Wearables are a trim tab, not the hull

Watch and band experiences fail when teams port entire flows to tiny screens. We coach mapping one or two high-signal complications—next lesson, live office hour, or build status—and defer dense forms to the phone.

Data sync budgets matter: polling aggressively drains wrist devices. We sketch backoff strategies and surface stale states honestly rather than pretending real-time mirroring. Testing on hardware with varied strap tightness and outdoor glare is non-negotiable.

This note complements our Cross-Platform State Patterns clinic: the same reducer discipline applies, but the UI contract is tighter. If your roadmap lacks wearable demand, skip the investment; we do not push hardware for novelty.