Some other favorite uses in no particular order: TOTP codes (Authy, Duo, 1Password), habit tracking and reminders (Streaks), QR codes that scan as my contact info or to easily join my WiFi network (Visual Codes), record voice memos that sync to my other devices when I want to just make a quick note, check things off my to-do list (Things, Reminders), run shortcuts for Hue lighting scenes.

New capabilities for shortcuts recently too, you can make a shortcut to toggle some watch settings (like always-on display) and run it from a complication on a watch face. And you can change watch faces automatically by time of day using automations on your phone, if you want something like a watch face with weather forecast and next calendar event for when you’re getting ready in the morning, then something else for when you’re out of the house.

I’m already not a big phone person (2016 SE) and my favorite thing after the health features is all the times I don’t have to pull my phone out to do something.

You can use authy as well? Does it sync w your phone?

Streaks is an app? (Edit: 5$, hope it’s worth it :D)

Yes, Authy syncs with phone.

I like Streaks, though I’m sure there’s a lot of apps in a similar space. Especially handy for things that can check themselves off from HealthKit data like whether I’ve stepped on my scale today or kept to my target sleeping hours.

The Garmin Fenix, lasts over 2 days at a minimum, and with the no-pulse-ox configuration can last as long as 3 weeks. I find with about 10 hours of exercise I charge it at most once a week. The tradeoff is that to get GPS tracking you need to put it into activity mode. But even with GPS off there are a ton of useful metrics - heart rate, step counts, calories, sleep tracking.

I have disabled all the smartwatch notification features though, I don't want the distraction, I just want to measure/map my exercise.

Garmin fitness watches have always been far better than smart watches with battery life. But they're only fitness watches with some smartphone integration. You're not going to get the features the Apple Watch has on the Garmin with over 2-3+ days of battery life right now.

That might be true of some of the lower-end models but I don't think it's true of the Fenix 6. And the most powerful Fenix can do turn-by-turn navigation for 2-3 days with color offline maps. I don't think the Apple Watch is more featureful - they make different feature tradeoffs. Big ones are cost and weight.

Curious as to why you say the watch is a hassle to charge all the time. I guess if you sleep with it that’s a valid concern. I don’t and so I have to take it off anyway - so it’s not a big deal to just place it on the charger next to my bed and grab it first thing in the morning. The magnetic ‘clickiness’ of the desktop dock is nice and very smooth to drop on and take off.

I’m used to not charging my watch at all, so that’s quite a change you can imagine.