Buying first AW, help!

[ACG12]

I going to purchase a series 3, but can't decide if the LTE model is worth it.

If I have my phone on me at all times, are there any benefits to it? $70 extra + $120 a year for the service just seems steep to me if there's no additional benefit.

My main uses for the AW will be to keep on eye on my heart rate and check my iMessages.

 

[Julien]

*Only other main benefit (besides the red dot on the Crown ) would be if you are planing on streaming Apple Music to your Watch without your iPhone (but you say you always have so....). If not then the GPS model should be fine.

* Aluminum cellular does come with a ceramic back and the GPS has a composite back.

 

[KrisLord]

In the US I’d say no it’s not worth it.

There’s other fees and taxes on top of the $10 too.

I’m in the U.K. and it’s £5 after 6 months free and it’s borderline whether it’s worth keeping here too when most usage is with phone nearby.

 

[Shirasaki]

In Australia, it’s $5/mo. Definitely better than in USA, as $5 includes tax and nothing more.

I get LTE Watch. Main reason is I am allergic to plastic and the composite back makes me feel uncomfortable.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I going to purchase a series 3, but can't decide if the LTE model is worth it.

If I have my phone on me at all times, are there any benefits to it? $70 extra + $120 a year for the service just seems steep to me if there's no additional benefit.

My main uses for the AW will be to keep on eye on my heart rate and check my iMessages.

I really like LTE, but I run. So that’s the time when it’s REALLY nice. Otherwise, leaving my phone behind on quick trips to the store is nice, but alone is not worth the price.

 

[BigMcGuire]

When my wife and I went to Best Buy to get our watches... An extra $50/each with $10/mo + taxes each? No thanks.

We were coming from FitBits without GPS so we were happy with just the GPS only model. I think that's good enough for us. If I am running alone and my wife is away from the house, I'll wear a special belt for my phone and take it with me - otherwise if she's home I'll just take the watch usually (or she goes with me). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072C2YTDL/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So for $9.99 I save $144/year + the $50 extra for LTE watch. Yeah, I'll do that.

That said, I've taken a handful of calls on the AW3 GPS Only watch and ... I'm very impressed. Someday I'd definitely consider it.

 

[bruinsrme]

I think LTE is worth it. I have it on my edition and SBSS.
Accessing certain thing at my job requires two step authentication.
The LTE comes in very handy for that.
Going out and about my phone can stay at home or where ever.

The carriers shouldn’t call it a line fee they should call it a convenience fee.

 

[44267547]

I passed on it. Ultimately I chose the stainless model because of the ceramic backing and bypassed the LTE set up. I just don't have much use for $10 a month for the LTE functionality. I have my iPhone near me As it is. But it is something I would consider in the future.

 

[KrisLord]

I think LTE is worth it. I have it on my edition and SBSS.
Accessing certain thing at my job requires two step authentication.
The LTE comes in very handy for that.
Going out and about my phone can stay at home or where ever.

The carriers shouldn’t call it a line fee they should call it a convenience fee.

If your interested in an edition model, then there’s no option for a non-LTE version so you’ve only got the monthly fee to consider.

I suspect also that those willing to spend on an edition have a bit more spare cash than the average watch customer.

 

[Clix Pix]

One can buy and use the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 3 without activating the LTE option. I bought the Space Black Stainless Steel series 3 a couple of months ago to replace my first-generation one because I wanted to use my black stainless steel link band with it. I did not activate the LTE function and it's been just fine without that.

 

[bruinsrme]

If your interested in an edition model, then there’s no option for a non-LTE version so you’ve only got the monthly fee to consider.

I suspect also that those willing to spend on an edition have a bit more spare cash than the average watch customer.

Not all fit your perception.
Gave up other things to get the watch I wanted.

I posted in another post. Friend was trying to make the same decision and realized 14 days isn’t enough.
Made the call for the LTE model because $70 was cheaper than having to rebuy another watch. She loves the LTE.

 

[KrisLord]

Not all fit your perception.
Gave up other things to get the watch I wanted.

I posted in another post. Friend was trying to make the same decision and realized 14 days isn’t enough.
Made the call for the LTE model because $70 was cheaper than having to rebuy another watch. She loves the LTE.

Didn’t mean it as a negative, we all spend different amounts on tech.

But you do have 2 LTE watches so you’re obviously not in the same thought process as the OP regarding whether it’s worth spending an extra $70 on the watch itself.

The OP hasn’t suggested they’ll be away from their phone to benefit from LTE.

 

[riverfreak]

I love not having to worry about whether I have my phone with me or if it’s sufficiently charged up when I go to run errands. LTE opens up an entirely new facet of utility for the Apple Watch.

 

[MJ22]

Also a runner here and it’s worth it for me, but aside from runners or cyclists who don’t want to be burdened carrying a phone (or getting it out of a pocket or storage compartment they can’t reach), I can see it really only benefiting someone who maybe can’t have their cell phone out at work, like someone on a sales floor.

For me, I’m a female who runs alone and at night so it’s a really nice safety feature. I’ve never carried my phone so now my friends and family can’t bug me about being unsafe! The only time I ever carried it was when I’m on 24 hour duty for work—so now I’m still free from carrying it that week. It’s been great for me, but honestly from what the original poster described, probably not necessary for him/her.

 

[newellj]

I went for LTE though I haven't hooked it up. Basically, it's a bet on flexibility. I figure the watch has a 2-3 life for me. The VZW fee is too high right now, in my opinion, but my needs might change, or the fee might drop (ha...). Resale price might be higher and/or resale time might be shorter. Ceramic is a plus. So my bottom line was that although nothing was compelling, $70 wasn't a huge premium over 24-36 months and I'd rather take a bet and spend $70 up front than discover a year from now that I really want LTE and have to get a new watch.

My daughter in law, on the other hand, has basically thrown her phone in a drawer since she connected her Watch, so the best you can do with the responses in this thread is try to read the tea leaves and take a guess for yourself.

 

[ACG12]

* Aluminum cellular does come with a ceramic back and the GPS has a composite back.

Thanks everyone for the replies. This response just made it that more difficult to decide lol.

But I think I agree with the folks who said it's better to buy the LTE and not use it vs buying a GPS model and realizing you should've got the LTE.

 

[KrisLord]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This response just made it that more difficult to decide lol.

But I think I agree with the folks who said it's better to buy the LTE and not use it vs buying a GPS model and realizing you should've got the LTE.

The difference in material used for the back is unnoticeable, I can’t tell the difference and I had an S1 and S3 LTE side by side.

 

[Nell]

I almost always have my phone with me but it's great knowing I can still be contacted if my phone battery dies and that I don't have to go back for my phone if I realise I've left it at home. I have taken maybe four calls on my watch since getting it (none of them especially urgent) nonetheless I'll keep the cellular service once the free months are over, but I'm in the UK and it's cheaper here.

 

[newellj]

Friend was trying to make the same decision and realized 14 days isn’t enough.
Made the call for the LTE model because $70 was cheaper than having to rebuy another watch. She loves the LTE.

That was basically me, except that I had a wifi model. Wasn't sure about LTE but was very sure about the watch and, as you said, $70 not seemed like a better bet than rebuying the watch with LTE.

 

[bruinsrme]

Didn’t mean it as a negative, we all spend different amounts on tech.

But you do have 2 LTE watches so you’re obviously not in the same thought process as the OP regarding whether it’s worth spending an extra $70 on the watch itself.

The OP hasn’t suggested they’ll be away from their phone to benefit from LTE.

Fair question.
I bought the ceramic as a present to myself for a life event.

I was presented with an opportunity to purchase the SBSS at a great price.

I tried to go without LTE on the SBSS but couldn’t.

The LTE has became an integral part of my daily routine.

Many perspectives on which model.
Surely the GPS version is still a great choice

 

[akash.nu]

I almost always have my phone with me but it's great knowing I can still be contacted if my phone battery dies and that I don't have to go back for my phone if I realise I've left it at home. I have taken maybe four calls on my watch since getting it (none of them especially urgent) nonetheless I'll keep the cellular service once the free months are over, but I'm in the UK and it's cheaper here.

Are you on EE? I’m looking to get one just to try out. I have a pebble watch and that’s more than enough for my notifications requirements. Just trying to figure out if  watch is really for me.

What did you have to do to get one activated & are you paying extra for the watch?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This response just made it that more difficult to decide lol.

But I think I agree with the folks who said it's better to buy the LTE and not use it vs buying a GPS model and realizing you should've got the LTE.

In my opinion, spending the extra $70 is worth it. Better materials and LTE, should you decide to make use of it.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

It's not all or nothing. There are incremental features for the $70 price premium that may be worth it to you. And then you have options later. Who knows what LTE features could be added later?

My dad used to say try not to make decisions now that remove options later. Life is about options.

 

[KrisLord]

Are you on EE? I’m looking to get one just to try out. I have a pebble watch and that’s more than enough for my notifications requirements. Just trying to figure out if  watch is really for me.

What did you have to do to get one activated & are you paying extra for the watch?

EE is £5 per month extra, but you get 6 months free.

If you’ve got a watch from Apple you just sign in to EE during setup, it’s really simple.

If you buy your watch from EE you pay monthly for the watch and that includes coverage so no additional £5 but this route is more expensive overall.

 

[newellj]

It's not all or nothing. There are incremental features for the $70 price premium that may be worth it to you. And then you have options later. Who knows what LTE features could be added later?

My dad used to say try not to make decisions now that remove options later. Life is about options.

And although this could be viewed as a relatively expensive option on a percentage basis, in real life, $70 did not seems like a lot for that option when I thought it through.