Do Apple Watches Have Cameras?

Last Updated on Mar 08 2024

There are tons of smartwatches on the market that have built-in cameras, but Apple seems to be a bit behind the game here. Currently, there is no Apple Watch that has a built-in camera.

However, there is a way to get camera capabilities out of your Apple Watch. Whether you’re considering an Apple Watch and want one with a camera or if you’re trying to figure out how to get camera functionality out of the one you already have, you’ve come to the right place.

Do Apple Watches Have Cameras?

The short answer to this is no. Any Apple Watch that you purchase from the Apple Store isn’t going to have a camera feature that you can use. However, Apple does offer options to help transform your Apple Watch into a camera with accessories and apps. None of these things will have you snapping photos straight from your Apple Watch, but they can give it enough functionality that it’s close enough.

Options for Taking Photos with Your Apple Watch

If you’re looking to take photos from your Apple Watch, you have two options. You can either download the Apple Watch Camera Remote App, which enables you to take pictures from your smartphone with your Apple Watch, or the Wristcam accessory. We dive into these options for you here and highlight what they have to offer.

Wristcam

If you’re looking to transform your Apple Watch into a bona fide camera, the Wristcam is the way to go. While it works great, its top complaint is its price.

The Wristcam is a several-hundred-dollar accessory, and you’ll still need to own or purchase the Apple Watch itself. Still, it connects directly to the Apple Watch, blends in well, and doesn’t add a ton of bulk. It’s also the only option that you have if you want to take photos from your Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Camera Remote

While the Apple Watch Camera Remote App doesn’t transform your Apple Watch into a camera, it’s the next best thing. It works by syncing directly with your iPhone so you can operate your iPhone camera with the app on your Watch.

While you can’t use the Apple Watch as a camera with this app, it does live-stream what your iPhone sees and enables you to take photos from the Apple Watch using the camera on your iPhone.

So, the functionality of this is quite limited, and it doesn’t transform your Apple Watch into a camera. But if you’re not spending the money for the Wristcam, this is the next best thing out there to get some camera functionality out of your Apple Watch.

Conclusion 

While no Apple Watches have a built-in camera, if you really want an Apple Watch with a camera, the Wristcam accessory is an option for you.

However, the fact that the Wristcam exists might keep Apple from adding this capability to future models. But no one knows what Apple is going to do in the coming years, so keep an eye out for what Apple might introduce!

Featured Image Credit: Anton Ganthaler, Pixabay