Cellular Watch owners, how much do you use it?

[sonstar]

I wouldn’t bother with one without cellular

 

[deeddawg]

After waiting for a long time, the Cellular Watch will be available from nov 5th in the Netherlands.

I’m still doubting to get the cellular, because I’m not sure how handy it is and the carrier that i’m with will charge €5 extra a month so you can use the Watch on their cellular network.

I’m curious how much you guys use it in the countries that have cellular for a long time.

FYI this is a frequently asked question, I'd suggest seeing the other threads so you get the benefit of answers from folks who don't feel like typing out the same answer multiple times to different people asking.

Cellular capability isn't as much a "use it" thing which you actively "do" as much as it allows a paradigm shift in which you no longer need to always carry your phone with you everywhere you go. Going for a walk with my wife. Taking the dog out for a walk. Going for a run. Out doing yardwork well outside wifi coverage. Walking down to the lake. Cellular watch retains all the usual capabilities for Siri, messaging, checking weather, sports scores, Homekit, controlling security system, streaming music and podcasts, and even a phone call. Non-cellular gives a discontinuous user experience losing all those capabilities if you're out of range of your phone.

For me at least it's 100% worth having the capabilty.

 

[deeddawg]

Can you add a WiFi network with just a AW, or the WiFi already had to be added previously using an iPhone?

I think you can choose a new wifi network from the watch, but I don't believe the login/TOS-acceptance pass-through stuff works.

 

[yepp]

Can you add a WiFi network with just a AW, or the WiFi already had to be added previously using an iPhone?

You can join a new wifi network from the watch alone.

 

[kaisoj]

Thanks all again for all the responses I’ve gotten.

The 41mm SS has been ordered and I will activate cellular just to try it out. Luckily with my carrier I will be able to cancel the plan anytime!

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

For $5 a month it is worth having solely for emergencies. I even found it worthwhile for that at the $10 a month price point.

 

[brentsg]

I use mine about once per day. If work's slow I'll drop out for a 45-50 minute walk and leave the phone at home. Usually I'm good, but if I get a critical work communication it'll get to me on the watch.

It does hit the battery though so the few times I've wound up on a lengthy phone call pushed the battery down.

 

[ZebraDude]

One of the issues you will run into is with WiFi is the captive portal. If your favorite WiFi spot is using the captive portal even thou your iPhone can use it once you answer its questions the Apple Watch cannot answer those questions and will not function. My fitness center has the portal and the GPS model will not function on it. Sadly. I have only cellular models.

 

[WeatherWeasel]

well when I am in the bathroom, it helps. or outside on a walk. or down the basement looking in the freezer for some hidden goodies. I once actually fell down inthe yard where the blue tooth/wifi sucked . I just got the watch so when I got in the house there was my daughter all wide eyed and bushy tailed asking me if I was ok, because the thing dialed her that I fell. So yeah