Google’s Android Wear smart watches are finally able to challenge the Apple Watch on its home turf: the iPhone. On Monday, Google announced that, going forward, the LG Watch Urbane and all new Android Wear watches will work with both Android phones and Apple’s iPhones. But despite the compatibility, Android Wear watches will still do more when paired with Android devices.

There are three main things that Android Wear for iOS will do for iPhone users: display app notifications, serve as a fitness tracker and tap into Google...