With watchOS 26, it’s still “too hard” to tell if your iPhone is connected to your Apple Watch.
It used to be a lot easier.
I accidentally tested a feature that I forgot about when I purposely left my personal phone at home and decided to just carry my work phone since it’s too hot outside to be carrying two phones in two pockets. My Series 10 watch on watchOS 26 still doesn’t give me any indication that I left my phone behind, until I click the Control Center and see the crossed-out red iPhone on top.
As I said earlier, it used to be a lot easier. I lamentingly ranted about this about six months ago, when I was testing my Series 3 watch:
You remember back to a time, a simpler time, where Apple used to let you know right on your watch face, that your iPhone is missing. It didn’t matter what watch face you had, but that red iPhone with a slash right through it would show up immediately, letting you know before you get too far that you need to grab your iPhone.
My Series 3 on watchOS 8 lets me know every time without fail.
Whether you use the Simple watch face, or are admiring the peaceful serenity of Mack Lake with a Timelapse, Apple didn’t hesitate to interrupt you with their passive aggressive way of letting you know:
“Hey genius, you forgot your iPhone.” […]
Just literally put the disconnected iPhone logo where the red notification dot goes (like it used to!), and call it a day.
Don’t think different with this one, just do it.
Here is what it looks like on a Series 3 just for reference. Clear as day.
It used to be a lot easier.
I accidentally tested a feature that I forgot about when I purposely left my personal phone at home and decided to just carry my work phone since it’s too hot outside to be carrying two phones in two pockets. My Series 10 watch on watchOS 26 still doesn’t give me any indication that I left my phone behind, until I click the Control Center and see the crossed-out red iPhone on top.
As I said earlier, it used to be a lot easier. I lamentingly ranted about this about six months ago, when I was testing my Series 3 watch:
You remember back to a time, a simpler time, where Apple used to let you know right on your watch face, that your iPhone is missing. It didn’t matter what watch face you had, but that red iPhone with a slash right through it would show up immediately, letting you know before you get too far that you need to grab your iPhone.
My Series 3 on watchOS 8 lets me know every time without fail.
Whether you use the Simple watch face, or are admiring the peaceful serenity of Mack Lake with a Timelapse, Apple didn’t hesitate to interrupt you with their passive aggressive way of letting you know:
“Hey genius, you forgot your iPhone.” […]
Just literally put the disconnected iPhone logo where the red notification dot goes (like it used to!), and call it a day.
Don’t think different with this one, just do it.
Here is what it looks like on a Series 3 just for reference. Clear as day.
6 features I would like to see in a new MagSafe Battery Pack from Apple.
The MagSafe Battery Pack (MBP for short) is one of my favorite Apple accessories, but it is time for an upgrade. It was released in July 2021, and promptly discontinued once the iPhone 15 with USB-C was announced in September 2023.
Even though it was a great accessory during the lightning era, a newer more modern version would be ideal for the bigger generation of iPhones. Here are six reasons why: 📓
The MagSafe Battery Pack (MBP for short) is one of my favorite Apple accessories, but it is time for an upgrade. It was released in July 2021, and promptly discontinued once the iPhone 15 with USB-C was announced in September 2023.
Even though it was a great accessory during the lightning era, a newer more modern version would be ideal for the bigger generation of iPhones. Here are six reasons why:
1. USB-C port
This one is obvious, but would allow the MBP to charge other devices via a USB-C cable instead of just using Qi2 wireless charging. It could also be charged with fast-charging making it ready for use on the go.
USB-C would give it more versatility and faster charging options.
2. MagSafe charging
I have an OtterBox MagSafe charger that can charge my iPhone with MagSafe, but it can also be charged via MagSafe. I can plop both the iPhone and this charger on a MagSafe charger and be completely wire-free. This contraption does get warm, but that’s because the OtterBox battery doesn’t have all the software optimizations built-in to help with charging speed and temperature control like the MBP.
This particular OtterBox battery pack also fits with the OpenCase.
3. Thinner and bigger to fit flush with latest devices.
The original MBP was limited by the size of the iPhone 12 and 13 mini, making it narrow and thick. The iPhones mini were 5.4 inches, and the latest rumors put the iPhone 17 base model at 6.3 inches. That extra space allows for a bigger yet thinner battery casing that would fit flush with the rumored 6.3 inches on the iPhone 17. A much sleeker look.
The MagSafe Battery Pack’s maximum size was limited by the iPhone mini’s smaller dimensions.
Stained iPhone 13 mini with MagSafe Battery Pack
4. Multi-colors
Having different colors is always welcome, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple brands this new MBP under the beats branding to make it more appealing and fun.
5. Find My capabilities
I constantly lose my MagSafe Battery Pack, and having proper Find My capabilities with a 3rd generation Ultra Wideband chip and even a built-in speaker for pinging would be a huge plus.
6. Silicon-carbon battery
This would be a killer feature giving the slimmer battery pack more battery capacity than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Longevity could be less with silicon-carbon batteries, but I think it would balance out with its higher overall capacity.
The Files and Preview app conundrum in iOS 26.
Every time I open a file or a photo in my Files app, it automatically takes me to the new Preview app. The problem with that is you can no longer swipe between files or photos in the Files app. I keep certain photos off my camera roll (no not those kind), such as really old kids’ photos from my wife’s old phone, but I can’t even scroll through them like I used to. Quite literally every time I click on a file, it goes to the Preview app.
Same thing goes for the Preview app. If I try to open the same folder of photos in the Preview app, you can’t scroll between photos in any folder. You’re stuck looking at photos one at a time. Tap a file, look at it, tap back, and tap the next file.
The only way to solve this problem right now? Delete the Preview app.
I think Apple needs to let you view your files in the Files app like it used to, and if you want to open it in the Preview app, add that option to the share sheet.
Every time I open a file or a photo in my Files app, it automatically takes me to the new Preview app. The problem with that is you can no longer swipe between files or photos in the Files app. I keep certain photos off my camera roll (no not those kind), such as really old kids’ photos from my wife’s old phone, but I can’t even scroll through them like I used to. Quite literally every time I click on a file, it goes to the Preview app.
Same thing goes for the Preview app. If I try to open the same folder of photos in the Preview app, you can’t scroll between photos in any folder. You’re stuck looking at photos one at a time. Tap a file, look at it, tap back, and tap the next file.
The only way to solve this problem right now? Delete the Preview app.
I think Apple needs to let you view your files in the Files app like it used to, and if you want to open it in the Preview app, add that option to the share sheet.
Forget about a ring, Apple should make a WHOOP competitor to further expand its wearable market.
Apple should seriously consider developing a smart ring to give its fitness-tracking wearables push new momentum and widen its market.
I think Apple should take a different approach.
Imagine an Apple Watch, but you take away the screen, buttons, speaker, and microphones, and you fill up that extra space with a higher capacity battery while making the device thinner. Currently the smallest, most modern Apple Watch (42mm Series 10) is 36mm wide, excluding the Digital Crown. With all those components removed, the form factor could morph back in time and be shrunken down just a bit to the size of the Series 3 Apple Watch at 33.3mm wide. This would still allow the small watch bands to fit (think 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and the new 42mm bands).
You would only need one size since it’s a passive device with no screen. A thin device like that could act as a fashion piece like the WHOOP tries to do. Turn the front of the device into a polished steel surface with Apple’s classic trio of Silver, Slate, and Gold, and you have a piece of jewelry that can be swapped with any band of your choosing. If placed on an alternate site on the body, the smaller form factor would be easy to conceal.
Every single Apple Watch has been slightly taller than wide. To change the look of this new product, they can make it a perfect square at 33mm x 33mm, still leaving plenty of room to charge the device with the same Apple Watch charging puck. The device would have longer battery life, be more fashionable, and would not get banned from weddings.
Another critical feature? Giving it the ability to be worn on other parts of the body, such as your bicep, ankle, near your waist, etc. People are already doing it anyway, so why not make it more marketable (and accurate) for those of us who can’t wear a health device on our wrists all the time?
For my line of work in preparing sterile radioactive medications for patients, I’m not allowed to wear any jewelry in the lab, making the Apple Watch unusable for a decent portion of an 8-hour shift. It would be a huge deal for others in the healthcare field like myself who can track their health while working. This would apply to other occupations as well where the wrist is just too risky to put a $400 plus device.
The biggest hurdles to this form factor? Making sure the health data is accurate on alternate sites on the body, which could take years just based on how thorough Apple is when doing these health studies. They should pick alternative body sites that make the most sense and go all-in, even if it is just one additional body part like the upper arm or near your waist.
I think a WHOOP competitor that piggybacks off of the Apple Watch’s accessory lineup and distribution process gives Apple an advantage. It might seem redundant, but Apple has multiple form factors for each of its signature product categories, and this wouldn’t be any different. They should lean into their iconic squircle form factor instead of trying to start a whole new category.
Apple should seriously consider developing a smart ring to give its fitness-tracking wearables push new momentum and widen its market.
I think Apple should take a different approach.
Imagine an Apple Watch, but you take away the screen, buttons, speaker, and microphones, and you fill up that extra space with a higher capacity battery while making the device thinner. Currently the smallest, most modern Apple Watch (42mm Series 10) is 36mm wide, excluding the Digital Crown. With all those components removed, the form factor could morph back in time and be shrunken down just a bit to the size of the Series 3 Apple Watch at 33.3mm wide. This would still allow the small watch bands to fit (think 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and the new 42mm bands).
You would only need one size since it’s a passive device with no screen. A thin device like that could act as a fashion piece like the WHOOP tries to do. Turn the front of the device into a polished steel surface with Apple’s classic trio of Silver, Slate, and Gold, and you have a piece of jewelry that can be swapped with any band of your choosing. If placed on an alternate site on the body, the smaller form factor would be easy to conceal.
Every single Apple Watch has been slightly taller than wide. To change the look of this new product, they can make it a perfect square at 33mm x 33mm, still leaving plenty of room to charge the device with the same Apple Watch charging puck. The device would have longer battery life, be more fashionable, and would not get banned from weddings.
Another critical feature? Giving it the ability to be worn on other parts of the body, such as your bicep, ankle, near your waist, etc. People are already doing it anyway, so why not make it more marketable (and accurate) for those of us who can’t wear a health device on our wrists all the time?
For my line of work in preparing sterile radioactive medications for patients, I’m not allowed to wear any jewelry in the lab, making the Apple Watch unusable for a decent portion of an 8-hour shift. It would be a huge deal for others in the healthcare field like myself who can track their health while working. This would apply to other occupations as well where the wrist is just too risky to put a $400 plus device.
The biggest hurdles to this form factor? Making sure the health data is accurate on alternate sites on the body, which could take years just based on how thorough Apple is when doing these health studies. They should pick alternative body sites that make the most sense and go all-in, even if it is just one additional body part like the upper arm or near your waist.
I think a WHOOP competitor that piggybacks off of the Apple Watch’s accessory lineup and distribution process gives Apple an advantage. It might seem redundant, but Apple has multiple form factors for each of its signature product categories, and this wouldn’t be any different. They should lean into their iconic squircle form factor instead of trying to start a whole new category.