I wear my Apple Watch 6 every day, but this week I wore it a little differently. Instead of wearing a different colored Solo Loop on my hand, I put on Apple's first smart band with a built-in camera, the Wristcam.

The Wristcam has been on my radar for a few months now for its ability to turn an Apple Watch into a capable camera, and for $299, the Wristcam's instrap component includes a world-class (8.5mm) camera that can be controlled either manually with the band or via the watchOS app. The Wristcam's instrap component includes both a world-facing (8-megapixel) and a self-facing (2-megapixel) lens that can be controlled via the band's manual controls or the watchOS app.

I finally got one to test and wore it to see if it would actually be useful and if it would help make my Apple Watch more autonomous.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how the Apple Watch can be independent of the iPhone. watchOS 8 has advanced updates, including a new digital key and the ability to ditch the wallet, but I still don't camera, and I don't want to leave home without one.

But I thought I'd give it a try: what happened when I used Wristcam's Apple Watch camera for a day instead of the iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera? And whether I would do it again.

My morning began with a walk in Central Park with my dog Steve at 7 am. With Steve's leash, keys, 6.7-inch iPhone, and sometimes coffee, I usually refrain from taking pictures of my black lab while out and about. I know it's rude.

Even when he's off leash and running with his other four-legged friends, it's hard to get video. But this morning, I had my camera on me, so I didn't have to reach into my pocket for my phone or risk losing my dog. It was at this point that I realized that the Wristcam is a bit like a GoPro. That is, you can capture action content without missing the moment.

What surprised me most in the morning was how comfortable it felt, despite being much larger than the best Apple Watch bands. While the chunky component doesn't seem ideal for a weightlifting workout (plus the Wristcam makes the Apple Watch feel heavy), the silicone strap was fine for a two-mile walk, even in the sweltering humidity of the Northeast.

And shockingly, nothing strange happened on my walk, but there are always "you have to see it to believe it" moments in New York City. The spy cam on my wrist would come in handy in those moments. At first the photos and videos would be skewed or the subject would be off-center.

I knew I needed to charge the Wristcam before an evening out (baseball game), but at 5 p.m. the battery was about 50%. the Wristcam pairs with the Apple Watch via Bluetooth Low Energy, which allows it to "last all day." The battery can be maintained. Turning the camera on seemed to drain the battery faster.

As I prepared to head to Yankee Stadium, I took a few selfies to send to friends. Maybe I just have short arms, but I had to move my wrists to get the right angle. Still, I don't think I could fit another one in the frame. If push came to shove, I could probably remove the Wristcam and move it away from my face, but that would defeat the purpose.

At the ballpark, I took several pictures over the heads of the people sitting in front of me. However, the stadium lights and the huge scoreboard caused blurring. If I had wanted to take close-ups of the players, crisp details of the chicken tenders, or a picture of me on the side of the field, I would have used my iPhone.

When I arrived home after the game, I removed the Wristcam to charge my Apple Watch before bed. For the same reason, it was time to replace the camera strap with the slim and reliable Solo Loop.

So in the morning I would have to replace it with the Wristcam again. With the Wristcam, I can capture moments that I would otherwise miss while reaching for my iPhone. For example, I used to love it when walking my dog.

However, as much as I enjoyed showing it off to my fellow fans in line for the Yankees game, I was unable to take quality photos. My iPhone camera is excellent, so the Wristcam is not an everyday accessory, at least for me. Until Apple adds a native camera to the Apple Watch, the Wristcam offers an impressive solution for quick photos.