The upcoming Apple Watch release is well positioned to become the ultimate iPhone accessory, a wrist-worn device that constantly remains in contact with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Now that’s great and all, but Bluetooth connectivity typically has a limited rage despite a theoretical maximum connectivity range of 100 feet. Additionally, Bluetooth connectivity can get muddled once you account for obstructions such as walls and the like.
That being the case, it’s worth pointing out that the Apple Watch can function without Bluetooth connectivity at all, provided, of course, that your Apple Watch is on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. While this was long assumed, iDownloadblog relays that Tim Cook confirmed as much during last week’s special media event.
Related: Big leak shows us what the Apple Watch app will look like on your iPhone
This is great news as it will enable Apple Watch wearers to more freely move around their environment without constantly worrying if their iPhone is nearby or within range.
Notably, Android Wear currently lacks this functionality, providing yet another avenue in which the Apple Watch crushes its Android rivals.
Interestingly enough, in the wake of Apple’s recent watch event, The Verge reported that the next software release of Android Wear will come with Wi-Fi support.
There’s no timetable yet for when that long-awaited software update might come, but one has to imagine that Google is hoping to roll it out before the Apple Watch drops on April 24.
