Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing i-Qi clock & meditation timer vs Apple Watch - Timer App & Alarm App, the Slant community recommends i-Qi clock & meditation timer for most people. In the question“What are the best meditation timer apps for ios?” i-Qi clock & meditation timer is ranked 1st while Apple Watch - Timer App & Alarm App is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose i-Qi clock & meditation timer is:
While this app does not have the Background App Refresh feature, there have not been instances where the bell did not go off for a meditation session.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Reliable
While this app does not have the Background App Refresh feature, there have not been instances where the bell did not go off for a meditation session.
Pro Gorgeous sounds
The sound engine which emulate the reverberation of the bells is impressive. Multiple strikes overlap, even the sounds of different bells can overlap as well.
Pro Easy to setup
You choose the bell, when the bell should play, how many times the bell should repeat, the volume by % and optionally you can give the event a name. Set it and forget it.
Pro Can be used as a wake up alarm
For the devout meditator, you can elect to wake up to bells. Two choices are available. The Golden Ratio alarm starts with distantly spaced bell strikes and over time the interval becomes shorter and shorter. Continuous Chimes which is in a fixed interval of your choosing defaulting at 10 seconds between bell strikes.
Pro Has reminder function
This app does not feature an explicitly stated "reminder" feature to do meditation session, but the wake-up alarm serves the same function. You can set multiple alarms for throughout the day if you wish.
Pro Works without iPhone
Almost entirely functional without iPhone. The only thing that requires the iPhone is renaming the labels for the alarms. This comes in really handy for situations where phones are confiscated or frowned upon in monasteries or temples, retreats etc.
Pro Discreet
Haptic Feedback is as nice as it gets for a discreet but clear and unmistakable alarm for those drowsy moments.
Pro Dead simple
Timer App: Select from several preset timers, or set a custom amount of time before the timer goes off.
Alarm App: Click Add alarm, pick a time you want the alarm to go off and you're done. Optionally you can go back into the alarm if you want it to persist, give it a name (provided an iPhone is connected), or if you want to disable the snooze function or to delete the alarm. From the main screen all you can do is toggle alarms on or off.
Cons
Con Main screen is a menu
The main screen features a clock that only shows the quarter marks like the cardinal directions, largely useless for actually telling time. At the bottom are the links to playing with the bells, wake up alarm, meditation session presets, and settings. The meditation presets should be the main screen as that is the primary function for the app. Minor gripe/ con.
Con Infrequent updates
The app is simple enough that frequent updates are not necessary. However, the fact remains that the developer is not aggressive about improving the app. This is a blessing and a curse.
Con No integration with Health Kit
Con No han instrument
A zen instrument comprised of a thick wooden board that is struck by a wooden mallet. It is struck at dawn, dusk and the end of the day. It is used to summon participants to the zendo (meditation hall) for daily zazen (meditation). The pattern of strikes always includes three roll downs.
Con Must charge daily
With the Phone on Airplane Mode the Apple Watch will easily last all day leaving plenty of buffer room to charge, but still, it will require recharging on a daily basis. For many, the most convenient time to do this is as part of their bedtime or wake-up routine. Sometimes both if the watch is used as a wake-up alarm or sleep tracker.
Con No bells or whistles
No sounds of bells, no warm up periods, no statistics, no homekit integration. It's the equivalent of a kitchen egg timer except it's strapped to your wrist and it's silent.
