Just in time for the holidays, Pokémon GO received a new update that brings the wildly popular game to the Apple Watch.
This allows Apple Watch owners to go exploring and hunting for Pokémon with more convenience, enjoying a number of neat features such as Activity and Fitness Tracking.
If you're excited about playing Pokémon GO with the help of the Apple Watch, here's what you need to know about new features, perks, drawbacks and how to install the game.
How To Install Pokémon GO On Apple Watch
The process is pretty easy and straightforward, so you shouldn't have any issues downloading and installing Pokémon Go on your Apple Watch. First of all, you need to have the game installed in your iPhone as well. Next up, open the Watch app on your smartphone, scroll down and tap on Pokémon GO to select it. From there, enable "Show App on Apple Watch."
Once you switch this toggle on, you'll be prompted to allow notifications on the wearable. From there on, just follow the prompts and enable alerts for Nearby Pokémon and PokéStops on your Apple Watch.
What To Expect
The main screen of Pokémon GO will show information such as player name, training level and the egg with the shortest incubation distance to hatch. The Apple Watch Pokémon GO 1.21.2 update also includes a number of exciting features, such as a new Workout feature accessible from the bottom of the screen.
Fitness fans who are also Pokémon GO players will be happy to know that the built-in fitness tracker will register all workout sessions, logging in details such as total distance walked and calories burned during each session. This could make Pokémon GO more rewarding, not just entertaining.
"Apple Watch is particularly well suited to Pokémon GO as it seamlessly combines gameplay and imagination with getting exercise and exploring the real world," touts the Pokémon GO team.
Another plus is that having Pokémon GO on the Apple Watch means that you no longer have to keep an eye on your iPhone at all times to spot Pokémon or PokéStops, as you'll get wrist-tap notifications when you have Pokémon or PokéStops in close proximity. This can help conserve your iPhone's battery without having to miss out.
Potential Drawbacks
On the downside, you can't catch Pokémon with the Apple Watch so while you'll get wrist-tap notifications to notify you when a Pokémon is close by, you'll still have to rely on your iPhone to actually capture the critter. If you want to catch Pokémon on your wrist, consider the Pokémon GO Plus accessory.
It's also worth pointing out that if you want to get notifications on nearby Pokémon or PokéStops, you have to enable GPS or location services, which will take a toll on battery life. The Apple Watch has to update your GPS location constantly to deliver those notifications based on your location, so having GPS or location services disabled will not allow for notification updates on the Apple Watch.
That said, Pokémon GO is officially available as a free download on the App Store.
