously I have my phone 00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:36.160 with me everywhere anyway. But perhaps I'm missing something, and to find out I set myself a challenge. 00:00:36.160 --> 00:00:42.200 Live with only this old, cellular, Series 6 Apple Watch for a week to find out if my 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:50.880 life can even function with it. And it alone. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:58.600 The rules of this challenge are simple. No laptop, no iPad, and no iPhone 4 an entire week. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:03.080 I can, however, use a desktop computer so that I'm not alienated from work duties at 00:01:03.080 --> 00:01:09.440 the office. The first thing I think I need to get used to is... 00:01:09.440 --> 00:01:12.440 Hello? Hello, Jonathan. This man being... 00:01:12.440 --> 00:01:15.680 Oh, oh hi. It's my realtor. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:20.720 Untethered communication is the big sell for the cellular Apple Watch. 00:01:20.720 --> 00:01:25.880 But as it's now my only source of communication, it's not easy or convenient. 00:01:25.880 --> 00:01:30.440 Making speakerphone calls isn't great in a serious open office like ours. 00:01:30.440 --> 00:01:41.360 And if you want, you have to switch to your AirPods after you make the call. 00:01:41.360 --> 00:01:46.080 The most convenient way to reply to messages is with dictation. 00:01:46.080 --> 00:01:50.400 But again, that'll disturb people around you. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:57.600 So I'm writing with my finger, which takes longer. The on-screen keyboard found on newer Apple Watches is better and faster, but you're 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:02.200 not going to be conducting any long-winded text message threads on here. 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:06.200 And if you have friends on Android, you can text them via SMS. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:10.920 But for that to be enabled at all, your iPhone will need to remain powered on no matter where 00:02:10.920 --> 00:02:16.640 it is. Phone keys wallet, no phone keys wallet. 00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:23.000 Okay. Unfortunately, it appears I can't connect my Apple Watch to my Bluetooth, which is 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:27.880 a little sad. That means I'm going to have to drive in silence or use old CDs. 00:02:27.880 --> 00:02:38.520 What am I going to do now? How am I going to listen to my podcasts? 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:42.320 So this is a three-bedroom townhouse you're interested in. 00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:47.160 It's big and open. It's got a nice patio right off your dining area. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:51.760 Wow. Yeah, it is bigger than I was expecting, but I got to make sure it fits my couch. 00:02:51.760 --> 00:03:05.600 So I'm just going to measure. Oh, I should take a photo first. 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:10.080 The thing that makes the iPhone so useful and amazing is that it can do everything. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:14.020 But because of this challenge, doing something like viewing this apartment requires a much 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:21.520 more involved setup. I have to bring my massive old DSLR and notepad and tape measure, but if I had the iPhone, 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.720 I could literally do that all on one device. 00:03:24.720 --> 00:03:28.760 I could take an ultra-wide photo of the space, write my thoughts on the note-taking app and 00:03:28.760 --> 00:03:32.120 even measure things out with the measure app. So how much is this place? 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:39.480 Oh, it's just a little over 800,000. Oh my God, this housing market. 00:03:39.480 --> 00:03:44.360 Crippling boredom. It's what you get when you sever yourself from your phone. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:48.480 What am I supposed to do on the toilet? What am I supposed to do right now? 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:53.400 My habit for years has been to pull out my phone and scroll, but with this Apple Watch, 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.280 I can't. No videos, no articles, no tweets, nothing. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:02.280 Just fiddling with the digital crown and swiping through different faces. 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:09.160 Hello? Hey, Johnno, are you busy right now? 00:04:09.160 --> 00:04:12.160 No, actually. Did you come over and help me with some things? 00:04:12.160 --> 00:04:23.000 Yeah, I'll be right over. Okay, Johnno, I've started a really big project. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:26.000 I'm working on an album from 1999. What? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:29.280 It was on my Europe trip, so I'm hoping to cut this out. I need this glued in. 00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:34.520 When you don't have a phone around, the time you spend with others does change. 00:04:34.520 --> 00:04:38.760 You are simply more present when hanging out with family or friends. 00:04:38.760 --> 00:04:44.520 The impulse to look things up during conversations is quelled completely, because it's not possible. 00:04:44.520 --> 00:04:49.400 What I'm getting at is I really didn't feel like I was missing anything important. 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:57.920 What I was missing were the habits, and those are good things to miss. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:01.600 So the week is over, and what has it been like? 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:07.720 Great, actually. What really surprised me is what a great digital detox this is. 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:11.800 You hear people moaning, I gotta get off my phone, I gotta stop using Facebook. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:16.000 But they're empty commitments because the cost of completely severing communication 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.760 makes the prospect untenable. But with the Apple Watch, you're not actually severing communication. 00:05:21.760 --> 00:05:27.720 It's so liberating. Let me give you an idea of how different life was with only the Apple Watch. 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:31.160 My average sleep increased by a full half hour during the week. 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:36.480 I didn't waste hours a day on Twitter. I went on two hikes, all recorded in the fitness app. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:44.640 If you want to try this, it's worth knowing the cost. Firstly, cellular capability increases the price of the Series 8 watch by $100. 00:05:44.640 --> 00:05:51.040 But it's only $50 more on an SE. And that's before you register for a cell services, which is pretty easy. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.960 To sign up, you'll need an existing plan on a non-discount service provider. 00:05:54.960 --> 00:06:01.360 The monthly cost for this service is $10, plus a one-time activation fee of $45 should 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:07.280 you BYOW. Apple Watch. 00:06:07.280 --> 00:06:10.640 But is it worth it? I don't think so. 00:06:10.640 --> 00:06:14.520 Not for a digital detox, because it's going to require some accountability. 00:06:14.520 --> 00:06:19.720 No, perhaps $120 a year is accountability enough to do it regularly. 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:25.600 But for me, it wouldn't be. So yes, it's certainly possible to live with only an Apple Watch. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:30.040 It's even great. But if you want to do a digital detox, there are cheaper ways to do it. 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:35.400 You could set up Screen Time in iOS or delete your Facebook account, which I recommend. 00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:38.720 What a beautiful sunset. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:42.320 I don't have a camera. 00:06:42.320 --> 00:06:45.840 If you already have a cellular Apple Watch and you feel like you don't know why, try 00:06:45.840 --> 00:06:51.680 this challenge. It'll answer that question. And if you're looking at the product page trying to decide between a cellular or Wi-Fi 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:58.280 model, well, you'll know if you need one. Otherwise, unless you have a child with whom you want to gift the Apple Watch three years 00:06:58.320 --> 00:07:02.840 from now and set up with family setup, I think you're probably best sticking with a Wi-Fi 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:09.960 model. As for me, I don't have any children, except for my baby mini iPhone, darling. 00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:13.040 Thanks for detoxing this Mac Address. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:16.640 If you think the Apple Watch should be its own device on its own cellular plan, give 00:07:16.640 --> 00:07:20.560 this video a like. Now I'm curious if that's something you would go for. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:24.400 Ditch the iPhone, only cellular Apple Watch, comment below.