Apple Watch Series 3: LTE Plan Prices on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Bell, EE, and Deutsche Telekom

[MacRumors]

Apple Watch Series 3 is available with built-in cellular capabilities, allowing you to make phone calls, send and receive text messages, stream music, get directions with Apple Maps, use Siri, and more without a paired iPhone.

The freedom comes at a cost, however, as Apple Watch Series 3 models with cellular are priced $70 higher than those with Wi-Fi and GPS only. Also, to access LTE, the watch must be added to your phone bill as an additional monthly charge.

Here's a breakdown of how much participating carriers plan to charge. Some carriers have yet to announce their plans.


Verizon

Verizon said it allow customers to add an Apple Watch to an eligible plan for $10 per month. Verizon will reportedly waive its $30 activation fee, and is offering the first three months of service for free. The watch and iPhone share the same phone number via Verizon's NumberShare feature.

AT&T

AT&T has announced that customers can add an Apple Watch to an eligible plan for $10 per month. AT&T is offering a $25 activation fee credit, and a $30 service credit for adding an Apple Watch, within three bills. The watch and iPhone share the same phone number via AT&T's NumberSync feature.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has announced that customers can add an Apple Watch to a plan for $10 per month with AutoPay. T-Mobile will reportedly waive its $25 new SIM card kit fee, and is offering the first three months of service for free. The watch and iPhone share the same phone number via T-Mobile's DIGITS feature.

Sprint

Sprint has announced that customers can add an Apple Watch to an eligible plan for $10 per month. Sprint will also offer a special introductory three-month cellular plan trial. The carrier has yet to specify whether its activation fee of up to $30 per line will be waived as well, but it would seem likely.

Bell (Canada)

Bell has announced that customers will be able to add an Apple Watch to an eligible plan for $5 per month. There is a one-time $10 activation fee. Bell will also offer a special introductory three-month cellular plan trial. The watch and iPhone share the same phone number via Bell's NumberShare feature.

Bell will not support the Apple Watch's cellular capabilities in Manitoba or Saskatchewan due to the carrier's lack of VoLTE in those provinces.

EE (UK)

EE has announced that customers can add an Apple Watch to an eligible SIM only or pay monthly plan for £5 per month, with the watch and iPhone sharing the same phone number. The carrier hasn't confirmed if it will be offering an introductory three-month trial, or if there will be an activation fee.

If you purchase your Apple Watch Series 3 directly through EE, the total monthly cost could reportedly be as high as £25, including unlimited data and the price of the watch. A tipster informed MacRumors that the unlimited data will only be for the first six months, with a limit of 10GB per month afterwards.

Deutsche Telekom (Germany)

Deutsche Telekom has announced that customers can add an Apple Watch to an eligible plan for up to EUR4.95 per month, with the first six months free of charge. The watch and iPhone share the same phone number via Deutsche Telekom's MultiSIM feature. The carrier didn't specify if there is an activation fee.


Apple Watch Series 3 models will be available to order starting tomorrow, September 15, at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time. In-store availability begins September 22. LTE-enabled models start at $399 in the United States.

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3: LTE Plan Prices on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Bell, EE, and Deutsche Telekom

 

[Rayban]

Is there any reason this is $5 more per month than other cell watches? Just Apple tax?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

All these companies are within their rights to charge whatever they want for this but I'm disappointed they've decided to set the rates as high as they have for what amounts to very little overhead for them. I'll pay the fees but I'd like to see someone (T-Mobile?) become a market leader and drive the price down via competition.

 

[Jakexb]

I like my Apple Watch and I was on the fence about this functionality, but I think I just realized that I don't care enough about it to pay $10 extra a month. I always have my phone with me anyhow.

I know a lot of people really wanted the watch to work independently from their phone, so we'll see if they're willing to pay more for it.

 

[Veinticinco]

Is there any reason this is $5 more per month than other cell watches? Just Apple tax?

Nope, network tax.

 

[jclardy]

$10/month for a watch, that will be tethered to a phone 90% of the time. No video, only audio streaming (Much of which will be cached anyways) and a handful of short phone calls at most. No thanks, come up with something more reasonable please.

 

[pedregosa]

T-Mobile's DIGITS feature has hitherto been incompatible with iMessage. They need to make clear whether this will be fixed for the watch implementation.

 

[blodyholy]

Is there any reason this is $5 more per month than other cell watches? Just Apple tax?

I'd say a little bit of A (Apple Tax) and B (Carrier Tax). It's the same bloody number, same data plan (I presume?). I was intrigued until I heard this

 

[44267547]

LTE is not for me. I just don't have enough of the general use to have my watch work independently away from my iPhone for an additional $10.00 monthly. My Apple Watch connected to my iPhone now does exactly what I need it to with fitness and notifications, which it does very well, and that's all I could ask for.

 

[adambadamh]

All these folks over in Europe complain about the cost of the hardware meanwhile they are winning the long game with the low monthly fees from the carriers.

 

[gugy]

Sorry but I am not paying another $10 p/m to AT&T. LTE is cool but the only reason would be nice to have is to stream music. I don't need to pick up phone calls while working out and most of the other times I have my iPhone anyway.
This should be free if you have already a plan with your carrier.
Also, I dislike a lot that red dot on the crow. Bad move IMO.

 

[Nunyabinez]

Definitely don't need to pay $120 for the rare occasion where I don't have my phone with me. If you are a serious athlete, then maybe it's worth it, but even for a very active person like me, the ratio of cost to benefit is going to be small.

 

[geoff5093]

I love how the "special rates" Apple told us about is actually in increase in monthly costs over what many carriers are charging for Android smartwatches.

 

[Mackneezie]

Just don't see a big deal about an LTE watch. I love my Series 2 and it does just fine. I am usually not far away from my phone anyways so I don't see a huge plus in buying one. Plus $10 a month is a bit much, I'd say $5 or so would've been a little better for people on the fence with buying one.

I'd like to have a S2 stainless though Maybe eBay or Craigslist will have a few on there reasonably priced now! The store was sold out when I went to buy my watch so I settled for the SG... Not a big deal and saved me some cash, but I really like the Stainless or Space Black Stainless.

 

[farewelwilliams]

anyone know of how to use the 250mb of free tmobile data for life sim into the watch?

 

[TonyC28]

If you need to walk around the world naked without your phone and wearing only an Apple Watch this is fantastic. Otherwise...why?

 

[BaccoE]

I get that most people aren't thrilled with the rates. My take is that since T-Mobile is covering my Netflix $10/mo cost, it's like getting the watch LTE for free.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Well, $10 per month is too much for a connected smart watch accessory for my phone. If it was $5 I would be onboard. So I guess that my first Apple Watch will be the GPS model. Hopefully Apple is aware that carrier greed is holding this back.

I am seriously confused why connecting the watch should cost the same amount as my LTE enabled iPad.

I am not a sucker for the 3 free month and waived connection fees.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

All these companies are within their rights to charge whatever they want for this but I'm disappointed they've decided to set the rates as high as they have for what amounts to very little overhead for them. I'll pay the fees but I'd like to see someone (T-Mobile?) become a market leader and drive the price down via competition.

T-Mobile isn't driving prices down, even with their current tactics. Instead they're betting on attracting quantity of customers by discounting, which is hurting their bottom line. They can't keep it up forever and at some point in the future they will be raising prices as they can't continue discounting forever if they hope to compete.

 

[Paddle1]

Wow, cheaper in Canada for once.

 

[hlevolve]

I would think about it if it were $0.99 a month. This requires virtually nothing from the carrier and its not like the watch is going to be hogging data. This is basically just free money for them. I'm sure the carriers LOVE the LTE apple watch more than anyone else. I think it would be great to have on the rare occasion I can't take my phone but now that the phones are water resistant there is virtually no place I wouldn't take it anyway. Sure if this was free or super cheap per month I would intentionally leave my phone and just use the watch for some things but there's no way I'm paying that much for that tiny convenience.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

anyone know of how to use the 250mb of free tmobile data for life sim into the watch?

You can't. The Apple Watch has a special embedded SIM which can't be removed.

 

[macdragonfl]

LTE is not for me. I just don't have enough of the general use to have my watch work independently away from my iPhone for an additional $10.00 monthly. My Apple Watch connected to my iPhone now does exactly what I need it to with fitness and notifications, which it does very well, and that's all I could ask for.

I would definitely would not consider at 10 dollars, I think for the limited use it should be 3 bucks top!

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I would think about it if it were $0.99 a month. This requires virtually nothing from the carrier and its not like the watch is going to be hogging data. This is basically just free money for them. I'm sure the carriers LOVE the LTE apple watch more than anyone else. I think it would be great to have on the rare occasion I can't take my phone but now that the phones are water resistant there is virtually no place I wouldn't take it anyway. Sure if this was free or super cheap per month I would intentionally leave my phone and just use the watch for some things but there's no way I'm paying that much for that tiny convenience.

You just highlighted exactly why they WON'T charge little to nothing for it. Letting you take just your watch means you'll use LESS data which in turn means less chance of going over and owing the providers more money. This makes them less money, so they make up for it by charging to access with the Watch.

 

[RtWrecklezX]

This is really a bad deal.
399 initial price.
Plus $10*12 months = 120

520 all together for a year of ownership and 10 bucks for every additional month with not much to offer over series 2.