Spark is a Worthy Replacement for the Native Mail App

Readdle’s Spark offers some features on the Apple Watch that the native Mail app does not, one of which is a useful complication. The stock Mail app is static, while Spark’s complication tells you how many unread emails you have. You can see the complication on the Modular face below in the bottom center spot.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find that the complication updated as often as I’d like. I know that’s at least partly due to a limitation of the Apple Watch. Hopefully that will improve as watchOS improves and the app is updated.

Spark has a unique “smart inbox” system, which is detailed on the full iPhone app review by Christine Chan on our sister site, AppAdvice. On the watch, when you open the app, you can see immediately which of your emails are personal, notifications, or newsletters. You an also see which emails you’ve pinned, archived, and sent. Once you open an email, you can read it right on your watch, but if it’s a particularly long one you’ll have to hand off to your iPhone. You can choose to reply to your email right on your watch; or you can snooze, archive, or delete the email. If you do reply, you have a number of pre-set replies from which to choose. You can also dictate an response, choose an emoji, or once you have watchOS 3, you can Scribble a response.

The useful complication and multiple options for viewing and with dealing with emails make it an improvement over the native Mail app. Spark is a free app that’s definitely worth trying out on your Apple Watch.