How far can the Apple Watch stay connected w/ your device?

[ajl]

I haven't seen anything about this in a review yet. I'm pretty sure the watch is deemed useless when "out of range", but how far is that?

Can someone with a watch in hand, test that out?

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[HankAZ]

I don't have an Watch, but the range for BT 4.0 is approximately 100 meters (330 feet +/-). Not sure what the real world limitations will be.

 

[ajl]

I don't have an Watch, but the range for BT 4.0 is approximately 100 meters (330 feet +/-). Not sure what the real world limitations will be.

Whoa, thank you. I hope that distance stays true to the watch, that's quite a flexible range.


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[Lobwedgephil]

Won't be that far, think 30 ft or so usually. I can get anything around my house but that may be wifi also.

 

[Dave Marsh]

While the Bluetooth Smart LE official range is ~100m, for practical purposes it's around 30 ft, dependent upon the devices paired. Originally the standard was, I believe, designed for connecting devices over just a few feet (keyboards, mice, headsets, etc.).

Remember, if you have WiFi in your home, and your iPhone is connected to it, your watch should use the iPhone's WiFi hotspot to connect. This should mean that you could put your iPhone in its dock when you get home, then rely on the watch around the house, when you didn't need the larger screen and keyboard capability. I'd really like to hear from some new Apple Watch users who could test out how this actually works.

I know the Apple Watch has both Bluetooth and WiFi capability. My assumption has been that the watch will rely on Bluetooth except when the iPhone connects to a WiFi network, then switch to WiFi. Since there's nothing I've read yet in the user guide about configuring the Apple Watch for WiFi, it must be automatic through the Bluetooth paired iPhone, and that suggests to me it's using the iPhone's WiFi hotspot. If that's the case, a simple check of the iPhone's WiFi hotspot connections in the Settings Menu on the iPhone should confirm that.

 

[happyalice]

I tested this somewhat yesterday. My phone was on charger on 2nd floor, and I was on first floor about 50 feet away on the other side of the house. iPhone 6 was connected to wifi. Connectivity was intermittent, but as soon as I went into the kitchen, ~30-35', it picked back up.

 

[John Yester]

Awesome. Thanks for the info and testing this out. Glad the range works pretty good depending on housing construction.

 

[Scatabrain]

According to Ren wifi is supposed to work. I tested today where I was in wifi but not bt range. The glance said connected to phone. Phone calls fail. Message send fails. Message received worked.


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[Bigeric23]

First, let me provide you some precursory information: On the first floor of my house I have an AirPort Express, and on the second floor I have an AirPort Extreme.

I can be anywhere in my house or outside--close to the house--and my Apple Watch works without issue, though a little bit slower when outside. However, when I'm not on my network, the range between the iPhone and Apple Watch need to be approximately 30 - 50 feet apart (depending on what is between them).

 

[Scatabrain]

First, let me provide you some precursory information: On the first floor of my house I have an AirPort Express, and on the second floor I have an AirPort Extreme.

I can be anywhere in my house or outside--close to the house--and my Apple Watch works without issue, though a little bit slower when outside. However, when I'm not on my network, the range between the iPhone and Apple Watch need to be approximately 30 - 50 feet apart (depending on what is between them).

Thanks for feedback. Can you define 'works'. Just saying connected in glance seems not accurate. The other glances like the media player lose their data when i get out of bt range.

One test I did was to start a phone call in BT range and move away from phone out of bt range. The glance still says connected but call fails. I am still well within wifi range for other devices. Going to try doing same test moving phone away from watch but keeping phone close to airport extreme. Also i am trying new messages and calls outside of bt in wifi range. Doesn't seem to work at all for me over wifi only.


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[Bigeric23]

I have tested phone calls, messaging, apps, Glances, etc.

 

[reeneebob]

I would love this if it can stay connected that far. I manage a wireless store and one rule is that our phones stay in our pockets unless showing to customers. On top of that I have to carry two phones ...my personal 6+ and my store managers Xperia Z3c. If I could use the watch without having to carry both phones on the floor, that would be terrific.


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[Scatabrain]

I have tested phone calls, messaging, apps, Glances, etc.

Now that's just confounding. As soon as i am out of bt most everything fails. I wonder what is different for me.


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[ajl]

Seems like the general range is around 35-40 feet for a good connection, from what I can gather. That's doable


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[Scatabrain]

Seems like the general range is around 35-40 feet for a good connection, from what I can gather. That's doable


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Yeah that's BT range. We heard same WiFi range would also work.


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[bilbothejust]

Update:

Great test to see if your watch is connecting to your wifi (duh, not sure why I didn't think of this before)... open up a webpage to your router wireless client list...refresh list if necessary...check to see your watch is not in the list...now turn off BT on the phone and refresh the router wireless client list...if your watch is connecting via wifi your watch should show up in the list.

I was under the impression that phone calls were going to passed via wifi when out of BT range when the initial September unveiling was done but I guess I mis-heard. This is kind of a deal killer for me maybe.

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Same here - when the watch is out of BT range (little red icon on watch) I should still be able to send/rcv iMessages. Well, I unpaired watch and did setup over // Looking at the wireless clients on my router I waited for my watch to show up...it did very briefly and then was gone.

My songs did not sync last night while charging. I've tried forgetting the wifi on my phone and then logging in again on the phone's wifi. Still no joy. Also, notifications for email have not been working. iMessage is working. Calendar events usually work. Ugh.

 

[TheOneRico]

Now that's just confounding. As soon as i am out of bt most everything fails. I wonder what is different for me.


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Does your carrier support voice over WiFi? Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not, but just an idea.

 

[bilbothejust]

No. I have Verizon. There is voice on LTE but not wifi.

 

[TimmyB20]

U know what's next??? The Apple watch having its own data plan for a monthly fee!! Would u do it???


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TimmyB20

 

[j_benj]

Anecdotal testing in my office today with bluetooth distance (I don't use the office wifi so I'm on crappy 3G). Leaving my iPhone 6 on my desk, I was able to walk 3 cubicles away and still have a connection on my watch albeit some things were slower (Dark Sky, Water Minder). Our cubes are about 10 feet wide or so.