Will smartwatches with eSIM capability soon leave smartphones to the left? Image: Vanessa Kim

Product test

eSIM: the smartphone on your wrist

13.8.2019

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

If your smartwatch has an eSIM, it's also a phone. Want to effortlessly make calls, write messages and pay for purchases? My week with the Apple Watch as an iPhone replacement.

«It would be great to leave my smartphone at home and still be reachable.» Thoughts like these often buzz around my head. I don't think that should be a problem these days. Some of the latest generation of smartwatches already have an eSIM, potentially making the smartphone virtually superfluous. That's what the theory suggested, anyway, so I set out to test it.

Smartwatches

Apple Watch Series 4

44 mm, 4G

Watch straps

Apple Milanaise Bracelet

44 mm, Stainless steel

Speaking of theory, the eSIM (in German) is a built-in SIM card – the «e» stands for embedded. This means that you don't need to insert a micro, mini or nano SIM card into your device like you would with a smartphone, although some newer mobiles also have integrated eSIMs. The SIM is embedded in the watch itself. The technology has existed for almost four years, but it hasn't yet been really implemented.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

My smartwatch adventure started with a real novelty: for the first time ever, I went through a manual for one of my gadgets step by step. Yes, you read that right: I studied the instructions. I wanted to be prepared and not jump to any hasty conclusions. This meant trying it out. After a short test run pressing and playing around with it at the weekend, I started the proper test on Monday and wore it for an entire working week.

Because WhatsApp is only partly supported on the Apple Watch, I let my main contacts know the night before that I'd be able to reply to their messages during the week, but I wouldn't be able to send my own. If anything urgent came up, I'd get in touch via text or iMessage, which the smartwatch can manage.

Monday, 5.17am

I was woken by the smartwatch's alarm. OK, I usually wake up without an alarm, but I set it for testing purposes. A cool feature on the Apple Watch: a few minutes before the actual alarm, the display switches on and gets gradually brighter until it's time to wake up. Then the familiar Apple alarm sound kicks in.

The alarm display on the Apple Watch is designed to simulate the sunrise.

I needed a glass of mineral water to get going. The route to the fridge isn't an easy one in the early morning gloom. I noticed that the Philips Hue app on my watch was running and switched on my living room lamp to light my way. Obviously this isn't a must-have feature, but it's nice nevertheless. Then I took a quick look at the weather app to see whether I needed shorts or trousers that day. After a final check of the latest sports results, I was ready for my first day at work without my phone. I hadn't touched my phone up to this point. Everything was going swimmingly.

On the way to work, I found out to my horror that Spotify works as a third-party app on the watch, but not without an iPhone in the vicinity. Apple Music should work, but I don't use it. I realised that it might be a tough week. My AirPods disappeared noiselessly back into their charging case.

There's an Apple Watch version of some third-party apps – some better, some worse.

This was a drawback, as I was now just another commuter without music – not pleasant, I must admit. Apple promises improvements in terms of the watch's autonomy in the autumn watchOS 6 update. I hope WhatsApp and Spotify will benefit.

Tuesday, 8.30am

Distant church tower bells rang out for the second time to mark the half hour as I took a bite out of my chocolate-studded bun. And that was the end of my peace and quiet: my watch vibrated. It was a text from my dad, who wanted help with a PC problem. I replied on the watch, dictating a message to Siri. My dad doesn't understand Swiss German in a text, so it's not a problem that the Apple lady from Cupertino doesn't speak any dialects and wrote the message in standard German.

I couldn't reply to my dad's follow-up question on the large iPhone display with an on-screen keyboard. So I called him. The quality of the call surprised us both as I told him that we were talking via the watch – no phone, no headphones.

The audio quality when making calls via the watch is surprisingly good.

Once my dad's computer was running smoothly again, I focused my attention back on my snack. I bought it with my Apple Watch. This isn't something new or exclusive to Apple, as I have always made contactless card payments, but it was a new thing for me.

As the watch has a payment feature, but doesn't support my Visa card or PostFinance, I got a free Revolut credit card. I then used this to pay everywhere via the smartwatch. The digital credit card is stored in the wallet. I can also use the wallet on the Apple Watch for flights and hotel stays, saving me reaching for my phone again.

Wednesday, 5.13pm

There was no relaxing for me after work. I still had a short training session and a swim to do before I collapsed on my sofa. I got home, unloaded my FREITAG bag, got changed and...just started running. Until now, I've always had to put my phone somewhere, pack some change and swap my watch for the Garmin Forerunner 735XT. But thanks to the eSIM and Apple Watch, I had everything with me: phone, wallet and training tracker.

I'm also a sports watch – the Apple Watch in Workout mode.

After 45 minutes, I'd done a relaxed lap and arrived at the outdoor pool. My entry was secured via contactless payment, which was also how I bought my hard-earned ice cream afterwards. Just for fun – and to give the watch a challenge – I decided to swim a few lengths in the 25 m pool. Obviously, the watch stayed on my wrist because it's waterproof.

As soon as I started swimming, the Apple Watch activated its special water mode to prevent water getting into the two built-in speakers via vibrations. The watch is still waterproof even without this mode. Another great feature, but not a must-have.

Thursday, 2.45pm

The week was slowly drawing to a close and my motivation was waning – the perfect time for some mood-boosting music. My Spotify playlist gave me the kick I needed to get through the day without incident. Fun fact: I like that I was also able to control the Spotify player via Apple Watch. This is original but doesn't make a lot of sense, as I was working on a notebook and using Spotify on that anyway.

After facing another train journey without musical accompaniment, I remembered that I still needed to buy two or three things. The Migros app and its shopping lists are compatible with Apple Watch, while the Coop equivalent only displays the Supercard code. The Reminders app on your iPhone syncs itself with the watch too and shows all of your to-do lists.

Square, practical, good: my watch tells me what I need to buy.

Back at home, I had to make up for the week's musical deprivation. I dusted off my iPhone, which was connected to its charging cable untouched after four days. I connected it to the Wi-Fi, opened the Sonos app, turned up the volume and let the music carry me off into my own little world.

I was able to enjoy precisely two songs before the watch on my arm vibrated: another reminder told me that I still had floorball training tonight. Looking at my smartwatch, I realised that I could even use it to control my Sonos player. Cool! So my phone stayed in the same place that I'd left it on Monday at the start of the test.

Friday, 9.59am

I had a nice start to the final working day of the week. I was nearly there: I'd made it a week without my smartphone, with an almost as smart watch taking its place. Admittedly, I'm exaggerating. It had been a really nice week. I was impressed that I was able to do everything with a smartwatch. I inspected the little technical marvel. When I looked at it, the message on the digital dial alerted me that it was time for brainstorming. Damn, I'd already closed my notebook and forgot to check which meeting room I needed. A click of the smartwatch was enough to tell me that my team was expecting me in «Dr. Sanity Affaire».

Later, I met a friend from uni for lunch. He'd booked Moudi. I knew the place, I'd been there before, but I couldn't remember the exact address. I reached for my trouser pocket and realised that I'd left my iPhone at home. As the first swearwords passed my lips, I remembered the smartwatch. I opened the Maps app, entered the address and the directions began. Wow! I, «Mr. disoriented», was impressed.

Directions, I love you – now also available on my wrist.

At the subsequent meal, I noticed a drawback of the smartwatch: I looked at it every time I got a notification – even if only very quickly. The third time I looked down at my wrist, my frustrated lunch partner asked if I was in a rush. That was the first time I'd noticed the rude habit.

Friday afternoon marked the end of my test. Well, almost. Fashion queen and fellow editor Vanessa was also testing the eSIM function using the Apple Watch and set me a challenge via the Activity app at the start of the week. Would this be shooting myself in the foot or throwing down the gauntlet? After a week, we took stock of who had done more for their health. The results are in, and I'd like to say: chapeau, Vanessa, you beat me fair and square.

Verdict

I survived a week without my smartphone. Well, that's not strictly true. Because the Apple Watch, a smartwatch with an eSIM, accompanied me on my phone-free journey. But it certainly wasn't a struggle to survive. Quite the opposite: the smartwatch didn't leave my side and was always there when things got tricky. Even though it couldn't completely replace my iPhone due to the lack of WhatsApp and Spotify compatibility, I felt like I was in good hands.

I'd like to recognise the smartwatch with eSIM for making me much less dependent on my phone. Obviously, when I flick around on the watch, send texts and check my fitness, it all counts as time on my phone. But before my Apple Watch week, I picked up my phone much more often – even though I didn't need to and «really only wanted to check the time». But even smartwatches don't have magic powers: I caught myself sitting on the toilet for five more minutes with the Apple Watch too.

My iPhone has never felt as lonely as it has this week.

What I really can't understand is that providers – Swisscom in my case – require a second monthly payment for the eSIM. The card doesn't physically exist and I don't use any additional data or calls. The sole aim is being able to use my subscription on another device. Sorry for the bluntness, but that's just rubbish.

To cut a long story short, smartwatches are currently still reliant on their paired smartphones, which act as control centres. That's why I'm holding off on buying an Apple Watch. Because smartwatches will soon be standalone gadgets. I'm excited to see what the watchOS 6 update has in store in the autumn.

The Apple Watch still can't replace my iPhone, but the eSIM is taking huge strides to get dangerously close.

Header image: Will smartwatches with eSIM capability soon leave smartphones to the left? Image: Vanessa Kim

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Raphael Knecht

Senior Editor

raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.

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