Alright folks, lemme tell you about my little experiment with the Apple Watch Series 9 and its new “double tap” feature. I’ve been rocking Apple Watches since, like, forever. Always chasing the next shiny thing, you know? So, when the Series 9 dropped with this fancy gesture control, I was all in. Had to see if it was a real game-changer or just another gimmick.
First off, getting it set up was a breeze. I mean, it’s Apple, right? They usually make things pretty user-friendly. I dug into the settings, found the “double tap” option under gestures, and flipped the switch. Easy peasy. Important to note: you gotta have the watch properly fitted on your wrist for it to work reliably. Too loose, and it’ll be a no-go.
The initial impression? Kinda clunky. I mean, you gotta REALLY exaggerate that pinch. Like, think you’re squashing an invisible bug between your thumb and index finger. At first, I was mostly triggering Siri by accident. Drove me nuts! I kept shouting “NO, I DON’T NEED THE WEATHER!” at my wrist.
So, I started experimenting. I tried different speeds, different pressures, different finger positions. Turns out, a deliberate, medium-paced pinch works best for me. Not too fast, not too slow. And make sure you’re actually touching your thumb and index finger together, not just hovering near each other.
Here’s where it got interesting. I started using it for things like answering calls while my hands were full. Like, when I’m elbows-deep in dishwater. Boom! Double tap, answered the call. Felt like a freakin’ secret agent. Also, pausing music while I’m lugging groceries up the stairs? Super convenient. The double tap actually works for snoozing alarms, and that’s great if I don’t want to open my eyes completely. I love it!
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, it just doesn’t register. Especially when I’m moving around a lot, or if my hands are cold. And it’s only good for the primary action on the screen. Can’t scroll through a list or anything like that. Limited functionality, for sure.
I also tried using it while wearing gloves. Forget about it. Doesn’t work at all. Guess that’s a winter problem I’ll have to deal with.
My Verdict:
So, is the Apple Watch Series 9’s double tap a “sink or swim” feature? I’d say it’s leaning towards “swim,” but it’s definitely not a perfect ten. It’s a cool little trick that can be genuinely useful in certain situations. But it’s not something I’d base my entire purchase decision on. If you’re already in the market for a new Apple Watch, it’s a nice bonus. But if you’re expecting it to revolutionize your life, you might be a little disappointed.
- Pros: Convenient for hands-free control, easy to set up, works well in certain scenarios.
- Cons: Can be finicky, limited functionality, doesn’t work with gloves.
Bottom line: It’s a neat addition, but don’t expect miracles. I’ll keep using it, and I hope Apple continues to improve it in future updates. Maybe someday it’ll be the killer feature we all dreamed of. For now, it’s just a fun little gadget that makes me feel slightly cooler than I actually am.
