Here are three Apple Watch features that fix common iPhone problems

The iPhone is the most important device in many users’ lives, and it’s made even better with a paired Apple Watch. Here are three Apple Watch features that fix some common iPhone problems.

#1: Ping your iPhone

If you’re the kind of person who loses your iPhone often, always leaving it all over the place, there’s one Apple Watch feature you’ll especially love.

Tap the side button on your Apple Watch to open Control Center, and you’ll find a button with an icon representing your iPhone with waves coming out the sides.

Hitting that button will ping your iPhone, causing it to play a sound so you can easily locate it.

On the latest Apple Watch hardware, this feature gets even better. Apple explains:

With Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can also see a general heading and distance to your iPhone.

Your Watch screen will show a heading and distance to your iPhone, guiding you with Precision Finding to its location. When you’re close to your iPhone, your Watch will flash green and the iPhone will ping twice.

#2: Capture a photo remotely

The iPhone’s camera is one of its most important features. But sometimes you’re in a situation where you need to snap a photo from a distance.

Whether you’re framing just the right group photo, or operating solo and needing an assist, the Apple Watch can help.

watchOS includes a dedicated Camera Remote app. With it, you’ll be able to remotely control your iPhone’s camera right from your wrist.

Camera Remote puts a live view of what your iPhone’s seeing right on your Watch screen. You can tap to snap a photo, and adjust settings from your wrist too.

#3: Notification buffer and summaries

Maybe the biggest problem many of us have with our iPhone is that we’re too tied to it. Smartphone addiction is a serious issue, and it’s amplified by notifications constantly demanding our attention.

Surprisingly, the Apple Watch can be pretty effective at helping you use your iPhone less.

Without a Watch, it’s easy to pick up your iPhone every time it dings, and easily get pulled into apps and activities that are unproductive and unhelpful—all without even realizing it.

Apple Watch provides a helpful buffer against constantly picking up your iPhone.

You can get notifications on your wrist instead, and if they’re not important, it’s easy to just go about your day with minimal device disruption. If you’d like, you can also customize your notifications so that only crucial ones make it to your Watch or iPhone.

I’ve especially appreciated getting Apple Intelligence notification summaries on my Apple Watch. These allow me to be more informed about whether a given message or email actually needs my attention or not. Thus reducing the number of times I pick up my iPhone.

Apple Watch iPhone features: wrap-up

There are all kinds of ways the Apple Watch is a compelling device in its own right. But these complementary features show how it can improve your iPhone experience too, whether through helping you find your iPhone, capture special moments with it, or simply reduce your use of it.

Which of these Apple Watch features do you rely on most? Let us know in the comments.

Best Apple Watch deals and accessories

• Apple Watch SE 2 (now only $189, down from $249)
• Apple Watch Series 10 (now only $349, down from $399)
• 20W Anker USB-C charging brick
• AirPods Pro 2
• Portable Anker USB-C charger for Apple Watch