I wanted the stainless version so I had to buy the LTE version. Haven’t activated LTE and don’t think I will. The watch is great. Much better than S0
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Are people using LTE on their Watches?
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Apple Pay is advertised as working regardless if your phone is present or not.
I should have clarified. This is for GPS only phones and LTE. In other words there is no advantage to having an LTE when it comes to Apple Pay. Both work with or without your phone.
The Apple.com web site shows the different watch models / bands / connectivity choices (GPS or (GPS + Cellular)). The Sport Loop is one of the band choices on the (GPS + Cellular) aka Series 3 LTE in addition to the Sport Band and Nike Sport Loop as other band choices.
Link: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch
https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch
Dave
Link: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch
https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch
Dave
I don't use the LTE (or 4G as I'd call it...) much (if ever). But I'm almost always near my phone and/or wifi.
My two main advantages:
My two main advantages:
- I no longer worry about my phone dying and me being out of contact for emergencies.
- On contact, the 38mm watch is free, and the 42mm watch was £29.99 (up front). So I can actually afford it just now!
I have 2 Nike+ with LTE but have not activated them yet and not sure if I will. I got the LTE version for the option of activating if I decide to and also for the extra memory for apps and music.
I always carry my iPhone, even when cycling, etc so not sure if I would really need LTE. But what really stops me is the $10 + taxes. I pay that for the iPad, and it annoys me to pay the same for the AW. I've discussed it with the manager of the AT&T store and the Loyalty Department. They say you get voice that you don't have with the iPad, but you don't use voice that much because of the battery, and the AW uses far less data than typical iPad use. If it were $5 or if I could activate both my AW 3 LTEs for $10, I would be ok, but their unwillingness to provide any bundling options or other deals I find annoying.
I always carry my iPhone, even when cycling, etc so not sure if I would really need LTE. But what really stops me is the $10 + taxes. I pay that for the iPad, and it annoys me to pay the same for the AW. I've discussed it with the manager of the AT&T store and the Loyalty Department. They say you get voice that you don't have with the iPad, but you don't use voice that much because of the battery, and the AW uses far less data than typical iPad use. If it were $5 or if I could activate both my AW 3 LTEs for $10, I would be ok, but their unwillingness to provide any bundling options or other deals I find annoying.
So can you go our for the night and just take your watch if you get one of these?
When I've had a few beers I have a terrible habit of losing my phone, it would be nice to leave it at home!
Would the battery last for a whole night out with the phone at home (and off)?
Thanks
When I've had a few beers I have a terrible habit of losing my phone, it would be nice to leave it at home!
Would the battery last for a whole night out with the phone at home (and off)?
Thanks
Yes with the exception that I leave my phone on. Haven’t tried with phone off. Obviously, the watch must have enough charge left on it to get through the period of time you will be out
An evening with just the LTE watch is great! As a side note, I have gone an entire workday with just my watch and still had just under 50% battery when I got home. Just poped it on the charger once I got for 30 minutes and then ready for anything needed for a night out without my iPhone. The things that drain the battery are long LTE cellular calls, streaming music for hours on end and exercise apps.
Having the watch strapped to your wrist makes it much harder to misplace than an iPhone during a long evening . The LTE watch will work just fine with the iPhone at home. Really the only reason to have the iPhone "On" while at home is to allow it to forward SMS / MMS Txts to the watch.
For me, I just leave the iPhone at home charging while out with just my LTE watch.
Dave
I anticipate owning my upcoming AW3 for at least 3 years but have no confidence that I know how life may twist and turn in that period. I’ve been surprised before.
- In a 3 year period I went from not having a girlfriend to being married.
- In another 3 year period I went from not particularly wanting kids to having 2 amazing daughters.
- In another 3 year period I moved from my dream city (NY) to an area I wouldn’t have wanted to visit, let alone move to. (It’s been amazing though I may empty nest back to NY)
Anyhow, who knows what life will be in 3 years? Today I don’t need LTE but who knows what I’ll want in 2020. $80 is cheap.
- In a 3 year period I went from not having a girlfriend to being married.
- In another 3 year period I went from not particularly wanting kids to having 2 amazing daughters.
- In another 3 year period I moved from my dream city (NY) to an area I wouldn’t have wanted to visit, let alone move to. (It’s been amazing though I may empty nest back to NY)
Anyhow, who knows what life will be in 3 years? Today I don’t need LTE but who knows what I’ll want in 2020. $80 is cheap.
You're issue isn't with the Apple Watch, it's with Siri and apple functionality. you need to be more realistic and know when buying an Apple Watch what it can and cant do.
I'm getting the LTE watch, and unless I find it unpexpectedly usefull, wont keep it activated past the 3 month trial period. Loving the idea of 8GB space for music is the reason I'm going with the LTE version.
I think as LTE continues to mature through wearable devices, it will become more streamlined and efficient once carriers have more optional plans and as the technology continues to expand with the Apple Watch. LTE really is not mainstream in the wearable field, aside with Samsung being really the only other contributor.
But I agree with you, that LTE could become more beneficial as the Apple Watch continues to evolve with battery improvements as well.
I don’t have an AW3 yet, but here’s my take:
Since you don’t need LTE to use Apple Pay without your phone present, I don’t see any reason for getting the LTE version for just that reason (?). Doesn’t make sense.
Streaming music on my watch isn’t a big deal for me. It’s not like I really want to navigate Apple Music on my watch screen to select songs or playlists. Not constantly. I just need to make a playlist and make sure it’s downloaded to the watch.
I cycle to work, but would have my iPhone in my backpack, so I don’t need an AW3 with LTE then either.
I can imagine leaving my watch on my desk at work though. I do it accidentally several times a week, and it would be nice to receive SMSes.
In Australia, LTE only costs another $5 per month, which is like $4 USD, so I may do it anyway!!!! What I dislike is the extra initial cost of the LTE version of the AW3, since it’s definitely a luxury item for me at $500 AUD without LTE. I don’t need to spend $600 for something I can’t make full use out of.
Since you don’t need LTE to use Apple Pay without your phone present, I don’t see any reason for getting the LTE version for just that reason (?). Doesn’t make sense.
Streaming music on my watch isn’t a big deal for me. It’s not like I really want to navigate Apple Music on my watch screen to select songs or playlists. Not constantly. I just need to make a playlist and make sure it’s downloaded to the watch.
I cycle to work, but would have my iPhone in my backpack, so I don’t need an AW3 with LTE then either.
I can imagine leaving my watch on my desk at work though. I do it accidentally several times a week, and it would be nice to receive SMSes.
In Australia, LTE only costs another $5 per month, which is like $4 USD, so I may do it anyway!!!! What I dislike is the extra initial cost of the LTE version of the AW3, since it’s definitely a luxury item for me at $500 AUD without LTE. I don’t need to spend $600 for something I can’t make full use out of.
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Yes, absolutely. I feel like I'm not tethered to my phone anymore. At home I rarely care where it is because I know I'll get any important notification on the watch. The watch being LTE means that is still true if I'm out and about.
It's a little thing, but it changed the way I interact with the damn thing. Quick grocery run ? No phone, no purse. Quick walk around the block (because I have to close those damn rings, yes?) - no phone, no nothing. An hour at the gym? No phone that I have to keep an eye on and move around all the time. Incessant meetings at work? no phone, no temptation to check it or zone out of the meeting.
I feel like the Watch has freed me from constantly checking the phone, making sure I don't go anywhere without it, etc. The LTE was a big part of that, since I'm often on call.
Yes I use it when I take the dog for a walk or just popping down to tesco. I also leave my wallet at home which is ideal.