You know how sometimes, the things you don’t think you need end up becoming the most important? That’s kind of what happened to my friend Ana and her Apple Watch. She wasn’t a tech geek, she wasn’t into fancy wearables, and definitely didn’t see herself as someone who’d wear a smartwatch every day. But all that changed one afternoon — in a hospital, of all places.
Let me rewind a bit.
“I Just Didn’t Get the Hype”
Back in 2015, Ana was like a lot of us — curious but skeptical. She saw people getting excited about the Apple Watch, but she wasn’t sure it was for her. She’d tested out a few wearables before — Fitbit, Jawbone, even the Samsung Galaxy Gear — but they all eventually ended up collecting dust in her drawer. Nothing really stuck.
She wasn’t much of a “watch person,” and none of those early wearables gave her a compelling reason to become one.
Then came that big Apple event in 2014. Tim Cook walked onto the stage, pulled out the Apple Watch, and gave us the classic “one more thing…” moment. It looked sleek, way more polished than the geeky gadgets that came before it. Ana, a journalist at the time, was actually there covering the event — and even she wasn’t entirely convinced she needed one.
Sure, it was stylish, and yes, it paired nicely with an iPhone, but she still couldn’t see herself relying on it.
Spoiler alert: that would change. Big time.
When Tech Gets Personal
Fast forward to 2018. The Apple Watch Series 4 had just launched with some new health-focused features: fall detection, high and low heart rate notifications, and — the game changer — an ECG app that could detect irregular heart rhythms.
Ana had a one-year-old at home, was juggling life, work, and motherhood, and had definitely not been prioritizing sleep. She was at UCSF Medical Center for a story she was writing, testing out the Apple Watch’s new ECG feature alongside a professional EKG machine.
Everything was supposed to be routine.
But then the doctor noticed something — a tiny irregularity in her heart rhythm. At the same time, the Apple Watch screen lit up with the same anomaly.
Her heart was skipping beats.
She was freaked out — wouldn’t you be? But after a follow-up, the doctor reassured her it wasn’t anything life-threatening. Most likely stress and sleep deprivation. Still, that moment was a turning point. She wasn’t just writing about a product anymore — she was experiencing its impact firsthand.
That little watch had flagged something real. Something she didn’t even know was happening in her own body.
From Skeptic to Superfan
After that, Ana was in. She started wearing her Apple Watch every day. Not for the messages or weather updates — though those were nice — but because she now trusted it with her health.
She even bought Apple Watches for both her parents, who live abroad. They’re in their 70s and fairly active, but like any daughter, she worried about them. With the watch, she had peace of mind knowing it could alert them if something seemed off. It was like a silent guardian — not in a sci-fi way, just in a quiet, helpful way.
And she’s not alone. Stories like hers have actually helped shape the direction of the Apple Watch over the last decade. According to Apple’s product team, hearing from real people about how the watch impacted their lives motivated them to push further into health tech.
More Than Just Heart Health
Now, years later, Ana’s still rocking her Apple Watch — the Series 10, to be exact. But it’s not just about heart rate anymore. The watch tracks everything from sleep patterns to menstrual cycles to even subtle shifts in body temperature.
She’s used it to get back in shape after her pregnancies, track her cardio fitness, and even predict ovulation — something that may or may not have helped with baby number three, she jokes.
The newer Apple Watches include features like:
- Sleep stage tracking
- Mobility metrics
- Hearing health alerts
- Cycle tracking with temperature data
- Training Load to manage workouts
- VO2 Max and Cardio Fitness scores
Ana says that these features, while not always first to market, are what make the Apple Watch feel like more than just a gadget. It’s not throwing numbers at her — it’s giving her context.
Making Tech Less of a Chore
One of her favorite parts? How effortless it all feels. For example, she used to track fertility with a thermometer and an app. But let’s be honest — when you’ve got a newborn and a hectic morning routine, remembering to take your temp before you get out of bed isn’t always realistic.
Once Apple added cycle tracking right on the watch, she could log everything with a tap. And later, when Apple introduced temperature-sensing on the Series 8, it brought even more accuracy without her having to do much at all.
The Watch That Grew With Her
What’s wild is how this little wrist gadget has grown with her life. From a young professional trying to stay fit to a new mom watching her heart rhythm, to a mom of three trying to squeeze in 30-minute workouts between school drop-offs — the Apple Watch adapted with every phase.
Even the “little” features make a big impact. Like pinging her phone when it gets lost in the chaos of her purse. Or giving her a tap on the wrist when it’s time to move. Or helping her track how much sleep she actually got — even if it’s not much.
Is It Perfect? Nope.
Ana’s quick to admit that the battery life is still frustrating. Charging overnight used to mean missing out on sleep tracking, though Apple’s improved that with fast charging. And not every metric is flawless — some readings still need context from a doctor. In fact, her cardiologist warned her about false positives creating unnecessary anxiety for healthy people.
But at the end of the day, Ana’s grateful for how the Apple Watch fits into her life. It doesn’t demand attention, but it steps up when it counts.
10 Years In, and Still On Her Wrist
Today, the Apple Watch has plenty of competition. Samsung, Google, Oura — all solid options. In fact, Apple Watch shipments even dipped a bit in 2024 because of all the new players and fewer upgrades.
But Ana says she’s not going anywhere.
Ten years after it launched, the Apple Watch still has her loyalty — not because it’s trendy or flashy, but because it helped her when she needed it most. It made health data feel personal. It kept her accountable. And yeah, it may have even saved her life.
And that’s why, even with all the new tech out there, you’ll still find her glancing at that small square screen on her wrist — every single day.