Report says Apple has been working on making Apple Watch compatible with Android for years

It’s a fact that the Apple Watch only works with iPhones, however, if things are different in the future, the company may make its smartwatches compatible with Android. The tech giant has been developing the Apple Watch for Android for three years, but scrapped the idea due to "technical limitations," 9to5Mac reports.

The news comes after the U.S. Department of Justice and 16 other state and local attorneys general sued Apple for "monopolizing or attempting to monopolize the smartphone market."

The complaint states that because Apple Watch is only compatible with the iPhone, it is difficult for users to switch to "different types of smartphones," adding that "doing so requires users to give up their expensive Apple Watch" and purchase a new smart watch compatible with the Android system. The lawsuit also includes

Apple recognizes that prompting users to buy an Apple Watch instead of third-party cross-platform smartwatches will help drive iPhone sales and solidify the moat of its smartphone monopoly.

For example, in a 2019 email, Apple Watch's vice president of product marketing acknowledged that the Apple Watch "may help deter iPhone users from switching." The survey came to a similar conclusion: Many users said that other devices associated with the iPhone were the reason why they did not switch to Android.

Apple is already known for the stickiness of its ecosystem, and Apple Watch offers a variety of cross-platform features that enhance the user experience. For example, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac, or use it as a capture button to take photos. But you can only pair your Apple Watch with one iPhone to back up data, do initial setup, and use its core features.

While Apple may face technical limitations with the Android platform, it offers limited Apple Watch support on its own products, including the iPad. If you're an Android user who wants to own an Apple Watch, your best bet is to use the Family Setup feature to pair it with a friend or family member's iPhone.

Speaking of Android, Google is trying to make up for the absence of the Apple Watch by launching its own smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. The company also acquired wearable technology company Fitbit in January 2021 and began selling Fitbit products on the Google Store.