If you’re like me, you love how all of Apple’s devices work together. But if you own an Apple Watch and an Apple TV and you’re not using your watch to control your TV, you are missing out.
I tried using my Apple Watch with my Apple TV back in 2016 but it didn’t stick. The Apple Watch at the time was too slow and there was no “Now Playing” functionality that would default to media controls when you turned your wrist. Now that the Series 4 Apple Watch packs more power than your average Android phone and watchOS is easier to use, I thought I’d give it another try.
One of the first things I do whenever I buy a new TV or video sound system is to go buy an extra remote. This way one is always in my designated spot next to my favorite chair. And the other is kind of a floater which is usually laying on a couch or coffee table. This allows my wife or kids to also be able to pause video or adjust the sound at times when they want. Plus, if one remote gets temporarily lost, there is always a backup to use.
Apple TV owners are quick to find out that you can only pair one Siri remote control to your Apple TV. So, if you lose it, you have no video until you find it. And maybe because it’s so small and thin, it seems like the Apple TV remote is always getting lost.
Now, you can use your iPhone or iPad to control your video, but I only do that as a last resort like when the remote is across the room and I’m too comfortable to get up. I don’t like using my iPhone to control my Apple TV because I don’t like having to turn my iPhone on just to pause video or rewind. By the time I get my phone out of my pocket, unlocked, find the app, open the app, and select which of my two Apple TVs I want to control, it seems like the moment has passed.
The Apple Watch has solved my problems. I keep the Remote complication in my evening watch face (I have different watch faces for different times of day). In fact, I like using Remote on the Apple Watch more than using the Apple TV Remote at this point. Here’s why:
Accessibility
It’s nice to have your remote next to you on your side table or chair armrest. But it’s even nicer to be able to turn your wrist and have the touchpad and play/pause and menu buttons ready to go. Unlike using my iPhone, getting to what I want on my Apple Watch is QUICKER than reaching for the remote. The Apple Watch trumps a physical remote for convenience and quickness. Plus, you’ll never drop it or leave it in the bathroom.
When you’re watching a video on your Apple TV and launch the Remote app on the watch once, your watch seems to know thereafter to immediately bring up the remote screen when you turn your wrist. You never have to go searching for it; it’s just there.
Dark Room Usability
Also, I don’t hate the Apple TV remote like many, but I will admit that in a dark room sometimes it is disorienting to pick it up and not know which side is up. The remote buttons are not backlit. However, this issue doesn’t exist with the Apple Watch. When I turn my wrist, it lights up, so it doesn’t matter how dark the room is. And it’s always right-side-up.
Video Scrubbing
I find the 10-second scrubbing forward or back on the Apple TV Remove kind of perplexing at times. I understand how to place my finger to the right or left of the touchpad and wait for the 10-second symbol before I press. But that feels like I’m threading a needle and needs a lot of focus for such a simple task. Also, fast forwarding or reversing is a two-step process. First, pause the video. Second, search via the touchpad.
The Apple Watch scrubbing is so much faster. You simply raise your wrist and swipe back or forth. The video immediately starts slowly rewinding or fast forwarding. A 10-second jump is fairly quick. If you want to rewind faster, simply swipe 2x.
Unintended Actions
Another thing I really like about using my Apple Watch for controlling my Apple TV is that errant touches rarely happen. This was a nightmare on my iPhone or iPad. I initially tried leaving my iPhone open to the Remote app for quick use. But then I’d accidentally touch the screen when crossing my arms or getting up. Even the physical Apple TV remote wasn’t immune. Many times in the middle of a movie somebody did something with the remote that caused unintended actions. Holding the remote in your hands while watching TV is asking for trouble.
The Apple Watch goes dark as soon as you’re done with it and turn your wrist, so you can reach for that cup of coffee or cross your arms. It doesn’t matter. And if you’re actively watching a video, as soon as you turn your wrist to your face, the Remote app immediately pops up.
Force Touch
This isn’t really an advantage of the watch over the remote. I just wanted to highlight the superiority of Force/3D Touch over the lame substitute of Haptic Touch. The Apple TV remote conditions you to use the touchpad as a button after swiping to the icon that you want to select. I like pressing buttons. It feels instantaneous. Force Touch on the Apple Watch feels like pressing a button. You can navigate up to the app that you want, then give the screen a firm push and your selection is immediately made. No waiting around. I know I always make this analogy but it’s so true. Haptic touch to me feels like a toilet flush handle that you need to hold down in order for it to work.
In Summary
I love using my Apple Watch to control my TV. It is the best remote I’ve ever had. No more do I go to the kitchen and accidentally leave the remote by the fridge. No more do I need to dig the remote from between the couch cushions. No more will it fall to the floor when I get up from my chair. Perhaps I’m the last person to discover that the Apple Watch is an elegant solution for controlling your on-screen video. But I suspect I’m not.
This is one area where being an iOS user really pays off compared to Android. The Android watch offerings have been stagnant for a couple of years now. But the Apple Watch is vibrant and growing. More and more functionality is coming to the Apple Watch which is quickly making this one of Apple’s best products ever.
One of the first things I do whenever I buy a new TV or video sound system is to go buy an extra remote. This way one is always in my designated spot next to my favorite chair. And the other is kind of a floater which is usually laying on a couch or coffee table. This allows my wife or kids to also be able to pause video or adjust the sound at times when they want. Plus, if one remote gets temporarily lost, there is always a backup to use.
Apple TV owners are quick to find out that you can only pair one Siri remote control to your Apple TV. So, if you lose it, you have no video until you find it. And maybe because it’s so small and thin, it seems like the Apple TV remote is always getting lost.
Now, you can use your iPhone or iPad to control your video, but I only do that as a last resort like when the remote is across the room and I’m too comfortable to get up. I don’t like using my iPhone to control my Apple TV because I don’t like having to turn my iPhone on just to pause video or rewind. By the time I get my phone out of my pocket, unlocked, find the app, open the app, and select which of my two Apple TVs I want to control, it seems like the moment has passed.
The Apple Watch has solved my problems. I keep the Remote complication in my evening watch face (I have different watch faces for different times of day). In fact, I like using Remote on the Apple Watch more than using the Apple TV Remote at this point. Here’s why:
Accessibility
It’s nice to have your remote next to you on your side table or chair armrest. But it’s even nicer to be able to turn your wrist and have the touchpad and play/pause and menu buttons ready to go. Unlike using my iPhone, getting to what I want on my Apple Watch is QUICKER than reaching for the remote. The Apple Watch trumps a physical remote for convenience and quickness. Plus, you’ll never drop it or leave it in the bathroom.
When you’re watching a video on your Apple TV and launch the Remote app on the watch once, your watch seems to know thereafter to immediately bring up the remote screen when you turn your wrist. You never have to go searching for it; it’s just there.
Dark Room Usability
Also, I don’t hate the Apple TV remote like many, but I will admit that in a dark room sometimes it is disorienting to pick it up and not know which side is up. The remote buttons are not backlit. However, this issue doesn’t exist with the Apple Watch. When I turn my wrist, it lights up, so it doesn’t matter how dark the room is. And it’s always right-side-up.
Video Scrubbing
I find the 10-second scrubbing forward or back on the Apple TV Remove kind of perplexing at times. I understand how to place my finger to the right or left of the touchpad and wait for the 10-second symbol before I press. But that feels like I’m threading a needle and needs a lot of focus for such a simple task. Also, fast forwarding or reversing is a two-step process. First, pause the video. Second, search via the touchpad.
The Apple Watch scrubbing is so much faster. You simply raise your wrist and swipe back or forth. The video immediately starts slowly rewinding or fast forwarding. A 10-second jump is fairly quick. If you want to rewind faster, simply swipe 2x.
Unintended Actions
Another thing I really like about using my Apple Watch for controlling my Apple TV is that errant touches rarely happen. This was a nightmare on my iPhone or iPad. I initially tried leaving my iPhone open to the Remote app for quick use. But then I’d accidentally touch the screen when crossing my arms or getting up. Even the physical Apple TV remote wasn’t immune. Many times in the middle of a movie somebody did something with the remote that caused unintended actions. Holding the remote in your hands while watching TV is asking for trouble.
The Apple Watch goes dark as soon as you’re done with it and turn your wrist, so you can reach for that cup of coffee or cross your arms. It doesn’t matter. And if you’re actively watching a video, as soon as you turn your wrist to your face, the Remote app immediately pops up.
Force Touch
This isn’t really an advantage of the watch over the remote. I just wanted to highlight the superiority of Force/3D Touch over the lame substitute of Haptic Touch. The Apple TV remote conditions you to use the touchpad as a button after swiping to the icon that you want to select. I like pressing buttons. It feels instantaneous. Force Touch on the Apple Watch feels like pressing a button. You can navigate up to the app that you want, then give the screen a firm push and your selection is immediately made. No waiting around. I know I always make this analogy but it’s so true. Haptic touch to me feels like a toilet flush handle that you need to hold down in order for it to work.
In Summary
I love using my Apple Watch to control my TV. It is the best remote I’ve ever had. No more do I go to the kitchen and accidentally leave the remote by the fridge. No more do I need to dig the remote from between the couch cushions. No more will it fall to the floor when I get up from my chair. Perhaps I’m the last person to discover that the Apple Watch is an elegant solution for controlling your on-screen video. But I suspect I’m not.
This is one area where being an iOS user really pays off compared to Android. The Android watch offerings have been stagnant for a couple of years now. But the Apple Watch is vibrant and growing. More and more functionality is coming to the Apple Watch which is quickly making this one of Apple’s best products ever.
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