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Anyone actually using cellular?

R

ricktat

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 18, 2013
1,937
1,770
Now that we are a month in.....

Anyone actually using cellular on the watch? You will need to exclude demos for friends or test calls to see if it works.

Anyone?

Will you start using once Apple Music will stream?

Will this become the next OnStar?
 
Yep. Got SS black with sport band 12 days ago. Every run or walk since has been watch only. About 4 motorcycle rides have been watch only. During runs I've gotten emails and IMs for work, but just one call, which I declined. I've also made one call to let the wife know I took a different route and was farther from home and running longer than expected. Worth $10? Not sure yet. But I also pay $10 monthly for Spotify and honestly don't add more than 2-3 songs in a good month. Looking forward to a Spotify app on the watch. The altimeter and better battery life were enough for me to upgrade. Oh and the dot. Love the red dot. Have to have it. Look at meeeeeee!
 
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I use it fairly regularly. Mostly when out for a run or walking the dogs and I want to create a new reminder via Siri or needed to send a quick text. I've also used it a time or two under those circumstances when I couldn't remember if I'd set the house alarm (system has a watch app)
 
Yes. Run almost every day of the week, love being able to send a short message or reply on-the-spot. Also play softball and enjoy looking up football scores while in the outfield!
 
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I stopped checking to be honest. I go about my day and use the watch as needed.
The new availability of features seems to have quietly slipped into my routine.
 
Yes I regularly leave my phone at home while I go for long dog walks, runs, or errands. Love staying connected without lugging the phone around. Had my first somewhat long call on it - 10 minutes and it sounded great the whole time. I download podcasts to the watch over LTE using WatchPlayer and do that quite a bit if I’m out and need something new to listen to. I do wish more places accepted Apple Pay so I could leave my card at home more often.

EDIT: I really love getting turn by turn directions over cellular while also doing a running workout - pretty handy when running in an unfamiliar city. I’ve also grabbed an Uber with just the watch on LTE.
 
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Bryan Bowler said:
Thank you for mentioning this. I just went and purchased WatchPlayer as a result. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Love that app - has gotten many updates in the past few weeks including being able to browse podcast directories on the watch to add them to your feeds and search iTunes directory right on the watch to add whatever podcast you want (just make sure you aren’t connected to your iPhone when downloading episodes or it’ll take forever, needs to be independent on WiFi or Cellular).
 
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I workout daily without my phone but in all actuality I have only made one phone call using the watch. I guess I am waiting until they allow streaming of music then I will be putting it to more use.
 
Pseudo-Fed said:
Yep. Got SS black with sport band 12 days ago.
Oh and the dot. Love the red dot. Have to have it. Look at meeeeeee!
Click to expand...
11mzZ18nVyL.jpg
 
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I love my Series 3 LTE watch! I live in a big apartment building (7th Floor) and when I go down to the social room(first floor), or down to the laundry room (first floor), I no longer have to bring my iPhone 7 Plus. It is great because sometimes I go down to check my mail (also on the first floor) and get into conversations with other people and end up going outside to sit and chat. The S3 LTE now makes it so I do not have to go back up stairs to get my iPhone before joining people outside or in the social room to chat. It just makes things easier. I also have received some calls when I was out for a walk (which I am about to do now) and no one could tell I was on my watch. As far as making calls, I have only made two calls (one being a test call) and the other actually being a call that was needed to be made. I still think that $10.00 is a little steep for the cost of the watch service, I think $5.00 would have been much more acceptable or FREE, haha. Actually, I am getting three months of service free with AT&T, however, I think all major cellphone companies are offering the same three months free...please correct me if I am wrong on that.

One question I have that I do not recall hearing anything about is if the Apple Watch Series 3 LTE supports HD Voice calling or not? I live in a city that has HD Voice for AT&T, however, I do not know if the S3 has the technology to support HD Voice/Calling. Any help on that question would be great. Thanks in advance!

:apple:
 
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Yes, HD Voice is a pre-req for the Apple Watch (GPS&Cellular). The Watch uses LTE for Voice & Data unless it has to fall-back to UMTS(3G) if the carrier supports it.

Dave
 
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Yep when out on my mountain bike, used to take iPhone, bike computer and heart rate sensor.

Just take my watch now using strata and the wife uses find my friends to make sure I’m still on the move and OK.
 
SRLMJ23 said:
I love my Series 3 LTE watch! I live in a big apartment building (7th Floor) and when I go down to the social room(first floor), or down to the laundry room (first floor), I no longer have to bring my iPhone 7 Plus. It is great because sometimes I go down to check my mail (also on the first floor) and get into conversations with other people and end up going outside to sit and chat. The S3 LTE now makes it so I do not have to go back up stairs to get my iPhone before joining people outside or in the social room to chat. It just makes things easier.
Click to expand...

This is really a lot of where the LTE benefit comes into play IMHO. Paradigm shift. Not having to bring your phone to remain reachable. Where someone might formerly have always had their phone with them, now they don't always need to do that.
 
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Im probably gonna cancel the free 3 month trial once it ends, i always have my phone on me, and havent ran into a situation where i rely on the watch LTE yet.
 
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dave006 said:
Yes, HD Voice is a pre-req for the Apple Watch (GPS&Cellular). The Watch uses LTE for Voice & Data unless it has to fall-back to UMTS(3G) if the carrier supports it.

Dave
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for that quick and informative response! Glad to know the S3 supports HD Voice. I kind of figured it did, however, I never had any confirmation. Thanks again Dave!

:apple:
 
Using LTE regularly for answering texts and making a few calls. Paired with AirPods the S3 is truly a great device. While the battery won't last for an entire day on LTE with calls etc, I leave the phone behind for about 2-3 hrs a day and just operate from the watch.
 
Also side note for people in this thread. You can make and receive FaceTime Audio calls as well.
 
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green94 said:
I've used 2GB of data this month, 1.5GB on Apple Music alone.
Click to expand...

Any idea how that affects battery life?
Honestly, I don’t use very much data on LTE, but wondered what it would do to the battery if I did.
Thanks
 
I've used it sporadically. I run with my phone because the app I'm using doesn't have a Watch app, but I really enjoy going out for a walk, or going to the gym, without my phone, even when I'm on call for work. Since I got the Watch, I had maybe two calls with it, but then I don't use voice very much even on the phone.

The one time LTE saved my a** was when I forgot my phone at a restaurant and didn't realize it before I got home. I promptly texted back and forth with my friend and she called the restaurant so they gave it to the security guy, while I watch-called my BF to tell him I had to go back. Thanks to LTE / Siri texting I was able to get my phone back right after the restaurant had closed, and make sure my BF knew I'd be late and why.
 
On the Explorer face is anyone getting the green dots that indicate the cellular strength? Since owning I have not had that. I ask an AT&T rep and they don't know anything about it.
 
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