Alright, let’s talk about this little red circle thing on the Apple Watch knob. Took me a while to even figure out what it was for, honestly. I kept seeing it on some people’s watches and not others. It’s not like Apple puts a big sign on it.
So, I finally decided to get a new watch a while back. My old one was getting slow, battery wasn’t holding up. Standard stuff. I go into the store, looking at the options, and there it is again – some watches have the plain silver knob, others have that little red ring on the knob. I asked the guy there, “What’s the deal with the red dot?”
Figuring it Out
Turns out, it’s the cellular version. Means the watch can connect to the phone network all by itself. Doesn’t need your iPhone nearby to make calls, send texts, stream music, whatever. Sounds cool, right? Leave your phone at home when you go for a run.
But then came the catch. First, the watch itself costs more upfront. Okay, maybe manageable. But then, you gotta pay extra on your phone bill every single month to actually connect the darn thing. That’s where I paused. Do I really need another monthly charge?
Making the Call
I thought about it for a good bit. Most of the time, my phone is glued to my hip anyway. Why pay extra? Seemed a bit much just for the odd occasion I might leave my phone behind.
Then I remembered this time, must’ve been last summer, I went kayaking. Deliberately left my phone in the car, locked up safe. Wanted to disconnect, you know? Well, halfway across the lake, the wind picks up like crazy. Took me ages to paddle back, arms burning, getting seriously worried about drifting too far. No way to call anyone. Nothing. Just me and a lot of water. My old watch was just a watch at that point.
That memory kinda stuck with me. It wasn’t life or death, but it was damn inconvenient and a bit scary. What if something worse happened?
- That extra cost suddenly felt a bit like insurance.
- The convenience wasn’t just about music on a run, it was about connection if needed.
Living with It
So, yeah, I ended up getting the one with the red knob. Setting it up with my carrier wasn’t exactly smooth sailing – couple of phone calls, some messing around with activation codes. Typical tech hassle, nothing ever just works first time, does it?
Do I use the cellular feature every day? Nope. Not even close. Most days, it does nothing my cheaper Wi-Fi only watch couldn’t do. But those few times I’ve deliberately left my phone behind, or when I dashed out quickly and forgot it? It’s been pretty useful. Peace of mind, I guess.
It’s funny, paying extra for something you barely use. Like paying for a spare tire you hope you never need. But when you do need it… well, you’re glad you paid. That’s kind of how I feel about that little red circle on the knob now. It’s just there, a reminder that I can call for help from my wrist if I end up stuck on a lake again. Or, more likely, if I just forget my phone when I pop out for milk.
