Apple Watch Still Tied to iPhone Despite Growing Independence
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Apple Watch is designed as an iPhone accessory and requires an iPhone to set up and pair. Making it compatible with Android would require overhauling the setup process and separating watchOS from iOS.
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watchOS relies heavily on iOS frameworks and features to operate. Many apps mirror what happens on the iPhone rather than running natively on the watch.
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Recent Apple Watch models have become more independent, with native apps, cellular connectivity, and streaming capabilities. But watchOS still relies on shared iOS frameworks.
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Apple sees more value in convincing people to buy an iPhone to use with Apple Watch rather than selling to Android users. Making it fully cross-platform may not be worth the effort.
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Apple could open up APIs so other smartwatches can better integrate with iOS rather than trying to make Apple Watch work with Android.