Wireless service plan required for cellular service. Connection may vary based on network availability. Check apple.com/watch/cellular for participating wireless carriers and eligibility. See support.apple.com/en-us/HT for additional setup instructions.
Apple Watch and iPhone service provider must be the same. Not all service providers support enterprise accounts; check with your employer and service provider. Roaming is not available outside your carrier network coverage area. Check /ca/watch/cellular for participating wireless carriers and eligibility.
Apple Watch and iPhone service provider must be the same. Check apple.com/ca/watch/cellular for participating wireless carriers and eligibility. Seesupport.apple.com/en-ca/HT for additional setup instructions. See support.apple.com/en-ca/HT for additional setup instructions. Let's start by discussing the most basic and important difference between Apple Watch GPS and Cellular - their connectivity. The Cellular model, on the other hand, has built-in GPS as well as a built-in eSIM that lets you connect your watch directly to a cellular network.
This, in turn, allows it to act as a standalone device, giving you the freedom to send/receive messages, notifications and calls on your watch even without having an iPhone near you. Not all features will be available if the Apple Watch is set up through Family Setup. This indicates to me that the watch uses UMTS for phone calls but not for SMS. Since phone calls with the watch under cellular can be completed without the assistance of the paired phone.
I tested this just to be sure and powered off my phone but could still make and receive calls on the watch perfectly. It appears the watch intends to send it's SMS messages to its paired phone over iMessage to then be relayed through the phone's cellular connection. Similarly the phone appears to receive an SMS first and then relay to the watch similarly. I did delay testing using the watch connected to WiFi only and the phone only connected to cellular.
The phone would receive the SMS first and between 0.5 and 2 seconds later the watch and other iMessage devices would receive the message as well. With Apple's family setup, the watch connects to its own cellular data plan and gets its own mobile service, phone number, and account. Not all carriers support family setup data plans–see this Apple document to learn what carriers work.
Quick Answer, is cellular service worth it on Apple Watch? The GPS model will do all the same functions as the cellular model but must have the iPhone present and connected. Sending / receiving SMS while using a cellular connection was difficult and out of 10 tests per device, including mine, we only got them to send an SMS and receive a reply 4 times out of 30 tests. Since 3 carriers and 3 different models had these same issues, I am personally concluding that it is some kind of software issue. Since the devices are primarily designed to work with a cell phone within range, I expect that there is some as-yet-unknown issue in this specific though possibly rare use case. The battery life of the cellular version of the Apple Watch 6 is fairly decent and it, unfortunately, is lower than the regular GPS version.
This is naturally due to the influence of the carrier on the watch. Out of the overall 18-hour battery life, 4 hours are sapped by the carrier network. The other 14 is split between the time checks, notifications, app use, workouts, and the Bluetooth connection to the phone. Checkapple.com/uk/watch/cellularfor participating service providers and eligibility. Seesupport.apple.com/en-gb/HT207578for additional setup instructions. Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) has all the same features, as well as built-in cellular.
It gives you the freedom to send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, and even receive notifications when you don't have your iPhone with you. Apple Watch Series 3 lets you send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, and receive notifications when it's connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The built-in GPS works independently of your iPhone for distance, pace, and route mapping in workouts.
Apple Watch GPS + Cellular has all the same features as the GPS watch, as well as built-in cellular. It gives you the freedom to send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, receive notifications, and stream Apple Music and Apple Podcasts – even when you don't have your iPhone with you. Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) has all the same features, as well as built-in cellular. It gives you the freedom to send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, receive notifications, and stream Apple Music and Apple Podcasts — even when you don't have your iPhone with you. Apple Watch lets you send and receive text messages, answer phone calls and receive notifications when it's connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The built-in GPS works independently of your iPhone for distance, pace and route mapping in workouts. In the GPS-only variant, you always need to be in the range of your iPhone to enjoy these features. Coming to another major difference between the two models, the GPS-only model of the Apple Watch is cheaper as compared to the Cellular model. So, if you want the convenience of cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch, you'll have to shell out extra money from your pocket.
When the watch is near your iPhone, it will use a Bluetooth connection to the phone to work. If you're out of range, it can continue to access data using its cellular connection. Of course, the Wi-Fi watch can also do this, as long as it has access to a Wi-Fi network, but the cellular model gives you the same freedom as any cellular device. Apple Watch Series 5 has a display that's always on, showing the time and important information—no need to raise your wrist.
Let's take a closer look at the details of the Apple battery test for both models. Apple has tested the battery life of both versions of the Apple Watch Series 6. All the features of the watch were used with the watch connected to an iPhone via Bluetooth and it lasted 18 hours.
The Apple Watch 6 GPS + cellular was tested under similar conditions and it ran for 16 hours. This battery life difference may not seem like a lot but you would need to keep it in mind before making a purchase decision. My guess is that ALL the Apple watches have the cellular circuitry built in, whether it's marketed as the GPS model or GPS + Cellular. Apple Watch GPS lets you send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, and receive notifications when it's connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. I think how it works is that you have to be connected to a wifi network that your phone has connected to and authenticated while wearing your watch. I don't believe open networks work, and you can't authenticate on a password protected network from your watch - your phone does that, and the watch remembers.
Then next time you are in that wireless network without your phone your watch will automatically connect to that wifi. And you will get what your watch gets as far as iMessage and wifi calling, email and other internet pushes. Not sure about sms and phone calls but likely not based on other comments. When your iPhone is off or out of range, your Apple Watch can use a Wi-Fi network to send and receive data. Your watch can also connect to a mobile network if it's a cellular model. And if you've set up an Apple Watch for a family member, they can use a mobile or Wi-Fi connection with their watch.
Your watch can also connect to a cellular network if it's a cellular model. And if you've set up an Apple Watch for a family member, they can use a cellular or Wi-Fi connection with their watch. US Cellular gives you two Apple Watch plans to choose from, both of which cost $10 / month per device. The first is Cellular Pairing, which allows you to make calls, send texts, and use cellular data when your iPhone is not nearby. The second is Family Setup, which includes all the same features and gives the Apple Watch a unique phone number. You can do all this without having to carry your iPhone if you have a cellular Apple Watch model strapped to your wrist.
However, the Apple series 3 offers two options an Apple Watch Series 3 GPS version & an Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular version. Both do not require you to have your own plan in order to function. Like the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 has a cellular model that allows you to place calls, check email, and stream music without your iPhone.
You will, of course, still have to own an iPhone and pay for an iPhone cellular plan. But owning the cellular Apple Watch means you'll also need to add the cost of an Apple Watch data plan to your current bill. Don't worry, you're not going to need a separate data plan just for your watch. But even though the wearable uses your existing wireless plan, LTE connectivity on Apple Watch Series 3 doesn't come free.
No matter your carrier, you'll be paying a little extra in your monthly bill. When connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Apple Watch allows you to send and receive text messages, answer phone calls, and receive notifications. Apple Watch neither needs nor supports using a separate phone number / cellular plan for the watch. The full range of features is available when Apple Watch and iPhone are connected.
Whenever possible, the devices will connect via Bluetooth. For T-Mobile, you'll have to pay the same $10 extra to activate cellular services on your Apple Watch. The same introductory offer is given – three months of usage free. T-Mobile offers 4G LTE data plans at a much faster speed. This is because the cellular service for Apple Watch GPS+Cellular allows it to act independently from your iPhone for those services, like a mini wearable iPhone. An Apple Watch with GPS only relies on your iPhone and sometimes an internet connection for these functions.
In a bid to connect your watch with a cellular network, it would need to use the same carrier as your iPhone. If your current carrier does not support the Apple watch, it would be impossible to get it connected. Presently, cellular connectivity for Apple Watch is supported by major carriers in the US such as Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, and T-Mobile.
Check with other carriers to confirm that they support the device before going ahead to buy the cellular version. It requires an administrator in the household with an iPhone, but once it's set up, the watch will get its own phone number and be able to send and receive texts and calls with no iPhone connected. Do I have to add another line if I get an Apple Watch?
A Wi-Fi or cellular connection lets your Apple Watch do the following things, even if your iPhone isn't with you. Use Siri to get directions, send iMessages, and more. Apple Watch Series 3 features a faster dual-core processor and wireless chip.
The Apple Watch SE offers all-day battery life of up to 18 hours. Apple bases "all-day" battery life on 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with music playback via Bluetooth. For LTE models, Apple assumes four hours of LTE connection and 14 hours of connection to an iPhone. T-Mobile's Magenta plan includes the standard facets of unlimited plans including texting, calling, and data. The addition of Paired DIGITS, a program allowing multiple devices to function with the same phone number, will connect your Apple Watch for an additional $10 per month, plus a $20 instillation fee. Like their competitors, T-Mobile also offers rewards for digital payment.
Do You Need Apple Watch With Cellular To Text Your day won't get derailed if you leave your iPhone at home. Cellular data allows your Apple Watch to make calls, send texts, stream music, and perform other wireless functions without relying on an iPhone's Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Once your Watch is paired successfully, you can now buy a Truphone cellular watch plan for family members.
This Watch can then make or receive calls and messages, use Siri, use Maps, and more—with its own number. I just upgraded to a Series 5 and while I love it for the most part, I have noticed that if the watch is on cellular and my phone is not nearby the watch will not send or receive SMS messages. I can make/receive phone calls just fine and if I'm on WiFi it sends and receives SMS without issue. It used to be that you needed an iPhone to set up and use an Apple Watch. However, watchOS 7 introduced the ability to set up an Apple Watch for a family member who doesn't own an iPhone.
That person can then make and receive phone calls and text messages, use a variety of built-in features, and run third-party apps on the Watch. You'll need to use the same network provider for your Apple Watch cellular plan and your iPhone plan to send and receive messages, answer calls and use apps on your Apple Watch. With the GPS + Cellular model of the Apple Watch, you enjoy some convenience and the freedom of being without your phone. This can be ideal to reduce the load you carry that may hamper activities such as jogging, exercising, etc. However, all of these great features that are available on the watch do not come for free.
So, you should expect to pay extra for any cellular model of the Apple Watch Series. Be prepared to pay between $50 – $100 more to enjoy cellular connectivity. Just the other day I called Apple support and I was told that whether by Bluetooth or WiFi the phone must always be in proximity to the watch. Again, what's tripping me up is that I can actually improve the reliability of the watch to send/receive calls IF I disable Bluetooth. Most people probably don't need a watch with cellular.
If you're a runner and you want to leave your phone at home but want to stream your favorite workout mix and be reachable for calls and texts, the cellular option is a sensible upgrade. But many users are rarely out of Bluetooth range of their smartphones, which makes a cellular watch redundant. Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) requires an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 11 or later. Cellular is not available with all service providers. Like the Series 5, the Apple Watch Series 6 has a cellular model that allows you to place calls, check email, and stream music without your iPhone. … But owning the cellular Apple Watch means you'll also need to add the cost of an Apple Watch data plan to your current bill.
Before we get into other differences, let's first discuss what are the things that only an Apple Watch's GPS + Cellular variant can do. Fundamentals first, you can send and receive messages and also make and answer phone calls. Plus, you can ask Siri to get directions, access messages, perform a quick web search, and do a lot more. If longer battery life is a priority and you know you'll rarely be away from your phone, you can choose the GPS-only version. However, if you want the convenience of Apple Watch as a standalone device and enjoy a few additional features, go for the Cellular variant. Just make sure Apple Watch Cellular is compatible with your carrier to truly enjoy its features.
