Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Do you buy GPS only, or GPS + Cellular?

Do you buy GPS only, or GPS + Cellular?

  • Total voters
    148
The Cockney Rebel

The Cockney Rebel

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 17, 2010
3,249
4,132
Do you tend to buy GPS only AWs, or do you go for cellular?

Have you tried cellular, then with your next watch, gone back to GPS only?

Would you mind sharing why you make the choice you do?

If you buy a higher end model, which comes with cellular as standard, do you connect the cellular option or not bother?

If you do have a cellular capable AW and have it activated, do you find that you make much use of it?

Thanks in advance for your responses.
 
Stainless steel since the first Apple Watch, so I'm stuck with cellular. Honestly, I'd probably just do wifi if I could, since I always have my phone with me. Although it is nice to not have to worry about it, for quick trips shopping, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jjjlevin, alexcue and MayfairMissy
The London Fella said:
Have you activated a data plan on the watch, or not bothered?

I take it you always have your iPhone with you?
Click to expand...
Right, I don't have it activated.
I usually have my phone with me, but if I go on a run by daylight in my own safe neighborhood I leave it at home. I have music downloaded directly to my watch and the watch tracks my runs perfectly, even without my phone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tgara, The-Real-Deal82, sfrangu and 2 others
bricktop_at said:
That‘s also how I do it ;-)
Click to expand...
BT, don’t you think you’re missing out on a feature that brings the watch into it’s own?

Having the flexibility to pop out & leave your iPhone behind, but still be connected?

It’s only £5pm for me, so I’d see it as a no brainer.
 
What is everyones brightness setting ? I have it on minimum .For everyday use for it's quite enough .
Ooops sorry wrong tread ☺
 
The London Fella said:
BT, don’t you think you’re missing out on a feature that brings the watch into it’s own?

Having the flexibility to pop out & leave your iPhone behind, but still be connected?

It’s only £5pm for me, so I’d see it as a no brainer.
Click to expand...
Nope, usually I bring my phone with me and when I‘m out with just the watch (sports, walks), I deliberately choose to be disconnected.
There‘s literally no reason to get a cellular contract for the watch for me. Apple Pay (if I should need it) needs no connection and my music is synced to the watch.
Also: In case of an emergency, the SOS call will work without a contract as well
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko, MayfairMissy and The Cockney Rebel
anytime i buy an aluminum apple watch i get GPS only, but of course i've had a few stainless steel and space black stainless steel watches and those come with it. i have never activated cellular as i *want* to carry my iphone with me everywhere including on my runs (i use a great flat flex belt that makes it invisible and you can't feel it) because you never know when you need the camera, and more full featured apps IMHO.

i suspect in a year i'd literally have only 1 or 2 times where cellular would even remotely be useful so i just don't get it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wags and haruhiko
I always buy a cellular one & use it frequently. I bought it for running, but find that I use it for a lot of other things. If I weren't going to use it for exercise, I'm not sure I would buy cellular, but I'm glad I have it.

I think that anyone who is on the fence about cellular or not should get one at least once & give it a try. You'll find out pretty quickly if it's something you use or not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wags
I have the stainless with cellular. I have it activated so I can leave my phone locked up safe in my bag or car when I hike or bike.
 
GPS + cellular. I don’t take my phone with me when I walk my dog or exercise and I got followed once. I will always buy cellular for safety reasons.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tikatika and happy orchard
I've had cellular with my Nike watch for years and I think I've used it maybe 3 times over the years. I opted to not get cellular this time because I started adding up the cost of $15 a month that coupled with the fact that when I run I like to loose myself in the run and not think about the next text or call.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wags, The-Real-Deal82 and sfrangu
Cellular for me, I love leaving my phone at home. Always on my runs, and for the beach etc.

All I want now is full roaming. I visit Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Austria etc several times each year, as I’m sure a lot of other fellow Europeans do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: catean
I just erased my S7 and am returning it tomorrow.

I appreciate all of your comments, but I just can’t see the point of having the watch if you have to have your iPhone with you to be connected.

I have mental health issues, and have to be contactable at all times, otherwise the emergency services tend to get called!

There’s a well known retailer here in the UK that has my model, with cellular. Thus, no need to wait for Apple’s delivery dates.

I thought the AW wasn’t for me, but now I’ve had a good think about it, I think it’s just the thought of needing to have both devices on me that threw me. I now believe having cellular really brings the AW into its own, and offers flexibility.

And it’s only £5pm with o2 in the UK.

Thanks again for all of your responses, you’ve given me some great information.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GlenK, Javabird, You’re not me and 6 others
bricktop_at said:
Nope, usually I bring my phone with me and when I‘m out with just the watch (sports, walks), I deliberately choose to be disconnected.
There‘s literally no reason to get a cellular contract for the watch for me. Apple Pay (if I should need it) needs no connection and my music is synced to the watch.
Also: In case of an emergency, the SOS call will work without a contract as well
Click to expand...
Exactly this. I like to disconnect too. If I go to the beach or go out with my friends in the evening I often don`t bring my phone at all. I normally have my phone with me, but I also regularly leave it behind. I live in a very small and safe environment where I can walk or bike everywhere. Everybody knows each other here. We're outside a lot. What's more, our area is so remote that we have very bad internet service, in some parts none at all. Nobody here pays with their phone, for example. It's still mostly cash here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bricktop_at
tenordrum said:
I have the cellular option on my AW5, just for emergency needs, in case I fall or otherwise need to call 911. I don't have a data plan, as I am retired, and don't need to be connected 24/7.
Click to expand...
Can you still call 911 from the cellular AW without a cellular plan?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back