My guess is they simply decided not to make an exception for the Apple Watch. Love or hate the throttling (and I can understand why one would hate it!), this sounds like they just went "Wearables are throttled, AW is a wearable, therefore AW is throttled."
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Apple Watch Series 3 Limited to 3G-Like Speeds on T-Mobile [Update: Now 4G LTE]
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brianvictor7
macrumors 65816
Apple's new Apple Watch Series 3 models support LTE and UMTS connectivity, but on T-Mobile, LTE connection speeds won't be available. The carrier is limiting the Apple Watch to a maximum speed of 512kb/s, which is more like a 3G connection than an LTE connection.
The speed limitation is noted in T-Mobile's fine print, which says the maximum wearables speed is 512kb/s. It's also noted on the pre-order page when adding an Apple Watch Series 3 to your cart.
At issue is T-Mobile's ONE plan, which limits both tethering and all wearable devices to 512kb/s. While most users are unlikely to be streaming video or doing other tasks that require high connectivity speeds on the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch is also unlikely to be a data hog, so it's unclear why T-Mobile has this limitation in place.
No other major carrier in the United States, including Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T appears to be throttling Apple Watch speeds.
All four of the carriers are charging the same $10 per month fee to add an Apple Watch to an existing iPhone plan, and each one is offering a limited time promotion that waives monthly fees for the first three months.
The LTE Apple Watch Series 3 models became available for pre-order early this morning, with new devices slated to arrive on Friday, September 22, the official launch date for the device.
Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3 Limited to 3G-Like Speeds on T-Mobile
They'll probably rethink this soon.
Jett0516
macrumors 65816
OldSchoolMacGuy
Suspended
Higher speeds generally improves battery life. If you can send a message in 1/2 the time you can go back to not using battery transmitting. This is why progressive versions of Bluetooth have been able to get better battery life. They can transmit and be back to standby far quicker thanks to higher transmit speeds.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Bizarre. No other way to describe the policy.
dugbug
macrumors 68010
so... how will this matter? We aren't sharing wifi hotspots from our wrists or anything. I get we will want cheaper plans but I don't know anyone would really notice this speed throttle.
Why even bother making it LTE then, 3G uses less battery...
This may not be that bad now but it severely limits the potential of the watch for future applications.
This may not be that bad now but it severely limits the potential of the watch for future applications.
Also T-Mobile is charging $10 a month only if you setup autopay otherwise it’s $15. Pretty ****** when you have families each paying their part of the bill.
tazinlwfl
macrumors 6502
My question exactly. If you pay for the unthrottled unlimited plan from T-Mobile, does the watch data become unthrottled as well? Otherwise, it would be cool if that was a bonus to Plus users - free Apple Watch data plan included.
It'll effect battery life. It'll take longer to download music over cellular and will therefore shorten battery life.
JRobinsonJr
macrumors 6502a
Doesn't matter. If the carrier is charging full price for the connection they shouldn't be throttling service based on the type of device. Period.
thisisnotmyname
macrumors 68020
I'd expect that existed in their wearables language to prevent people from adding a "wearable" that was intended to be another primary device. It's CYA as all existing wearables wouldn't have a problem with that. These programs evolve with time and I generally see T-Mobile as trying to be as customer friendly as they can to obtain market share, we'll likely see a tweak to the policy.
PlainviewX
macrumors 6502a
justiny
Contributor
It’s unreal that an LTE iPad and an LTE (or 3G in T-M’s case) WATCH both cost an additional $10/mo each.
Beyond making an emergency phone call while I’m outside for a run, I really don’t understand the need for this. My iPhone goes everywhere I go anyways (except for jogging), so my S2 will have the same functionality as a cellular WATCH while not costing me anything extra.
Beyond making an emergency phone call while I’m outside for a run, I really don’t understand the need for this. My iPhone goes everywhere I go anyways (except for jogging), so my S2 will have the same functionality as a cellular WATCH while not costing me anything extra.
Just got of the phone wth them, they said its bytes not bits. Site might be wrong? Idk.
you also can't online register for apple's upgrade program if your carrier is T-Mobile. You have to show up to an Apple store when they actually have the phones - meaning no pre-order! I'm a T-Mobile customer and they're really starting to annoy me. Because of my corporate discount my monthly fee with them is $60 - Verizon's unlimited plan is $75 (they don't offer corporate discounts on their unlimited plan) - i'm giving some thought to switching to Verizon.
bigjnyc
Suspended
I dont see that blowhard Legere screaming from the mountain tops or tweeting about this. He's very quick to open his mouth when other carriers have a shortcoming.
Christian 5G
macrumors 65816
They introduced Tmobile One as a prestige plan over others because of its unlimited capabilities, so I switched for the promo 2 for $100 + hook up from another plan that I've been with Tmobile for 6 years. Now they start to divide the Tmobile One customers, some will get certain perks like Netflix, some don't. Isn't the whole name "One" is like only one not many options that it's going to become soon? Now for the Apple Watch, it's not like I'll be watching a movie on it or even can possibly.
I'm still a happy Tmobile customer though, I get everything I need but it starting to feel like all of those promotions were just to lure the people in and then making the changes to the plans as time goes by. So if they lured in 10000 customers for example, with all the changes they'll lose at most 2500, so the rest will stay. Not a bad marketing move.
I'm still a happy Tmobile customer though, I get everything I need but it starting to feel like all of those promotions were just to lure the people in and then making the changes to the plans as time goes by. So if they lured in 10000 customers for example, with all the changes they'll lose at most 2500, so the rest will stay. Not a bad marketing move.
Pezboy
macrumors member
No you can’t. You’re either lying, or are clueless. Either way you shouldn’t be commenting. Unless you’re happy waiting for several minutes to buffer. Even googles official website states that to stream 720p from YouTube you need 2-2.5mbps. Not even taking into acount 1080p. Granted this speed should be fast enough to stream music with little interruption, it is still a dick move on T-Mobile’s part.
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Just have them Venmo you the money and you pay. That’s what I do
Spaceboy88
macrumors regular
The only way I can justify this is that perhaps T-Mobile is about to say "all wearables are free at a tethered 512k or you can pay $10/mo to have full LTE."
I personally would never spend $10 a month for LTE on my watch, but I would like to have the untethered experience (Nice to have, not need to have). For those that plan on doing a lot of music streaming, $10 is easier to justify.
I personally would never spend $10 a month for LTE on my watch, but I would like to have the untethered experience (Nice to have, not need to have). For those that plan on doing a lot of music streaming, $10 is easier to justify.
