AT&T... but during the instances in question, it wasn't even a matter of slow performance, the watch simply indicated that it was not using LTE service at all (the Control Center icon wasn't showing the typical green "LTE").
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Cellular Use Cases
- Thread starter macphoto861
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In those cases, the watch was probably connected to wifi or your phone. I would almost bet $ on the phone. This is what I mentioned earlier. The watch is really aggressive at holding on to the phone if it can. LTE is only used as a last resort. If it's not showing, then some other connection (bluetooth or wifi) was engaged.
I've had that happen lots of times, and the problem for me is almost always that it's holding on to the phone connection but the connection is so faint that it's not usable. I'm guessing that this is what happened to your watch.
I use my Ultra2 on cellular just when I went out for running. Used it sometimes also at the beach, when I had to be reachable for calls from residents.
Same here. Not giving up $25 per month prepaid ATT service so I can have my cellular AW activated. I have owned many Apple Watches and never activated any of them. I always carry my phone with me so not much need.
You better pray you never need AT&T’s customer service because it plain sucks!
That's a possibility... I think I was far enough away from the phone (plus the phone was encased in a metal locker), but I can't say for certain.
In Italy I pay 3€/month for this service.
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i pay around 4$(exchange rate) a month here in turkey 🇹🇷 , on ultra2 a few months ago this was beneficial after an earthquake 6.2 i was unable to get my iphone upstairs before rapidly leaving home due to the aftershocks i spent nearly two days 2km away camped in an open field due to the continuous aftershocks without iPhone nearby or in range, i was fully reachable and able to make calls answer sms etc on watch with cellular plan . on return to home iPhone battery had depleted so awu2 on cellular is a benefit just never know when you might need it . also regularly go for a walking workout without iphone . always reachable
Having Cell on a Apple watch was kool when I had it several years ago but now no longer need it why? There is thing called Wifi Calling such which I use frequently when my phone is left at home....for instance when I connect my watch at the following but I will name a few: Wallmart, Publix (supermarket), the Mall, Panera Bread, Winn Dixie, La Fitness...it basically allows me to connect my watch to their wifi and then it allows me to make calls like I'm using cellular all for free.
I ditched cell service on my watch only because of wifi calling...example if I dont have my phone and need to make a call I just walk in any place that has wifi for the public and I just make my call....all free
Yes in urban areas, wifi calling works.
But where I go - remote areas and / or high altitude terrain it does not.
I have both an iPad Mini w/ cellular and AW w/ cellular for my flight missions as a small plane private pilot. They are crucial for GPS and in flight use.
For an emergency, my iPhone with satellite plus portable 2 way air band radio and hopefully this year with the new satellite message AW will complete my flight bag.
You don't need any connection whatsoever on the watch to use tap to pay.
I'm on my fourth AW and consider it one of Apple's very best achievements. Thus far I have managed to avoid cellular. I simply can't come up with a good reason to have one, even if it was only $5/month.
On only two occasions over the past 10 years, I've left my phone behind. The second time was a couple of years ago; I learned then that I can use Apple Pay without having my iPhone present. Who knew?
I simply always have it with me. It's not a difficult thing to do.
I suppose if I had a plus size phone, perhaps I'd consider it more of an inconvenience to carry. Maybe.
My preference is to have a readable screen available in case I need to respond with more than a few words to a text or an email. Or look at a map. Or look at a website. And so forth.
Other than going into a restricted area, such as a courthouse, I always have my phone and my watch with me.
On only two occasions over the past 10 years, I've left my phone behind. The second time was a couple of years ago; I learned then that I can use Apple Pay without having my iPhone present. Who knew?
I simply always have it with me. It's not a difficult thing to do.
I suppose if I had a plus size phone, perhaps I'd consider it more of an inconvenience to carry. Maybe.
My preference is to have a readable screen available in case I need to respond with more than a few words to a text or an email. Or look at a map. Or look at a website. And so forth.
Other than going into a restricted area, such as a courthouse, I always have my phone and my watch with me.
Yah, I'll bet that if someone took a poll, the vast majority of cellular watch users would be athletes that primarily want the cellular for outdoor activities (running/ swimming/ cycling, hiking, etc), and people who are on call & don't want to carry 2 phones. If I wasn't in the former group, I would probably drop the cellular, but it's so nice to not have to bring my phone running, cycling, or hiking.
I also find that I use it other times, and find that convenient as well, but not convenient enough to pay $16/month for it.
In your case its a good idea to have cellular in my case in central florida I am surrounded with wifi
Me too, since changing my EE contract a few months ago (cheaper than my old plan, with better benefits including watch data for no extra cost).
I've had Watches since Series Zero but only tried a cellular model one year, during which I only used the cellular connection once. Now that my cellular plan includes Watch data for no extra charge I'll probably get a Watch with cellular this year though.
I also read that EE seem to have been quietly upgrading their network for 5G RedCap for the past year, so hopefully that will launch along with new Watches which support it...
I've had Watches since Series Zero but only tried a cellular model one year, during which I only used the cellular connection once. Now that my cellular plan includes Watch data for no extra charge I'll probably get a Watch with cellular this year though.
I also read that EE seem to have been quietly upgrading their network for 5G RedCap for the past year, so hopefully that will launch along with new Watches which support it...
I see that AT&T announced nationwide 5G RedCap coverage in the USA in July, which is probably necessary for the Series 11 to support 5G RedCap...
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why do you buy the more expensive cellular version if you have no intention of using it?
Me too, sapphire glass is a must-have, also the ability of the watch to call emergency services in the event of a crash or hard fall, a feature which works even without an active cellular plan.
I smashed my S0, totally broke the ions and the watch was renedered useless even though the screen was still working, my S3 had quite a few scratches from mountain biking, then started to get sapphire and never a problem anymore.
And yes, the emergency calling feature would have been handy when I crashed mountain biking in 2013 and broke my femur
