You don’t need it. There are more minimalistic health trackers like Withings or the Oura ring.

read notifications and do workouts

I primarily got my watch because of some health issues that required me to track my activities and bpm more. I’ve turned off almost all notifications on my Apple watch, no always on screen either. I mainly use it to track my workouts, my health data and sleep including alarm.

The alarm function is superior on a watch compared to iPhone - it vibrates on your wrist in the morning so it’s harder to miss but also silent.

For the notifications, why don’t you disable most of them and leave only the important ones? In my opinion it isn’t worth it to have a watch if you don’t have notifications on. Having them so accessible is like one of the main selling points. For me at least.

I principally use my Apple Watch to track my activity, workouts, nutrition, sleep, and recovery.

I wear it to sleep and love waking up by haptic instead of Apple alarm sounds. It is great for controlling music when running and seeing data. You start using it more because it is a nice shortcut rather than pulling out the phone.

In my case, I use it like a way of reduce my screen-time and phone addiction. It is working pretty good for me.

Since I have an Apple Watch, I can just spend my day outside without worrying of having my iPhone. If I need to communicate I can do it, but I don’t have a permanent distractive tool.

That’s it. I just want it because I can be more flexible with my phone usage.

I primarily like mine for fitness stuff. It is also great for pairing with AirPods and going on walks or runs. I can listen to music and podcasts without my phone.

If you don’t want the notifications/calls/texts. Get a Fitbit.

Read the time. You don’t need any reasons tbh, a watch is made to read the time, an Apple Watch can do a bunch more of stuff. There’s people who spend thousands on a normal watch, when you see it from this perspective the price of an Ultra for example, would seem very reasonable

I find myself similar to your situation. I also don’t want notifications and health data. However, having Apple Pay on my wrist is way better than on my phone since it’s more accessible, as I need the FeliCa for residence entry and payment every day. It can also be used for music.

I originally bought mine for using at the gym to track workouts. I also have Fitness+ for free through work, and they said you basically need an Apple Watch to take full advantage of it. I use Fitness+ to vary my treadmill, cycle and elliptical workouts.

I also like using it to track how I’m sleeping. Good data there.

If you’re not active or you don’t go to the gym I would say you probably don’t have a good use for it if using it as an extension of your phone is a minus for you.

I try to walk 10,000 daily steps. It helps me get exercise. That’s the main reason I enjoy my Apple Watch.

I wanted to start running more in the morning before the family is up. The watch’s alarm function is great so I can get up without waking my significant other. The tracking feature is great so you can see progress over time and keep the motivation up (a phone also works but who wants to carry around a phone while running?)

There are little things that I’ve since discovered that are helpful as well (Apple Pay on the watch and tracking sleep for example), but even that’s all the watch did I’m a happy customer.