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

LTE Apple Watch to Cost $10 Per Month on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon

Should not cost a damn thing, I had a feeling these carriers were cooking up additional service fees. It's not worth $10 if I rarely ever away from my phone..
 
I’m not exactly the most frugal person around, but there is no way I’m paying $10 a month for data connection on my watch when I pay that same amount for LTE on my iPad (which is actually useful).
 
  • Like
Reactions: DTphonehome
Since cellular is basically the only new feature, this charge will make it a no go for me. I was hoping the digital sim using the same phone number would have made it some sort of clone. I would love to be phone free for running and gym, but not for another $10 - every device $10, every cord-cutting streaming $10, Apple Music $10. This new electronic world is VERY expensive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dwsolberg, ChinaRye, Ca$hflow and 4 others
I’d be happy to forego an iPhone, and use the Watch instead, as I make very few calls, and use my iPad Air for most tasks when out and about. But will any carriers support that? Technically, there’s no reason why not, but cellco logic is akin to airline logic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SqB
I'm living in the US at the moment but moving to Japan in February. I have AT&T so if I buy an Apple Watch and activate it with AT&T, will the watch work with Japanese carriers? I'm planning on using SoftBank once I get to Japan.
 
groovyf said:
Nothing on EE's website yet, other than this pre-order page: https://shop.ee.co.uk/apple-watch-series-3
Wouldn't surprise me if they sting us for £10/month
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I'm expecting, although I think that will be the initial discounted price, I expect £15-20 as the actual price. Even £1 will be extortion. Won't use cellular when near phone (I wouldn't expect), when not near phone you won't be making calls on your phone, which will also probably be sat on wifi wherever it is, so there will be no extra load on their network, other than the connection. They don't charge PAYG anything for just sitting there connected, so why the watch?
 
Appleaker said:
It should be free, but I think $5 would be an acceptable and attractive price. $10 makes you hesitant.
Click to expand...

Dealbreaker. I'm not paying $120/yr plus taxes for something I am not going to use as a main device.

I won't even pay the $10/mo fee for an iPad. I just buy chunks of data during the week or so I will be staying at a hotel with crappy WiFi, as I can usually get a pretty good deal for 'expiring' blocks of data.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronlap
It is getting ridiculous the recharging for the same data over and over. I hate to have government intervention, but this is one that in the US would be good for the FCC to nose around in. Of course it would probably result in them just justifying charging more for everything. T-Mobile is the one thing causing some consumer friendly actions by the US carriers. Compared to other countries, we really pay through the nose. I won't be buying the LTE Apple Watch and will probably just stick with my first gen that is working fine.
 
Porsupah said:
I’d be happy to forego an iPhone, and use the Watch instead, as I make very few calls, and use my iPad Air for most tasks when out and about. But will any carriers support that? Technically, there’s no reason why not, but cellco logic is akin to airline logic.
Click to expand...
The deal with most plans is the base rate then you add devices. This would be a device add for $10. Stand alone plan would cost what you pay now for your phone. It would not save anything and doubt they would do it anyhow.
 
Over £400 for a basic GPS and Cellular Apple Watch and then the additional monthly cost.

Just buy the Series 2.

I rarely find myself in a situation where I am wearing my watch without my phone.

Swimming would be the only situation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hedberg
sza said:
This really should be free for their iPhone customers.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't make any logical sense to make this free. But I guess the price is ultimately depending on how much somebody actually would use LTE. If it's someone that wouldn't use it a whole lot, then I don't think the price point would be justified. But again, that's user dependent.
 
I suspected it would be as such given that it's what VZW charged for Android watches. The question I have is Apple was so proud it negotiated keeping 4K videos at HD prices AND giving no-cost upgrades of HD bought videos to 4K. Why were they not able to get the LTE service bundled into the cost of cell service. I don't think the $10/mo is going to help sell the LTE model.

I was mulling the LTE model but I think I'll go for the vanilla (no red dot) series 3 model now. Should be decently discounted by Black Friday. Same for ATV 4K.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chicagofan00 and DTphonehome
The extra $10 /mo. is probably a no brainer for some, but for me I think the novelty would wear off quickly.
 
Relentless Power said:
It wouldn't make any logical sense to make this free.
Click to expand...

Not free -- no additional cost. Most unlimited plans have 5-10GB of tethering. They could easily deduct the AW's usage fro the tethering. As for phone calls AW use the same # as the iPhone so it's not like its a separate account. And, honestly, how many phone calls are people going to have on AW. Whenever I talk on my AW it's really quick because it's kind of awkward and the speakers are weak.
[doublepost=1505251575][/doublepost]
EMT123 said:
Why the hideous red dot on the crown for EVERY version of the case?
Click to expand...

It's so thieves or status seekers know it's the LTE version.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cjgrif
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