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Cellular version
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It seems to depend on your plan, and not all plans will allow the Watch to be added. Assuming you do have one of the compatible plans, it'll be at least an additional $10 per month. The advantage is really just that you can still be connected to the internet without having to carry around your phone. So you can send (if you're OK with dictation) and receive text messages and emails. I believe you can also do phone calls but I'm not 100% certain on that.
If you're a surfer who wants to be connected while over the ocean and carrying around more gear is a liability, then it'd definitely be worth it. If you're looking for a reason to leave your phone at home more often then it may be worth it. If you tend to forget your phone often and need to be connected, it may also be worth it... but it'd probably be cheaper to figure out a better way to not forget your phone.
Of note, you can use Apple Pay from your Watch without being connected to the internet and without an iPhone nearby. So if that was anyone's motivation for getting the cellular version with a cellular plan for it, save your money.
My take is that it's a neat option, but $10 per month - or $120 per year, which is close to a third the cost of a new Watch (or almost the cost of a new Watch that is from the previous generation, as sold by Apple) - is a bit much to ask. Then you have to figure that you're already paying at least $100 extra to even get the cellular model over the non-cellular model. If you've spent a bit to have a nice iPhone then it's almost insulting to realize how much more you're paying just to have the cellular-connected Watch, where the cellular functionality really only comes into play when you don't have your phone with you. That's a lot of money to be spending just to leave a nice phone unused and wasting away at home.
Personally, I use the Watch more per day than I do my iPhone. I read and dictate text messages, check emails, access Reminders lists, and a few various other things from my Watch. Yet I couldn't bring myself to get the cellular version and spend $10 per month for connectivity that I'd barely be using. $10 per month doesn't sound like much, but it's a total waste when I consider that I'm already used to bringing my phone everywhere, and that I use my phone for more than the functions that my Watch has usurped. Things like CarPlay and camera functionality are things that a cellular-connected Watch can't do. I don't begrudge anyone who feels liberated by their cellular Watch, but in my case - as well as that of my family and most of my friends - it's a total waste of money. If the cellular companies wanted to charge $1 or even $2 per month for connecting the Watch to their service I might buy in, but not "at least $10."
If you're a surfer who wants to be connected while over the ocean and carrying around more gear is a liability, then it'd definitely be worth it. If you're looking for a reason to leave your phone at home more often then it may be worth it. If you tend to forget your phone often and need to be connected, it may also be worth it... but it'd probably be cheaper to figure out a better way to not forget your phone.
Of note, you can use Apple Pay from your Watch without being connected to the internet and without an iPhone nearby. So if that was anyone's motivation for getting the cellular version with a cellular plan for it, save your money.
My take is that it's a neat option, but $10 per month - or $120 per year, which is close to a third the cost of a new Watch (or almost the cost of a new Watch that is from the previous generation, as sold by Apple) - is a bit much to ask. Then you have to figure that you're already paying at least $100 extra to even get the cellular model over the non-cellular model. If you've spent a bit to have a nice iPhone then it's almost insulting to realize how much more you're paying just to have the cellular-connected Watch, where the cellular functionality really only comes into play when you don't have your phone with you. That's a lot of money to be spending just to leave a nice phone unused and wasting away at home.
Personally, I use the Watch more per day than I do my iPhone. I read and dictate text messages, check emails, access Reminders lists, and a few various other things from my Watch. Yet I couldn't bring myself to get the cellular version and spend $10 per month for connectivity that I'd barely be using. $10 per month doesn't sound like much, but it's a total waste when I consider that I'm already used to bringing my phone everywhere, and that I use my phone for more than the functions that my Watch has usurped. Things like CarPlay and camera functionality are things that a cellular-connected Watch can't do. I don't begrudge anyone who feels liberated by their cellular Watch, but in my case - as well as that of my family and most of my friends - it's a total waste of money. If the cellular companies wanted to charge $1 or even $2 per month for connecting the Watch to their service I might buy in, but not "at least $10."
Bu the advantage is more than just being connected to the internet, it’s the fact you don’t have to worry about having your phone on you at all times. Yes, you can do phone calls... you can receive text and emails. You have the option to send customizable default messages as well as use Scribble which I normally do.
It's $10 USD + Tax and Activation fees on Verizon. I've always been quite happy with GPS versions, have yet to find the need for LTE on my Watch. Recently took advantage of the deep discounts on AW 4 and got a Stainless version but have not activated LTE yet. SiriusXM has an app for Phone but not for Apple Watch, I'd consider adding LTE if that became available but at least for my use case, the value LTE can offer isn't worth the monthly fees.
I'm going to get my mother an Apple Watch for Christmas, primarily for fall detection and am strongly considering getting her an LTE version just in case she happens to wander out without her iPhone, which she's been known to do.
I get the liberation from cell aspect and for many LTE has very good benefits.
I'm going to get my mother an Apple Watch for Christmas, primarily for fall detection and am strongly considering getting her an LTE version just in case she happens to wander out without her iPhone, which she's been known to do.
I get the liberation from cell aspect and for many LTE has very good benefits.
I think the only thing that was missed is you can stream apple music while away from phone as well (not just what is "preloaded" on your watch beforehand)
I think it’s ridiculous what US carriers are charging. European companies are charging $5 which is reasonable.
Which is why I moved to T-Mobile a few months ago. Mainly in case I have to make an emergency call and I don't have my regular phone. I just wish that you could use it on Prepaid. Even with a different number
I don't have a cellular Watch yet-- I'm stilll rocking an ancient Series 0 that's been flawless and is still performing well, but its battery isn't getting any stronger so I'm starting to look at my next Watch.
My summary understanding:
If you want full cellular capability including calls, texts and data without your phone nearby, AT&T charges $10/month in the US.
If you want to make/receive calls and texts and will reliably have your phone nearby, you don't need to activate (even my Series 0 has this functionality), so $0/month.
If you want to ensure fall detection and emergency-services SOS even if your phone is not nearby, my understanding is that you don't need to activate, so $0/month, and a Series 5 will even perform these emergency functions in many other countries... in my mind this is a MAJOR upgrade for the Series 5, too often ignored by those who dismiss this new Series as merely having an always-on display and more storage. This capability is seriously interesting for anyone who, like me, travels internationally. More info: https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT206983 and https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/#branded-international-emergency
Wow this seems to be the only time the UK is better priced than the US, for me on o2 in the UK it is only an extra £5 a month to add the Apple Watch to my plan.
my sister in law said she only pays $4 for her cellular version of her Galaxy watch via Straight talk, does that sound right?