Apple was sued last month by the United States Department of Justice. The reason behind the lawsuit was the monopolization of the smartphone market. However, the company's response contains some information indicating that at one point, Apple did have plans to make its watch compatible with Android devices.
In an alternative reality, Apple Watch could have been compatible with all Android devices, but we'll never see that happen
In the lawsuit, the agency used Apple Watch as an example, showing how the company has a monopoly when it comes to its products. The statement said, “Apple’s smartwatch—Apple Watch—is only compatible with the iPhone. So, if Apple can steer a user towards buying an Apple Watch, it becomes more costly for that user to purchase a different kind of smartphone because doing so requires the user to abandon their costly Apple Watch and purchase a new, Android-compatible smartwatch.”
In response to the DOJ's accusations, Apple mentioned that it considered making its watch compatible with Android back in the day. The plan was even under evaluation for three years, but the company eventually had to let it go due to technical limitations.
Now, if this had actually happened and if the Cupertino tech giant hadn't given up the idea, we would have seen cross-platform compatibility between different operating systems and devices. Apple Watches working on Android devices could have also resulted in Wear OS smartwatches never becoming a big thing in the market.
There are so many possibilities that could have taken off if Apple had decided not to give up on the idea of its watch working on Android devices. But I suppose we are never going to find that out, and to some extent, it's fine. We now have Wear OS, and although its popularity might not be as high, it certainly is doing something for itself, and I have a feeling that it will continue to do so.
What do you think about an Apple Watch paired with a Galaxy S24 Ultra or other high-end Android smartphone? Let us know in the comments below.
About the author: I have been tinkering with Android devices ever since the early days of the HTC Desire. Over time, I have grown a fondness for the ecosystem and now I cannot live without it. Although some might believe that I have sold my soul to Android, but I believe it is not the case. You can find me writing tutorials and posting guides on a number of different smartphones. When I am not writing here, I am wasting myself away in books, journals, or on Steam.
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