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

[imronburgundy]

In this scenario, my Apple Watch and AirPods would be the computer that I always have with me. I’d use it for messages, phone calls, music and would ask Siri questions for what ever else I search on my iPhone for today.

Do you also frequently skateboard through busy train stations to catchy music while everyone else seems oblivious to your presence and newspaper stands explode in the background?

 

[brugak]

$10 is pure rip-off. The most I'd spend on a monthly fee is $5. I'll probably buy the LTE version anyway but not subscribe to a monthly plan. When they finally come to their senses and drop the monthly fee then I can add it to my plan.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I'm not disputing that it's up to the buyer, or that it could be seen as worth it. I was simply saying that what you're paying for is that emergency call, not for the tracking.

You are paying for real-time tracking. There are things you can do when working in real-time with LTE that you can't with the GPS-only model.

You also have the ability to stream music instead of downloading it ahead of time. Many will like this option. Also allows you to listen to whatever you feel like, rather than just whatever you loaded in advance of your run.

There are lots of reasons someone might want LTE connectivity. There are a lot of reasons someone may not. It's all up to the buyer but the stupid thing is those here that act as if because they don't see the value then no one else will.

 

[noraa]

This isn't true. At least for VZW. All smart watches going forward will be $10/month.

Source: brother works at VZW.

Well at least Apple users aren't being discriminated against! Still $10/month is just unnecessarily expensive. I expect as much out of Verizon, and even AT&T to a lesser extent, still very disappointed in T-Mobile and Sprint.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Greedy and uncalled for! Cellular Apple Watch Series 3 = No Go!

 

[Dan08]

The LTE Apple Watch finally convinced me to want an Apple Watch, but if AT&T is going to make me switch from my grandfathered unlimited data plan, then I guess I'll just have to keep waiting..

 

[noraa]

Can we still buy the AppleWatch3 LTE but NOT activate the cellular service yet?

That would be interesting, and potentially worth it just to have it, and then wait until maybe (hopefully...but unlikely) carriers reduce the prices.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I'm definitely surprised at the price for T-Mobile. I thought they were the uncarrier I would have guessed $5/mo at most. Wouldn't have even been shocked for it to be free or $1/mo. Maybe at some point they will offer some sort of purchase/installment plan of a cellular Apple Watch and include it's data for free during the installment plan?
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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.

When did Apple say special rates? Maybe I missed it

 

[Beerstalker]

I'm really hoping this Verizon $10/month charge is just going to be on the Unlimited Plans. Those plans are $20/month for phones and tablets. Right now they are $5/month for connected devices but maybe they are raising that to $10 now that people will be streaming music on their watches thus using more data.

I have the old More Everything Plan, so I'm hoping on it they will keep the $5/month connected devices charge. I only pay $15/month per phone and $10/month for tablets on my plan. That is the big reason I have no interest in changing to the new unlimited plans, my bill goes up $40/month just on line fees, then another $60/month or more for data.

 

[tex210]

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.

Digits is not needed if both phone and watch are Apple according to tmobiles website

 

[SoundJudgment]

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

Because they are doing the exact same thing in both cases. It's LTE DATA on the Watch 3... not Voice which is the $10 being paid for, which is what your iPad has. So they can charge the $10 for each case under the one One Voice Account you already have. Then you access the voice... through T-Mobile's VoIP Service.

 

[joueboy]

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

Yes! This is absolutely an Apple tax. Carriers like T-Mobile charges only $5 for the accessories that includes the Samsung Gears. For some reason all of them they decided to have the same pricing 3 months free data. This is weirdly executed all across different carriers.

 

[SoundJudgment]

Can we still buy the AppleWatch3 LTE but NOT activate the cellular service yet?

Absolutely. You are paying the premium for the LTE Capable watch already up-front. If you choose not to tie it to your phone account for LTE Data ...it's totally up to you. Either way the watch will still work through blue-tooth.

 

[Aniseedvan]

I went back and checked my s0 receipt back in May 15. £479. So to get a SS3 I have no choice but to buy an LTE version (I'm on O2 and want to stay). £599... £120 price hike in two years..

 

[MrGuder]

My question is since I have Verizon grandfathered unlimited data on my iPhone and if I add Apple Watch for 10.00 will I still be sharing my unlimited data from my iPhone with the Apple Watch since its using the same phone #??

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Because they are doing the exact same thing in both cases. It's LTE DATA on the Watch 3... not Voice which is the $10 being paid for, which is what your iPad has. So they can charge the $10 for each case under the one One Voice Account you already have. Then you access the voice... through T-Mobile's VoIP Service.

"Doing the exact same thing in both cases" is technically true, but realistically not true at all. I won't be watching Game of Thrones on my watch over LTE, but I have done that with my iPad.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

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.

In the meantime it's created pressure on Verizon and ATT to implement unlimited plans again at reasonable prices. Whether it's a sustainable business model or not the competition is having favorable effects for consumers.

 

[NamE_O]

I'm waiting for the price cut on the Series 2 from retailers that still have them in stock.

 

[cmwade77]

So funny, Samsung has had a watch for a while now that does the same thing and no one wants to charge extra for it, yet Apple does it and now everyone wants more money.

 

[mainer4101]

Maybe, MAYBE I would consider it if you could turn the feature on and off each month depending on your anticipated usage. Just like you can with the iPad. I got the cellular version of the iPad because I like having that option - heavy travel month, flip on the data. Sticking around the office for the month, don't need it. I would get the cellular watch just for the option, but it's looking like the carriers are going to tie this in to the contract of your phone. For me, I just wouldn't rely on it THAT much to justify the $120 extra/year.

 

[pedregosa]

Digits is not needed if both phone and watch are Apple according to tmobiles website

Do you have a link to that page on T-Mobile's Web site?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

And this is why they don't care the lower the cost. If you're willing to pay, then don't complain. You're the reason it's $10 instead of $5. They won't take less money out of the goodness of their heart if they don't have to

I expressed disappointment yet said this isn't high enough to keep me away. That's not evidence of some internal conflict. In any case, to me convenience and time are worth a lot more than $10 (and again, although being disappointed with the pricing I would subscribe at rates higher than $10/month); others' situations are different. An outright boycott isn't the only route to changing those rates, pressure for them to change could come from low volumes of subscribers (i.e. they run the numbers and find that halving the rate more than doubles the profit) or from external pressure and subscriber loss (e.g. T-Mobile being a price leader to a lower rate and taking market share). In the meantime, $10 doesn't affect my lifestyle in the least so I will simply continue to think less of them for their pricing policy but have access to my LTE wearable without my phone present. I won't be storming any castles with you or cutting off my nose to spite my face by boycotting a service that can make my life easier. If you then want to blame me for $10 rates as a result so be it.

 

[themick4u]

AT&T wants $10.00 per month as a "service charge!" That is about $9.99 per month MORE than I would pay!

NO!
NO!
NO!
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That would be interesting, and potentially worth it just to have it, and then wait until maybe (hopefully...but unlikely) carriers reduce the prices.

Yes, I read that in the fine print on AT&T's website.
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I'm going to need everyone in the US to band together and buy the watch but not the service. Maybe that would drive the monthly price down?

I'm going to get some popcorn and keep using my Series 0.

ME TOO!!!
(Pop! Pop! Pop!)

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So it's $10/mo regardless of carrier. How many people are still considering or gung-ho for the LTE version. It's having LTE data that important esp given the Series 3 still relies on an iPhone and is not 100% independent?

My question is since I have Verizon grandfathered unlimited data on my iPhone and if I add Apple Watch for 10.00 will I still be sharing my unlimited data from my iPhone with the Apple Watch since its using the same phone #??

I would assume the data is drawn from the account since it's tied to the number and not a separate account with it's own bucket of data. The question you should be asking is will VZW let you do this on a grandfathered account or require you to change to a current account. For example ATT doesn't allow tethering on the original iPhone grandfathered accounts only the current unlimited account with access fees and such.

 

[840quadra]

$10 looks reasonable. It is worth it for me since I hate having my phone with, and I can afford to skip one lunch out per month.

Game changer for this, if they offered teathering as a later option. Sure it would kill battery, but would be killer for a short moment you need internet on another device!