Would definitely be convenient, but as others have mentioned, I can't see spending $10+ each month for it. Carriers should have a cheaper plan that limits the amount of watch data.
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Can't decide if LTE is worth the extra $$
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When I was talking to the girlfriend back in February when I was buying us both S3’s she insisted on the LTE model and I thought she it was a waste of money but to make her happy I bought them.
The very first day having it she forgot her phone and wished she had activated the LTE. It was a month or so after getting it they I activated it on my line and she eventually activated it on here.
For me it was nice to have when I want to go on focused walks or to the pool and not have my phone and for her she forgets her phone quite often so it has saved her.
I don’t miss the money so much.
The very first day having it she forgot her phone and wished she had activated the LTE. It was a month or so after getting it they I activated it on my line and she eventually activated it on here.
For me it was nice to have when I want to go on focused walks or to the pool and not have my phone and for her she forgets her phone quite often so it has saved her.
I don’t miss the money so much.
It seems that everybody I talked to can't get passed the $10 line, and actually it's closer to $15 with taxes etc. Anyway, it seems to me if the carriers reduced it to $5 they would get many more customers to sign up that would more than make up for the profit margins at $10. It doesn't cost the carriers extra as the data used by the watch is counted against the phone data plan. And I don't think we use more data by having an AW with LTE service. But I must be wrong as I'm sure the carriers researched and studied what to price the AW LTE plan for max profit.
With my lifestyle and usage, I feel I'm right at the border on whether it's worth it to me. I'm going to keep the service for another year and see how it goes. On those occasions where you can't bring your phone or it's cumbersome to do so having the service is great. I smiled inside at the coolness of it. And a few times over the year I was about to leave and realized I didn't have my phone, and it was nice not to have to run back and just walk out the door knowing you have the service.
So I got the non-cellar version of the series 3 last year and don’t regret it at all. It was a significant improvement over my series 0, so I was happy. My rational for not getting LTE was that I ALWAYS have my phone with me and it can do anything the LTE can as long as that’s the case. And at home, it connects to my WiFi, so if my phone were off, I’d still get calls on it. In fact, I use it to answer calls a lot, rather than dig my phone out of my pocket. Bottom line, I doubt you’ll be disappointed with the non-cellular watch and you’ll be saving money.
With all that said, this year I’m getting a series 4 with LTE. There were just often enough times, I’d leave home and think, if only I didn’t have to bring my phone, for that off-chance emergency. In those cases, an LTE watch would have been nice. So that, and the improvements they made this year, have made me decide to pay the extra and see how much I’ll actually use the LTE feature. I hope that helps.
BTW, I have AT&T too, and after 3 months they give you a $30 credit for the service. If I’m not using it that much by then, I just turn it off even though I still have the hardware for LTE.
With all that said, this year I’m getting a series 4 with LTE. There were just often enough times, I’d leave home and think, if only I didn’t have to bring my phone, for that off-chance emergency. In those cases, an LTE watch would have been nice. So that, and the improvements they made this year, have made me decide to pay the extra and see how much I’ll actually use the LTE feature. I hope that helps.
BTW, I have AT&T too, and after 3 months they give you a $30 credit for the service. If I’m not using it that much by then, I just turn it off even though I still have the hardware for LTE.
My girlfriend and I decided to go with a cellular series 4 each this year after only having had Wi-Fi versions. Our reasoning is that we both enjoy running – often at different times – and the idea of being able to go for a long run without carrying our iPhones (but still be reachable) is worth it. Also, here in Germany, it's only an extra 5€/month to add it to our plans. That said, even at 5€/month I still find it ridiculous that it can't just come out of our current (already expensive!) data plans. It apparently doesn't even work when roaming. 
Having had a cellular series 3 you need to know that yes you cannot use it when roaming and also LTE only lasts about 60mins, so beware when runningMy girlfriend and I decided to go with a cellular series 4 each this year after only having had Wi-Fi versions. Our reasoning is that we both enjoy running – often at different times – and the idea of being able to go for a long run without carrying our iPhones (but still be reachable) is worth it. Also, here in Germany, it's only an extra 5€/month to add it to our plans. That said, even at 5€/month I still find it ridiculous that it can't just come out of our current (already expensive!) data plans. It apparently doesn't even work when roaming.
Good to know about the battery. I'd heard it was longer (see here, for example) than that but maybe not. I'm aware of the roaming thing. It's pretty ridiculous seeing as the rest of my data plan can be used abroad.
For AW4 Apple claims 4 hours for an outdoor training with active music streaming, GPS & LTE (Link) and 5 hours without streaming music (deduct 1 hour each for a Series 3 LTE). From my experience with an S3 LTE those values seem realistic (though I have okay reception outdoors most of the time).
Then for what we plan on using it for, I think we'll be fine. I also just found out that with our carrier here in Germany (Telekom), we get the first 6 months of Apple Watch usage free and then it's 4,95€/month after that. For once, things seem cheaper here (but we still don't have Apple Pay so I think it's fair).
LTE might be useful to some people, however in my case i don't need it at all because i always take my iPhone with me everywhere. Why would i leave my iPhone at home, flat, office, or car? just in case if there is break-in, you know the crime is rising everywhere
You still can make a phone call using apple watch as long the iPhone is with you by any means.
I've ordered for the AW 4 Nike+ with only GPS, this is my recommendation, only you can decide what's best for you
You still can make a phone call using apple watch as long the iPhone is with you by any means.
I've ordered for the AW 4 Nike+ with only GPS, this is my recommendation, only you can decide what's best for you
I purchased the S3 Cell after my S0 died like 10 months ago — since then I haven’t used lte on my Apple Watch a single time because my phone is always with me. I understand that a small percentage of people go running, walk their dog or go bike riding and like to leave their phone behind — but I wouldn’t becuase my phone is basically attached to me 24/7 even when I’m at the gym.
I basically wasted $100 for the lte version and $14 a month before I cancelled service — you do get 3 months free so I wasted about $210.
If your like me and always have your phone with you at all times then it is absolutely pointless to get lte as you won’t use it... trust me save yourself the money and get the gps like I did for the S4 version it’s the exact same thing if you always have your phone.
I basically wasted $100 for the lte version and $14 a month before I cancelled service — you do get 3 months free so I wasted about $210.
If your like me and always have your phone with you at all times then it is absolutely pointless to get lte as you won’t use it... trust me save yourself the money and get the gps like I did for the S4 version it’s the exact same thing if you always have your phone.
The only time I don’t have my phone on me is when I’m running. It’s also the only time I get any peace and quiet. Save your money!
What I would prefer is the whole ‘taking a call’ on the watch (via phone) to be better, it’s not great (dropouts/lag).
What I would prefer is the whole ‘taking a call’ on the watch (via phone) to be better, it’s not great (dropouts/lag).
What took you so long to cancel the service? The 3 free months should've been sufficient to realize it's not for you.
Besides, with S3, the aluminum LTE offered additional features (e.g. more Ram, ceramic back, bigger battery) over the GPS version. Potential differences for S4 are not known yet (and going SS always includes LTE automatically, i.e. you pay for it whether you use it or not).
Personally I don't have buyer's remorse for going LTE. I'm using it rarely, but am glad to be able to in those rare moments. Especially when you simply _forgot_ to take your iPhone with you (yeah yeah - noone would forget that, but - yes, one _can_ under certain circumstances).
I got the S3 LTE because I thought it'd be cool to have, but where I live LTE performance is buggy. Also I rarely go anywhere without my phone, so the LTE isn't very useful for my particular needs. I probably would've been just as happy with the GPS version, but that's just me.
Good question — I got the Apple Watch on a carrier plan so I was paying monthly — you have to pay off the whole device to cancel service.
I get $5 off since I'm on AutoPay with TMO. So it's $5/mo. I would not be paying for it otherwise.
Nice to have when needed. Got stranded at airport at 10pm without my car or my phone (long story). Called my daughter on my watch to come pick me up.
[doublepost=1537412856][/doublepost]Oh, and I use it frequently when I’m outside in the pool.
This was my thought with the LTE iPads, and then I got my 9.7 iPad Pro with cellular, and I wondered why I bothered with non-cellular iPads before. Yes, my series one has been awesome for what it is, but I would also like to not have to carry my phone around sometimes too... so it would feel liberating to get LTE on my watch. On the cost side, I get a $10 discount for auto pay, so I consider the line I have to have to be a wash. Just have to pay taxes, which is minimal.
